VBulletin URLs are having a "code" and "state" value added (now) for Firefox
I've run a VBulletin 4.2.2 forum for many years on a website I run. Recently I've noticed FIrefox has developed a problem. VBulletin is now adding in extra fields into URLs for "code" and "state". This did not used to happen, does not happen in other browsers and does not happen in a Fire Fox "Private Window".
As VBulletin has not changed, what has changed in Firefox such that VBulletin now thinks it needs to (incorrectly) add in "code" and "state" elements to its URLs.
I've tried this on two different PCs, with v47 and 48 of Firefox, and it's happening all the time. However, if I try it in a "Private Window", it does not then occur!
An example of what's happening to URLs:-
<a class="collapse" id="collapse_c_cat3" href="forum.php?code=AQDz4yegsYzHBVi_olG1gnxasgOy-w5wFVKN9Zsc67U2uJJ8_UK_F8HqwZECgVIJM8s5jDCKTSdDEl-DKERtQreKTWBGpl5hHLmYPLoYqwgkOYWttT4_K-PrvJx1DmDx83PiYx94rCaRje5u-KQCvd6UcZiunz6NnZpYvFqh9M3vYmrfP5abQASK4uCfdFPkzFehexdpAlY2QOvJVvMmVLLUaYfhh_3iWZe4AO0Km14vdADX1jHwglJVKfhdHXR6sPhnbxrvy86FNBNGCgA-xDIbLswYYYT24cFdJPoiHtW9AovYmug9KoCJg3Xt2a0Qja4&state=25351ff0a3ed1c8b74aae8c6ede892c0#top">
This is a very frustrating change in behaviour as it's made the forum unusable for Firefox users!
Wót NeilFawcett změnjony
Wšykne wótegrona (4)
My first thought would be that in a regular window, your Firefox is not accepting cookies from the site, so it is adding the critical parameters to the URL. However, that's just a guess. Could you double-check that you allow cookies on the site?
- This article describes how to liberalize cookie settings: Websites say cookies are blocked - Unblock them
- Also check for any add-ons which may affect how sites track sessions (cookie managers, Ghostery, Privacy Badger, etc.)
I've just wored out what it is, thanks to this - http://www.vbulletin.com/forum/forum/vbulletin-4/vbulletin-4-questions-problems-and-troubleshooting/4028216-random-querystring-code-at-end-of-my-urls
It's some sort of integration issue between VBulletin and a Facebook plugin that only affects Firefox.
I've disabled that plugin and all is ok in Firefox now.
Okay, that could explain why you didn't see it in a private window: Tracking Protection probably was blocking it. See: What happened to Tracking Protection?.
Love to know why not a problem on Chrome, but is on Firefox...
But I guess that's VBulletin's department...