Can you prevent Firefox from EVER opening a new window without approval?

Many websites open a new advertising window when you click ANYWHERE on the webpage. On occasion they are so ill-behaved that they effectively hijack your browser, not allowing you to close the window or navigate away, and rather than risk getting a virus I usually kill Firefox from the task manager... not exactly an ideal way to shut down!
Is there any way to get Firefox to ask my permission before opening a new window, or ideally let me add websites to a whitelist so they are allowed to open new windows, or less ideally let me add websites to a blacklist so they are NEVER allowed to open new windows?
I am well aware that this is "normal" behavior and unfortunately falls outside of the controls that prevent pop-ups, because in some cases you DO want to allow a website to open a new window, but in my experience this is the exception and not the rule so forcing me to approve the new window would be nice, but as I said being able to whitelist approved sites would be ideal.

Thanks, dmcritchie! On your advice I have been using ADP for a couple of weeks, and I think that took care of my problem!

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How can I prevent Firefox from ever automatically updating without my say so. It just did, and DESTROYED all bookmarks. I'm BUMMED about that

There were NO .json files saved anywhere in the 'puter. I need to be reliably OPTED OUT of automatic updating unless the auto destruction forces warn me aforehand to backup my cookies, bookmarks, email and etc. When I now click on Help, I get an automatic start of "downloading Firefox 3.6.6" WHAT KIND OF HELP IS THAT?

Your bookmarkbackups folder is your Profile folder which is normally a folder hidden by Windows.
See:
https://support.mozilla.com/en-US/kb/Lost+Bookmarks#Restoring_bookmark_backups
http://support.mozilla.com/en-US/kb/Profiles#How_to_find_your_profile
http://kb.mozillazine.org/Show_hidden_files_and_folders
Everything indicates that you have Firefox 3.6.3; the current version is Firefox 3.6.6. To check your version at any time, click Help > About Mozilla Firefox.
You can manually check for updates by clicking Help > Check for Updates.
To change your options on Automatic Updates for Firefox: Tools > Options > Advanced > Update
See: http://support.mozilla.com/en-US/kb/Options+window+-+Advanced+panel#Update_tab
I use the "Ask me what I want to do" option. It will still check, but ask you if you want to update '''IF''' you leave the check mark next to Firefox. Un-check Firefox and you run the risk of missing important security updates. With Firefox checked, it should check for updates, by default, once per day.
'''''Other Issues''''': ~~red:You have installed plug-ins with known security issues. You should update them immediately.~~
'''Update Java''': your ver. 1.6.0.17; current ver. 1.6.0.20 (important security update 04-15-2010)
(Firefox 3.6 and above requires Java 1.6.0.10 and above; see: http://support.mozilla.com/en-US/kb/Java-related+issues#Java_does_not_work_in_Firefox_3_6 )
''(Windows users: Do the manual update; very easy.)''
~~red:Check your version here~~: http://www.mozilla.com/en-US/plugincheck/
See: '''[http://support.mozilla.com/en-US/kb/Using+the+Java+plugin+with+Firefox#Updates Updating Java]'''
Do the update with Firefox closed.
'''Update Shockwave for Director''': your ver. 10.1 (~~red:very old~~); current ver. 11.5.7.609 (important security update released 2010-05-11; see http://www.adobe.com/support/security/bulletins/apsb10-12.html)
NOTE: this is not the same as Shockwave Flash; this installs the Shockwave Player.
~~red:Check your version here~~: http://www.mozilla.com/en-US/plugincheck/
SAVE the installer to your hard drive (Desktop is a good place so you can find it). When the download is complete, exit Firefox (File > Exit), locate and double-click in the installer you just downloaded, let the install complete.
IMPORTANT: I have found it wise to always restart your system after doing anything with Adobe products.
See: '''[http://support.mozilla.com/en-US/kb/Using+the+Shockwave+plugin+with+Firefox#_Installing_Shockwave Installing Shockwave]'''
'''You''' ~~red:'''MAY'''~~ '''need to Update Adobe Reader for Firefox''': your ver. N/A; current ver. 9.3.2
~~red:Check your version here~~: http://www.mozilla.com/en-US/plugincheck/
See: http://support.mozilla.com/en-US/kb/Using+the+Adobe+Reader+plugin+with+Firefox#Installing_and_updating_Adobe_Reader
''You may be able to update from the Adobe Reader installed on your system'' instead of going to the Adobe site and downloading. Start > Program Files, find and click Adobe Reader to open, click Help, click Check for Updates.
''If you go to the Adobe site to download the current Adobe Reader:''
-'''use Firefox to download''' and '''SAVE to your hard drive''' (save to Desktop for easy access)
~~red:-See the images at the bottom left of this post to see the steps to take on the Adobe site~~
-exit Firefox (File > Exit)
-check to see that Firefox is completely closed (''Ctrl+Alt+Del, choose Task Manager, click Processes tab, if "firefox.exe" is on the list, right-click "firefox.exe" and choose End process, close the Task Manager window'')
-double-click on the Adobe Reader installer you just downloaded to install/update Adobe Reader
*'''NOTE: On Vista and Windows 7''' you may need to run the plugin installer as Administrator by starting the installer via the right-click context menu if you do not get an UAC prompt to ask for permission to continue (i.e nothing seems to happen). See this: http://vistasupport.mvps.org/run_as_administrator.htm
*'''NOTE for IE:''' Firefox and most other browsers use a Plugin. IE uses an ActiveX version. To install/update the IE ActiveX version, same instructions as above, except use IE to download the ActiveX installer.
*Also see: http://kb.mozillazine.org/Adobe_Reader ~~red:'''''AND'''''~~ [[How do I edit options to add Adobe to the list of allowed sites]]

