Start Firefox in Diagnose Firefox issues using Troubleshoot Mode to check if one of the extensions or if hardware acceleration is causing the problem (switch to the DEFAULT theme: Firefox/Tools > Add-ons > Appearance/Themes).

• Don't make any changes on the Safe mode start window.
• https://support.mozilla.org/kb/Safe+Mode

• https://support.mozilla.org/kb/Troubleshooting+extensions+and+themes

I have the same problem with firefox 13 on Ubuntu 12.4, it happens when I use NewsFox. When I click on a news and move the mouse, it gets stuck with that icon and it's impossible to use it even in other applications. I had to kill firefox throught the terminal to continue using the computer, and this happens most of the time I try to use NewsFox. It happens with Gnome, now I'm using xfce and it seems to work. EDIT: no, it gets stuck in xfce too.

My mouse pointer hanged with the "hand" icon when adding a link in the Google Blogger editor. This was with in Firefox 13.0 in Ubuntu. Turning off hardware acceleration fixed the problem.

I have encountered this a couple of times over the last few weeks, usually when I have lots of Firefox tabs open. Basically it stops all mouse functionality except the ability to move the pointer. And the pointer becomes a fist.

However, the keyboard still works and I found a short term workaround:-

1. either a) "Alt+Tab" to a terminal that is already open, or b) use the "Alt+F2" to get a "Run Command" box

2. type "killall firefox", and hit the enter key.

That kills Firefox and allows the rest of my system to function normally. Otherwise I have to reboot by holding down the power button for 10 seconds or so - which is very undesirable indeed.

BTW, I'm running Kubuntu 12.04 c/w Firefox13.

I have the problem too with firefox 13.0.1 on Ubuntu 10.04 and on Ubuntu 11.10

Of course you could terminate "firefox" by typing "ALT-F4" but this wouldn't solve the "newsfox"-bug at all.

I recently discovered that typing "STRG-ALT-Del" (or - on german keyboards - "STRG-ALT-Entf") might help when the mouse pointer hangs up and changes permanently to the hand-symbol.

Unfortunately this only works for my desktop. On other systems this will lead to a shutdown.

It seems that 'newsfox' is running a script in the background which hangs up everey time you try to read a headline.

The problem didn't appear in elder versions. I couldn't fix the problem either yet.

Any suggestions?

Are there other rss-programs under linux which are similar and run fine?

There's Akgregator, as a separate application, which can import feeds from NewsFox (NewsFox settings button->export OPML). I noticed the problem happens only when I use the mouse, if I check feeds using arrow keys and tab I can move between them without problems, but it's very uncomfortable. It happens when I remove the mouse from a news, it seems it's trying to do a drag & drop of a post entry.

Here is the actual code, which is being called, when the cursor start to hang: javascript:tpzOnFocus('X72');if(!isPreview)tpzExecute('9',null,'detail');void(0);

Firefox 13.0.1 @ Archlinux, tried also with all extensions dissabled, but the result was same.

I have this issue as well. FF 13.01 on Xubuntu 11.10.

It seems to happen when I go into favorites and then out, but it's random. I think for it to happen I need to fumble the mouse in some way and lose the menu. But I can't seem to replicate it.

When is this going to be fixed? Seems like a trivial bug to me especially if it's not doing it in windows.