What happens? Do you get a specific error message?

If a warning panel appears on the login form on an HTTP page and blocks access to the username or password field, try pressing the Esc key so you can access the field.

jscher2000, the DVR does have a login page but I can't get to it at all with Firefox. Internet Explorer has no problem with this. Firefox throws up a page stating "Unable to connect" and that it can't establish a connection to the server. The "Show site information" icon at the left of the url bar states in red, "connection is not secure." I'm assuming that's the problem...that I need to give Firefox permission to open that page. I tried some permissions, but nothing seemed to help. I know that G.Chrome simply won't open an un-secure page. I'm hoping Firefox hasn't gone that far. Otherwise there are going to be a whole lot of security DVR owners who suddenly can't access their DVRs unless they revert to Internet Explorer.

Firefox can still open HTTP addresses.

With HTTPS addresses, you may get one of these error pages:

• "Your connection is not secure" -- page generally has an "Advanced" button to get more technical information. (What do the security warning codes mean?)
• "Secure Connection Failed" -- typically has scantier information about the problem and if the padlock appears normally, can be taken to mean "connection failed" (Secure connection failed and Firefox did not connect)

Is it one of those?

If it's not an HTTPS page problem, could you right-click the page and see whether the context menu shows a "This Frame" item. If it does, expand that menu and try Open Frame in New Tab and see whether that makes any difference.

jscher2000, I get a different sort of error message. The tab is named "Problem loading page," and on the (mostly white) page it says in large letters, "Unable to connect," followed by some suggestions, none of which are helpful. Right clicking on the page gives me a menu but the choices are mostly about saving the page or viewing the source, or "Inspect element." None of these lead to anything helpful. I think I just need to know how to set Firefox to allow this particular http connection to be made...a sort of "trusted site" permission. I feel this is probably a simple thing to do, but Mozilla seems to have made it somewhat obscure, probably because they don't really want people doing it. Do you know how to do this? Thanks, Rob

This doesn't sound like a permission problem -- and anyway, I can't think of any way to stop Firefox from loading insecure pages that you could switch off.

Are you trying to load a normal web page, or is the address directly to a video feed?

Assuming there's video, could you compare in Internet Explorer: what plugin is used for the feed?

If it's Flash, make sure Flash is installed an enabled in Firefox. See: Install the Flash plugin to view videos, animations and games.

If it's something provided by the manufacturer of the DVR or cameras, there's yer trouble. The regular release of Firefox 52-56 only allow one plugin, which is Flash.

The Extended Support Release (ESR) of Firefox 52 will still run other old plugins. ESR was first developed to meet the needs of large organizations that wanted Firefox to change much more slowly, but anyone can run it. It will retain the features of Firefox 52 and get regular security updates through next Spring. See: Why do Java, Silverlight, Adobe Acrobat and other plugins no longer work?

If you decide to try ESR, you can download from:

https://www.mozilla.org/firefox/organizations/all/

Choose the 32-bit version because 64-bit is limited to Flash and Silverlight. Although this article is backwards from the move you would be making, it may still be applicable in principle: How to switch from 32-bit to 64-bit Firefox.

Jscher, you were correct: Adobe Flash was not installed in Firefox’s add-ons/plugins, so I just installed it (shows up as “Shockwave Flash”). I still can’t access my security DVR.

I’m not sure if accessing the DVR brings up a “normal web page.” With Internet Explorer (IE11) the browser first downloads and displays the DVR’s login page. Upon signing in I then see a sort of “dashboard” or control panel interface. Within that is displayed the live video feeds from my three cameras. There are also some tabs there that let me get into some of the systems settings. As explained below, I don’t have to install anything for this. The DVR provides the login page.

I picked up some malware on my PC a few months ago that I had to work at removing. IE was somewhat damaged in the process and I was unable to repair it had to have a complete re-install of Windows 8.1 last week. That’s why I now want to use Firefox.

Afterwards, I did not install any software associated with the DVR. The first time I used IE to access it, the login page instantly appeared and I signed in saw the video feed within seconds. In IE’s list of add-ons there is now one named SurveillanceCtrl Control. I assume the DVR put it there the first time I logged. I assume that Firefox would have to accept the same add-on.

In the Permissions section for the DVR’s (unconnected) web page, I just tried changing “Install add-ons” to “Allow.” Default is to block these. I reloaded/retried the page but still no joy. And the add-on isn’t showing up in Extensions or Plugins. Firefox is just refusing to access the DVR in any way.

I also tried giving permission to “allow Adobe Flash,” and to “open pop-up windows.” I reloaded the page again (more than once) and the login page still won’t appear.

FWIW (probably not much), I went to YouTube and had no problem watching videos there. Can you tell me: when Firefox balks at opening/displaying an insecure http web page, how does one then go on and open it anyway. I see nothing that says “continue and open page.”

I appreciate your persistence with this...I'm learning but it's not my field of expertise.

Rob

Hi Rob, IE add-ons (ActiveX controls) only run in IE, but the DVR may have a different add-on (plugin) for Firefox. But regular releases of Firefox 52+ do not accept plugins other than Flash, so if SurveillanceCtrl is required, you would need to switch to the Extended Support Release.