How can you get CMD + L to open a new window, when all windows are closed?

In Firefox 28 and earlier, you could hit Apple + L (CMD + L) when no FF windows were open, and it would pull up a blank page with the cursor blinking in the address bar.
After installing FF 29, when you hit CMD + L (with no windows open) it just plays the system alert sound and does nothing.
I want to be able to hit CMD + TAB to gain control of an idle Firefox, and then be able to hit CMD + L to gain control of a BLANK address bar.
Every other version of Firefox I've ever used did this, so am I missing something here? Any ideas?
Note: I realize that you can hit CMD + N to launch a new window and then CMD + L to select the text within the address bar. I'm not looking to re-train my habits within Firefox, but simply want that feature like it was in the previous 28 versions.

Well, after an entire week without a word from Mozilla, I officially give up.
I understand that new software will have bugs when it is released. I understand that the bugs are fixed in the order of greatest impact/priority. I also understand that my issue is not a bug, rather a feature that was inexplicably removed.
A couple of things I cannot understand —
Why would Mozilla remove '''ANY''' features from their software when they are touting this as the most customizable web browser ever? That is obviously not logical and will be to their detriment in the long run.
Furthermore, if a person did get on here just to complain about this update, they were immediately met with a canned response from a moderator, which offered a few options to make Firefox '''LOOK''' like the previous version. That speaks volumes about this update and the developers' confidence in it. The person who gets on here with a legitimate problem asking why a feature was removed — they get '''NO''' response from a moderator. Again, this speaks volumes. I am not even asking for an immediate solution to this problem, just the acknowledgement that there is a problem. On top of that, especially in the development of software, the old adage particularly rings its truest — ''If it ain't broke, don't fix it.''
Lastly, I think we can all agree that Firefox 29 is a blatant ripoff of Google Chrome. If I wanted Google Chrome, that is exactly what I would have downloaded. That pains me not only as a devout Firefox user for nearly 10 years, but especially as I have donated over $200 to the Mozilla Foundation in that time. In other words, I have financially supported the development of a software that has become absolutely indifferent to its users' needs, and moreover, they have now resorted to copying off of their neighbor.
I have since rolled back versions — all the way to Netscape Navigator 9 — which seems to have just about as much functionality as the bungled mess that is Firefox 29.
I genuinely appreciate all of the time and effort that goes in to creating open-source software, and I financially support the projects that I feel adhere to the open-source philosophy. That said, Mozilla.org seems to be straying away from this philosophy, to the point where, for me, it is simply time for a change.
Thanks for the memories, Firefox!

