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Original poster

Why does firefox keep deleting every f*cking thing?!?!

30 replies

Flamesparrow · 14/08/2009 09:29

(In a foul mood anyway).

It keeps making me log into MN, twitter etc again when I have restarted my computer. It keeps wiping my numbers from my banking so I have to reset that (they have been stored too long for me to remember them any more).

Getting very pissed off with it now.

OP posts:
singleWhiteMale · 14/08/2009 18:37

Have a look in the preferences under Security and make sure you have the option to remember passwords ticked.

NetworkGuy · 15/08/2009 02:16

It might also be to do with cookies (seems like it might wipe them when you don't want that).

Must say I find the password page very handy - now and then I take screenshots (runs to 8 or 9 pages now) and save the images on a USB stick so I have at least some record of the passwords I have set up (most are unique, and I use Opera too, but it won't show passwords!)

Original poster
Flamesparrow · 15/08/2009 11:15

I've checked both security and cookies, but can't find a reason. Firefox seems to have updated last night, so will see what happens later when I turn it off and on again.

OP posts:
KnickKnack · 15/08/2009 11:24

Have a look at this thread

I've yet to find a solution.

KnickKnack · 15/08/2009 11:26

I also get logged out of mumsnet when I'm AFK (even though MN browser is still open)

TheHeathenOfSuburbia · 15/08/2009 11:32

Just found the password page, how useful! if I'd known about that before, I wouldn't be using the same password for everything

Off to screenshot it now before I install the update Firefox is nagging me about...

NorksNappiesAndNowtElse · 18/08/2009 08:05

It is still bloody doing it. Getting very pissed off now. I have checked all the various settings and can't see why.

(Hate being beaten by computers)

MrAnchovy · 18/08/2009 08:55

Could be the problem noted in this thread.

To work around this, always make sure you are at www.mumsnet.com (not just plain mumsnet.com).

NorksNappiesAndNowtElse · 18/08/2009 09:35

It isn't just mumsnet that is the problem though - it is all sites that used to save me but Thank you

KnickKnack · 18/08/2009 13:31

MrA, I've checked and I'm at www.
The problem seems to have started with the last firefox update (don't know if IE has same problem?)
Its happening on all sites with a "remember me" option (I only use the remember me option offered by the website, not the password page offered by firefox)

KnickKnack · 18/08/2009 13:32

ie I don't use the option that singlewhiteMale mentioned at start of thread.

MrAnchovy · 18/08/2009 13:34

Must be your cookie settings then.

Go to Tools -> Options and click Privacy. Then make sure the following 3 things are showing:

Cookies
[Tick] Accept cookies from sites

Keep until: they expire

Private Data
[No tick] Always clear my private data when I close Firefox

While you are at it, if you don't want to make it too easy for advertisers to track your online behavior, untick 'Accept third party cookies'.

If you don't need to keep your personal information safe from other people that use your computer you don't need to worry about the other settings.

TheDailyMailHatesWomenAndLemon · 18/08/2009 13:35

Norks, I've had the same problem with all sites for several days, I think since the last Firefox update. It's very annoying.

KnickKnack · 18/08/2009 13:50

woohoo thanks MrA! I thought I'd already done all of the above, but the "until expire" bit was greyed out. I had ticked "start firefox in a private browsing session"...so simmply unticked and viola.

I don't recall having ticked the box however, is it possible that firefox changed this setting during recent update? I seems strange that so many people would have this issue with the new update...unless coincidently we all ticked this box??

what is the difference between cookies from sites and 3rd party cookies? obviously I could google but liking the lazy option ;)

TheDailyMailHatesWomenAndLemon · 18/08/2009 13:54

My boxes are all appropriately ticked or unticked, so I don't know what my issue is... sniff...

NorksNappiesAndNowtElse · 18/08/2009 18:16

I've fiddled with ticking and unticking several times (trying to confuse it into thinking I have changed something ) so hopefully that will help!

MrAnchovy · 19/08/2009 03:05

Ah yes, these options have changed in 3.5, although it seems to guess the right ones most of the time (it did for me).

So, in 3.5 the instructions are slightly different:

Go to Tools -> Options and click Privacy. Now next to 'Firefox will:' you can either select 'Remember history' (which should set the right things) or select 'Use custom settings for history'.

