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disabling sponsorlinks on new tab in "about config" ?

  • 1 reply
  • 1 has this problem
  • 3 views
  • Last reply by cor-el

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Now I need help with the correct steps to physically cripple it via "about config"? How do I do this?

OK I am really getting annoyed with this forced features being built into the browser and bloating it. by the time I add my preferred security addons and such it slows and cripples the browser.

I did not have these problems before they added video chat, reader, now sponsored links.

These features MUST be made as addons because many of us DO NOT want this crap and being it is built directly into the browser its is BLOATING THE BROWSER. To the point if you try to add your own addons it cripple the browser usability.

I DO NOT WANT TO SIMPLY HIDE IT.

I want to CRIPPLE The sponsor links. Make it so it CAN NOT RUN. Especially if there is any report home functions built in. But most importantly its ANNOYING AS HELL, when I had intentionally set up my "new tab" via About config to only show the homepage search engine and nothing else.


I DO NOT want to hear garbage about how sponsorlinks is a must, in order to fund firefox and that I shouldn't cripple the feature.

better option is to Ask for donations, with a quick link, out of the way and NOT flashy, is the best way to get funding via crowd funding. Overloading our browsers with this FORCED Bloatware is counter productive.

I have looked for other "ask questions" regarding this. All I see, is using the gear to make invisible. THAT IS NOT ENOUGH FOR ME.

"Invisible" does not necessarily mean it is not running in the background.

Yes I have sent feedback to Mozilla team.

I looked at the new changes on the mozzilla page before updating it, to specifically see if they added this kind of crap. They failed to list it as a new feature in the update notes.

The only thing this does is makes it so that I will then refuse to update to avoid this crap/bloatware. And in the end my browser security gets compromised. It was the critical security fixes is why I had updated.

For example Microsoft kept adding updates that was crippling my computer to the point that I no longer do updates because they refuse to explain what the update really does. I got sick of putting my hand in a hidden viper nest, where had no idea if the viper is home or not.

Mozilla I see the trend, that your following Microsoft example, KNOCK IT OFF. You were found specifically to give users an alternative to Microsoft heavy handed approach of forcing people to use their computers in a manor to which they do not..

Now I need help with the correct steps to physically cripple it via "about config"? How do I do this? OK I am really getting annoyed with this forced features being built into the browser and bloating it. by the time I add my preferred security addons and such it slows and cripples the browser. I did not have these problems before they added video chat, reader, now sponsored links. These features MUST be made as addons because many of us DO NOT want this crap and being it is built directly into the browser its is BLOATING THE BROWSER. To the point if you try to add your own addons it cripple the browser usability. I DO NOT WANT TO SIMPLY HIDE IT. I want to CRIPPLE The sponsor links. Make it so it CAN NOT RUN. Especially if there is any report home functions built in. But most importantly its ANNOYING AS HELL, when I had intentionally set up my "new tab" via About config to only show the homepage search engine and nothing else. I DO NOT want to hear garbage about how sponsorlinks is a must, in order to fund firefox and that I shouldn't cripple the feature. better option is to Ask for donations, with a quick link, out of the way and NOT flashy, is the best way to get funding via crowd funding. Overloading our browsers with this FORCED Bloatware is counter productive. I have looked for other "ask questions" regarding this. All I see, is using the gear to make invisible. THAT IS NOT ENOUGH FOR ME. "Invisible" does not necessarily mean it is not running in the background. Yes I have sent feedback to Mozilla team. I looked at the new changes on the mozzilla page before updating it, to specifically see if they added this kind of crap. They failed to list it as a new feature in the update notes. The only thing this does is makes it so that I will then refuse to update to avoid this crap/bloatware. And in the end my browser security gets compromised. It was the critical security fixes is why I had updated. For example Microsoft kept adding updates that was crippling my computer to the point that I no longer do updates because they refuse to explain what the update really does. I got sick of putting my hand in a hidden viper nest, where had no idea if the viper is home or not. Mozilla I see the trend, that your following Microsoft example, KNOCK IT OFF. You were found specifically to give users an alternative to Microsoft heavy handed approach of forcing people to use their computers in a manor to which they do not..

All Replies (1)

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If you want to remove the sponsored directory links on the about:newtab page then use these steps:

You can set the browser.newtabpage.directory.source pref to an empty string on the about:config page.

  • browser.newtabpage.directory.source = <empty>
  • browser.newtabpage.directory.ping = <empty>

You can delete the directoryLinks.json file in the parent location of the disk cache to remove the currently stored directory links.

  • delete directoryLinks.json

See the about:cache page for the location of the disk cache and go one level up.