Can I prevent Firefox from attempting to restore all windows after a crash (even though I have set it to start with a blank page)?

Given that some of the open windows are probably what made it crash in the first instance, this is very annoying. Sometimes it gives me an error message apologising for not being able to load the pages, but often it just tries again.

You can do this by changing a hidden preference.
# Type '''about:config''' into the location bar and press enter
# Accept the warning that appears, this will then bring up a list of preferences
# Type '''crash''' into the filter box
# Double-click on the preference browser.sessionstore.resume_from_crash to change its value to '''false'''

How can I prevent Firefox from cleaning my clipboard at exit (exit or closing firefox) ?

How can I prevent Firefox from cleaning my clipboard at exit (exit or closing firefox) ?
I am using FF 9.0.1 and the problem start from FF 5.0

You can't prevent that. 
If you've placed data on the clipboard in Firefox then you need to paste that data in the other program, if that is your intention, before closing Firefox.

How can I prevent Firefox from re-installing test pilot?

I had removed the test pilot extension and its feedback button in Firefox 4.0b9. I let Firefox upgrade itself to 4.0b10 and didn't notice that silently re-installed it.
I was typing in another application when suddenly that window was minimized and the focus shifted to a Firefox "new test pilot study" window that popped up. Even if I had given permission for that software to be installed, that is rude.
I am not willing to trust that if I disable this logging software that it will stay disabled the next time I upgrade. I will remove test pilot again. '''How can I prevent Firefox from re-installing it?'''
One way might be to set extensions.rdf read-only. However, I do not wish to lose the ability to install add-ons, I merely do not want anybody (including Mozilla) to install an add-on without my permission.
https://bugzilla.mozilla.org/show_bug.cgi?id=519357 doesn't seem to address this problem as test pilot is a known component. Its not a plug-in so I can't modify the plugin scanning settings to prevent it from being loaded. Is there some way I can reliably supplement http://www.mozilla.com/en-US/blocklist/ with a local block list file? If so, would I have to update that whenever a new version of test Pilot is released?
http://support.mozilla.com/en-US/kb/Add-ons%20blocklist

I'm not sure what you mean by "re-directs e-mails." Are the recipient addresses changing between the time you address the message and the time it is sent?
If you could provide more information I think that would help in tracking this down.
When you use Firefox to work with your webmail site, whether Yahoo! or Gmail or another, the mechanics of sending the mail are handled by the site itself. So if there is a problem with how messages are addressed, then you may need to check your Yahoo! mail settings.

How can I get Firefox to automatically open a new search in a new tab please?

How can I get Firefox to automatically open a new search in a new tab please? [Without me manually opening the tab]

For searches from the Search Bar, when you use the Enter key.
Type '''about:config''' in the URL bar and hit Enter. 
''If you see the warning, you can confirm that you want to access that page.''
Pref = '''browser.search.openintab''' = double-click to toggle to '''true'''

Can you sync attachments from an iPhone to a Windows PC with Outlook 2007?

Can you sync attachments from an iPhone to a Windows PC with Outlook 2007? I would like to receive email on the iphone with attachments and then sync the attachments to a Windows XP PC with Outlook 2007 without Outlook 2007 having to connect to the mail server itself and having to separely download the attachment. Is this possible?
I have only tried one pdf file which downloaded wonderfully to the iPhone. I synced to the PC without the PC being connected to the email account. This also worked except that when I tried to open the attachment on the PC I got a message that the mail wasn't fully downloaded. When I went on=line on the PC, it downloaded the attachment. I would love to have this option because I can't access some email accounts from my corporate computer.

Can you sync attachments from an iPhone to a Windows PC with Outlook 2007? I would like to receive email on the iphone with attachments and then sync the attachments to a Windows XP PC with Outlook 2007 without Outlook 2007 having to connect to the mail server itself and having to separely download the attachment. Is this possible?
No it is not. The only information synced regarding email accounts is the email account information only and this is in one direction only - from your computer to the iPhone via iTunes.

