Why have Facebook notifications been enabled?
I'm fairly sure that I recently allowed Firefox to install an update.
Since then I've been getting pop up notifications from Facebook. It never happened before.
These are related to searches I've performed in Google shortly beforehand. It isn't a coincidence.
How has this happened? Why are Facebook notifications explicitly enabled? What data is Firefox enabling Facebook to see in order to target content so specifically?
The answer "you can turn off the notifications" is not an answer.
I haven't used Facebook in over ten years. I do not have a Facebook account.
Having moved over from MS Edge I've been really happy with this browser, but this experience strongly suggests I should be looking elsewhere for something that prioritises user security.
What has changed with Firefox? Should I be concerned about Facebook's evident control over your browser? Was money the motivation for enabling these notifications in the update?
All Replies (5)
Hi, the answer is cloudy as not sure but yes. You should not be getting Facebook Notifications if have not used it in 10yrs.
Finding your searches back at you I would think ya Security, what happened.
Not sure. But let's please eliminate Malware : https://www.malwarebytes.com/
Note : Firefox does not share information with Google or Facebook.
You can Copy/Paste about:config into the Address Bar and Enter Copy/Paste into the Search Bar that goes width of the browser at the top : (3) To disable PUSH NOTIFICATIONS, double-click the dom.webnotifications.serviceworker.enabled preference to switch its value from true to false -- sites can still generate desktop notifications while you have a tab open to the site
(4) To disable ALL NOTIFICATIONS, double-click the dom.webnotifications.enabled preference to switch its value from true to false -- this is a master switch, you won't get any desktop notifications from sites
Hi dtmark, I don't think Facebook generates notifications outside of its site, so it's very odd that they are labeled as coming from Facebook. Could you post a screenshot of one or more of the notifications you are seeing? The following article has tips on capturing screenshots: How do I create a screenshot of my problem? Please cut out or blur any sensitive information before attaching the image to a reply.
Also, have you ruled out a rogue extension? You can view, disable, and often remove unwanted or unknown extensions on the Add-ons page. Either:
- Ctrl+Shift+a (Mac: Command+Shift+a)
- "3-bar" menu button (or Tools menu) > Add-ons
- type or paste about:addons in the address bar and press Enter/Return
In the left column of the Add-ons page, click Extensions.
Then cast a critical eye over the list on the right side. Any extensions Firefox installs for built-in features are hidden from this page, so everything listed here is your choice (and your responsibility) to manage. Anything suspicious or that you just do not remember installing or why? If in doubt, disable (or remove).
Any improvement?
Really appreciate the quick responses, thanks.
This is on W10. The Facebook notifications are of the type that appear in the bottom right of a desktop window just above the task bar and are so similar to e.g. MS Outlook new mail notifications that I honestly thought I'd imagined the first one. I went searching through all email just in case. It wasn't in there.
That came after searching for a particular place in London - one (not very famous) street. About an hour later, "You may know.." (some strange person at that same location).
I tried to screen shot the second one but sadly managed to capture the wrong desktop (dual monitor). It clearly said "via facebook.com". At this point I found the offending entry in Settings and removed it.
The Add-Ons that are installed are Privacy Badger and Flash and Video Download.
The offending entry appeared under Privacy & Security > (Permissions) Notifications - Settings.. which has two websites in it. One I added, and Facebook itself.
That specific last thing is the only thing I can guarantee that I didn't do. Everything else is set as I'd expect it to be, or as I set it to be. Nothing else suspicious has happened.
It is possible that Facebook was there from installation (it adds this "out of the box") and I never clicked into the settings to see it before. Yet, in about three weeks of use, this only began happening yesterday (update installed last week IIRC)
It is possible that this PC is infected. Though I have no warnings of anything like this. I'm fairly cautious with it.
So how the notifications became enabled is one mystery, the data leakage is another (Google > Facebook).
Notifications disabled now but I do still need to find where the data breach occured and to make sure it isn't ongoing. I realise the above doesn't really add any more information than we had before. Perhaps the Privacy Badger settings need tightening up (they're as default at the moment).
Hi, these days all you have to do is sniff at a site and you catch a cookie or something. Some call home. Ya, I disabled that setting for everything. Is possible wise to do and activate when need a micro phone or cam then white list it.
So ya all you had to do is cross a page that had Facebook logo and hidden link. So ad blockers Ghostery and uBlock Origin run together make a good team up.
- https://addons.mozilla.org/firefox/addon/ghostery/
- https://addons.mozilla.org/firefox/addon/ublock-origin/
Can break sites until get the hang of it and what to allow for Video. Ghostery can help you setup uBlock. You give away information one way or another. Do away with Privacy Badger and use one or both.
Modified by Shadow110