If you selected 'Use custom settings' a lot of options will appear.

Make sure the following 4 things are showing:

[No tick] Automatically start Firefox in a private browsing session

Cookies
[Tick] Accept cookies from sites

Keep until: [they expire]

Private Data
[No tick] Always clear my private data when I close Firefox

While you are at it, if you don't want to make it too easy for advertisers to track your online behavior, untick 'Accept third party cookies'.

If you don't need to keep your personal information safe from other people that use your computer you don't need to worry about the other settings.

MrAnchovy · 19/08/2009 03:16

Oh, ordinary cookies from sites are used to make things like logging in and shopping baskets on that site work. 3rd party cookies are ones used to track your browsing by 3rd parties (eg every visit to a Mumsnet page currently tries to set a cookie at somewhere called wunderloop), generally for advertising purposes.

NorksNappiesAndNowtElse · 19/08/2009 07:58

It is all right. I have checked and it is all exactly as you tell me. But still it wiped em. grrrrr.

TheDailyMailHatesWomenAndLemon · 19/08/2009 08:56

It's not just you, Norks. May I share your wall? Since I upgraded to 3.5.2 sites won't remember me even if I have all the right things ticked in that window.

NorksNappiesAndNowtElse · 19/08/2009 10:21
NetworkGuy · 19/08/2009 10:40

Oh dear. Only one of my PCs has v3 of FF on it (I do web design, so want to check with older versions of different browsers). Will need to switch another one so I get v3.5 into use (and maybe Opera v10, when it comes out).

If you keep on getting these problems, you might want to try Opera v9 - there are differences of course, and one which is a bit of a niggle is that there's no quick letter method to open a link in a new window or tab (with FF you'd right-click and could then use the 'w' or 't' key, but with Opera it has options for the new tab/window to become the focus or to open a background tab/window).

Other difference is that one about Opera not showing the passwords that have been saved.

In some cases that might be an advantage for people who don't like the idea their pw list could be read, but of course it would still allow logins unless you've changed pw on the website... and of course it lists websites, which could be another issue, if one wanted medical / emotional / legal advice and someone else {who may be the cause of needing that advice} were able to login as the main user.

Have to say I really didn't like the autofill on FF v3 where you are entering a website address as it seems to be far more verbose with giving the website title as well as web address... hence only one PC of several has that version on it!

NetworkGuy · 19/08/2009 10:58

Forgot to mention, one of the things I love about FF is the number of add-ons which exist.

Sure, not all will be of interest, but pop-up blockers, flash blockers, and tools to show JavaScript, Cookies, and so on work well.

Hmmmm I see that the 'wunderloop.net' code puts a (near) invisible (1x1) image on, presumably some sort of hit counter... just spotrted a thread on Webuser forum - sounds like 'Phorm' insofar as the products/services offered include tracking a user's interests to allow targetted adverts to appear.

For anyone who dislikes tracking / adverts, there are ways to block them being looked up (using a 'hosts' file - a bit too geeky to go into this minute, but happy to do so for anyone really keen - its one way to stop any lookups from being found on the net - I've got lots of advert sites listed in my file so they never display) just going to add "tu.connect.wunderloop.net" to it... no more wunderloop cookies for me !

Forgot to add - there are advert blockers in the FF add-ons too! I've been meaning to write an article about my favourite add-ons but I guess I will need to do two (three, now that FF v3.5 is out, as there are some which won't work with all versions).

KnickKnack · 19/08/2009 16:18

Thanks MrA...3rd party duly unticked!

NetGuy...a list of good add-ons would be cool (maybe on a separate thread). I've never bothered with more than popup and ad blockers.

Norks and DailyMail...maybe you should list all the privacy options you have ticked. Sometimes its easier for someone else to spot the problem.

NorksNappiesAndNowtElse · 19/08/2009 16:26

Mine has ticked:

remember browsing history for 90 days
remember download history
remember search and form history
accept cookies from sites (no exceptions are listed)

I am willing to be brave and try other systems, but my main thing is... I like that I can type random things in my title bar thingy and it just takes me straight to that page (so if I type "mumsnet" it brings me here, if I type "nick jr games" it takes me to their games section - I don't have to bother going with the search engine stage ). Can I get it to do that on opera or summat?

I tried google chrome for a bit but got stroppy - forgotten why

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