Firefox lately always opens a new window

Whenever I click a link in firefox, whether I option-click it or right-click it and choose "Open in new Tab." Firefox lately always opens a new window, not a tab. For the life of me, I cannot get it to open a page in a new tab.
There was a time when I had one window open, and every time I would choose to create a new tab, it would create it in that window instead of the window I was currently in, but I have since closed that window, and now I cannot get a link to open in a new tab no matter what I do.
I have tried both selecting and deselecting "Open new windows in a new tab instead" In Firefox preferences, restarting Firefox in "Safe" mode, etc. to no avail.
How do I fix this?

There are other settings in about:config that might be causing that effect.
<pre>browser.link.open_newwindow
3 = divert new window to a new tab (default) (checked*)
2 = allow link to open a new window (unchecked*)
1 = force new window into same tab
* First checkbox in Options > Tabs (on Mac, Preferences > Tabs)
browser.link.open_newwindow.restriction
0 = open_newwindow preference honored for all new windows
2 = open_newwindow preference honored for all new windows except script windows with features (default)
1 = open_newwindow preference ignored completely (same effect as open_newwindow=2)
browser.link.open_newwindow.override.external
-1 = open_newwindow applies to external links (default)
3 = open external links in a new tab
2 = open external links in a new window
1 = open external links in active tab </pre>

When I open a new window, the current window is closed. I would like to keep the current window and open the new window without losing my current window. I checked "Open new window in a new tab instead" under tabs

When I open a new window, the current window is closed. I would like to keep the current window and open the new window without losing my current window. I checked "Open new window in a new tab instead" under tabs
== This happened ==
Every time Firefox opened
== Noticed yesterday, June27, 2010

i just went into preferences, deleted what was in the home page, and entered a new home page address which solved the problem,

How can I prevent Firefox from checking whether Adobe Flash is up to date?

I just updated Flash a week ago and already Firefox is prompting me to replace the update with the message "Firefox has prevented the outdated plugin Adobe Flash from running on" (etc.) How can I prevent Firefox (I'm using version 35.0.1) from running this check forever?

"Add-ons" is a mis-leading term, regarding what appears in the Add-ons Manager tab. "Addons" includes Extensions, Search Engines, Themes (Appearance), User Scripts, Styles, and Services - all of which the "Updates" can be controlled by Firefox preferences. "Plugins" are shown in the AOM too, but unlike the others, Firefox has no control over updates for Plugins. As James mentioned, Plugins aren't installed within Firefox as the other categories of "Add-Ons" are - and updates are controlled by the application that installed the Plugin that Firefox uses from each application's own set of folders or wherever in Windows files the Plugin is placed by the installer.
IMO, the biggest problem with Flash is that it is set by default to only look for an update once a month. So when Adobe updates Flash multiple times a month (3 "updates" in January alone) the Flash updater can'r catch each update as it occurs, or even within an acceptable "window of time". A user might "fall behind" as many as 3 new version releases quite easily.
As far as clicking to "Allow" each video when you're behind a version or two with Flash, at least Mozilla does a "soft block" and permits you to "Allow" - a "hard block" would make it impossible to use Flash at all. And "yes". Mozilla ''can do" a "hard block" when necessary.
In conclusion, Flash is a dying technology, which deserves to be buried. It is too "exploitable" by the "bad guys". All the recent "updates" are for security patches for fixing "holes" in Flash and stability fixes to an old application that "has seen better days" (like 10 years ago).
HTML5 Video looks like the future. Use it where you can, like at YouTube which gives you a choice for many videos they host - but you you need to enable that feature in Google preferences or all you're liable got get is Flash videos. With other websites, their users need to tell them that they want HTML5 videos only.

Possible to prevent Firefox from loading two versions of Flash, without disabling PLID scan?