Can you check the manufacturer's website for any advice about compatible browsers and system requirements?

MozRob said

Can you tell me: when Firefox balks at opening/displaying an insecure http web page, how does one then go on and open it anyway. I see nothing that says “continue and open page.”

There isn't an error page like that as far as I know. I've never heard of Firefox saying "can't connect" because it is refusing to connect simply because it's an http address. For years most of the web was http.

Do you use any intermediaries in your browsing? For example, security software that filters all your requests, like Avast, Bitdefender, ESET, or Kaspersky, Or a proxy server/private VPN?

You may want to check:

• Windows: "3-bar" menu button (or Tools menu) > Options
• Mac: "3-bar" menu button (or Firefox menu) > Preferences
• Linux: "3-bar" menu button (or Edit menu) > Preferences

Scroll to the bottom of the General panel to the Network Proxy setion and click the "Settings" button. The default of "Use system proxy settings" piggybacks on your Windows/IE "LAN" setting. "Auto-detect" can lead to a flaky connection. You may want to try "No proxy".

Jscher, I’ve left a query for the support department at Security Camera King that sold me the security DVR in 2013. They certainly should know how to get the DVR to play nice with Firefox. I’m sure that Firefox will need the missing add-on, “SurveillanceCtrl Control,” before I can log in to the DVR. This is probably the source of the problem.

I do have Avast Free Antivirus. FWIW, it gives me no flak about connecting with Internet Explorer to the DVR, nor have AVG or Avira in years past. This has never been an issue. Were you referring to something more than the basic antivirus when you asked about “security software that filters all your requests”? And I have no proxy server/private VPN. Hoping I understood you correctly, in IE I went to Tools > Internet Options > Connections > LAN settings. “ Automatically detect settings” is checked. There is a checkbox below for “Use a proxy server for your LAN.” It was unchecked. There is no “no proxy” checkbox.

Thanks again for sticking with me. I’ll let you know if I get it figured out.

Rob

Boot the computer in Windows Safe mode with network support to see if that has effect in case security software is causing problems.

• http://www.bleepingcomputer.com/tutorials/how-to-start-windows-in-safe-mode/
• http://www.7tutorials.com/4-ways-boot-safe-mode-windows-10

Cor-el, thanks for the post. I will keep that in mind, but with some prompting from jscher I have finally realized/remembered that there is an add-on ("SurveillanceCtrl Control") that is required in the browser before I can access the security DVR. The DVR apparently supplies it immediately the first time a new (Internet Explorer) browser attempts to log in. No matter what other issues may or may not be happening, I can't access the DVR with Firefox until/unless the DVR can first install the add-on. I suspect that IS the issue. I've contacted the DVR seller's support department and am waiting to find out if there's a version of the add-on for Firefox, or what else they may have to say about this. Also, jscher2000 said, Firefox won't allow the installation of such a thing anyway, so I'm very interested in what Support has to say. I'll post here when I hear back from Support. Thanks, guys. Rob

You can consider install the portable 52.4.0 ESR Firefox version to access websites that do not work with the current Firefox release.

The portable version comes with its own profile folder and doesn't interfere with currently installed Firefox versions.

• http://portableapps.com/apps/internet/firefox-portable-esr
• http://portableapps.com/apps/internet/firefox_portable

Well, guys, I have the answer. I did hear back from the DVR supplier Support. The required ActiveX plugin is only for Internet Explorer. They don't have anything for other browsers (although I would think that must be changing for newer DVRs. IE may not be around that much longer).

He told me there is an unofficial workaround that has worked for some who want to use Chrome, Firefox or SeaMonkey browsers to access their DVRs. There's an extension called "IE Tab." It was even favorably reviewed on CNET several years ago. "IE Tab for Firefox" lets one open IE-only sites within Firefox. So that's the name of that tune. I may just give this a try. Thanks for all of the assistance. I've learned a few things here. Now, if I could just get it to stick.... Rob

Please don't bother with IE Tab. It often causes problems with the user interface, and since it is IE running inside a tab, you might as well just use IE.

Yes, I hear you; I hadn't fully decided what to do. I'm OK for now just using IE to occasionally access the DVR. Also, the folks behind IE Tab--Blackfish Software--seem to now be exclusively focused on IE Tab for Chrome. I left a query with them last night about the for-Firefox version, but there's really no rush for me to do or install anything. I just liked the idea of simplicity...of settling on just one browser.

I found it interesting first trying Chrome last week. I thought it was OK, but noticed that text sometimes appeared slightly gray and fuzzy. Then I found comments online going back many years wherein people had the exact same complaint. Then I found that headlines for articles on Yahoo Finance stock pages were consistently a couple of months old. Repeated refreshes didn't help. When viewed with IE the current headlines/articles showed up immediately. And then I also found comments about that issue online going back many years wherein people had the exact same complaint. This is weird. How can Chrome be so popular with these giant flaws in it? Do all of the Chrome fans not notice? With Firefox, no such problem. That's why I'm here. Thanks, Jscher. Your suggestions got me to look at things I might not have on my own. I may have a new question for the board in the future about the surprisingly confusing mess of files and folders that is my Bookmarks folder, but I'll take a break and get on with other things for now. Bye, Rob