Our IT department—what a great way to start a question—does not roll out regular updates for Flash. To bridge this security gap for Firefox on my work computer, I copy the following files:
* flashplayer.xpt
* FlashPlayerPlugin_<version>.exe
* FlashUtil32_<version>_Plugin.exe
* NPSWF32_<version>.dll
from C:\Windows\System32\Macromed\Flash on another machine and paste them to
C:\Users\<myusername>\AppData\Roaming\Mozilla\Plugins on my work machine. When Firefox starts, it scans the various locations (http://kb.mozillazine.org/Plugin_scanning) and finds both this version and of course the outdated version originally installed, which IT does not update (currently 11.1.102.55). This effectively updates Flash, and until IT finds a solution to distribute updates I'll have to continue to update Flash manually (Java is unfortunately not so easy to fix), but still leaves me with a problem.
My perceived problem is that Firefox still scans the default installation directory of Flash and thus finds the outdated version. Under Add-ons > Plug-ins, I can select from "Ask to Activate," "Always Activate" and "Never Activate." If I select "Ask to Activate" for the current version (12.0.0.43) and "Never Activate" for the old version (11.1.102.55), upon restarting Firefox it sets both to "Ask to Activate." I conclude that Firefox does not treat separate Flash versions independently. Since constantly being prompted to activate Flash is bothersome, I could just set both to "Always Activate," but that leaves an old, even-more-compromised-than-the-current version of Flash activated.
The best solution, I suppose, would be to uninstall the outdated version of Flash, but I don't have the administrative rights to do so, and don't want to pester our IT administrators. I could prevent Firefox from scanning the directories specified in the Windows registry for PLIDs (see above link), but this would prevent it from finding my also-outdated-but-only-installed Java Plug-In, which I keep thinking I need. The behavior I'm after is to prevent Firefox from scanning or finding the old Flash version, while still finding my Java Plug-in. How could I go about this?
Thanks

Maybe you can check the pluginreg.dat file to see if you can disable/remove the other Flash plugin and make the file read-only to prevent changes.
You can use this button to go to the Firefox profile folder:
*Help > Troubleshooting Information > Profile Directory: Show Folder (Linux: Open Directory; Mac: Show in Finder)
*http://kb.mozillazine.org/Profile_folder_-_Firefox
*http://kb.mozillazine.org/Issues_related_to_plugins

How can I prevent apps from syncing in the new iTunes?

Hey there.
I brang my macbook to Applestore cause it had a problem and they downloaded the latest version of itunes. Everything's fine and my music, videos and apps are in the new itunes like before. But now, when I want to sync my ipod touch, a pop window asks me to give the password of the itunes account I used to download some of my apps or it will delete them and their data. The problem is that one of these accounts is an old friend's one and I actually lost all contact with him. So basically now I can't sync my iphone at all or it will delete all my apps.
Has anyone any idea how to sort that out? Or at least knows how to prevent apps from syncing in this new version of itunes?
Thanks for your help

Double tap the Home button...slide the last used view of the app(above the icon) up. Tap Home button when finished.

Firefox will not open a new page without permission

I need to stop a setting that prevents firefox from opening a new page while at a web site or browsing, and can't figure out which setting or add on is causing the problem.
Help much appreciated! Very annoying!!

You're welcome

Firefox crashes when opening a new window

Firefox opens normally and runs properly -- until I close all its windows. When zero windows are present, and I return to Firefox and ask for a new window, Firefox hangs. To resolve the problem I must Force Quit the app, which generates a crash report to Apple. Occasionally Firefox has crashed on its own and generated a crash report to Mozilla, but this is rare. I have tried disabling all add-ons, but that had no effect.
As long as there is at least one Firefox window open, the app functions normally. This problem only occurs when going from zero windows to one window.

Try to repair the disk permissions:
*http://thexlab.com/faqs/repairprocess.html
Try to remove the Firefox plist file (org.mozilla.firefox.plist).
*http://www.macfixit.com/article.php?story=20060606082246983 How .plist files become corrupt and troubleshooting the results
Go to "~/Library/Preferences" and remove the plist file for Firefox (org.mozilla.firefox.plist)
You can also check for problems with the localstore.rdf file.
*http://kb.mozillazine.org/Corrupt_localstore.rdf

Can you prevent Firefox from EVER opening a new window without approval?

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