Hello Christopher Johnston, I think the information in these articles will clarify both of the questions which you posted here:

Trackers and scripts Firefox blocks in Enhanced Tracking Protection https://support.mozilla.org/en-US/kb/trackers-and-scripts-firefox-blocks-enhanced-track

Enhanced Tracking Protection in Firefox for desktop https://support.mozilla.org/en-US/kb/enhanced-tracking-protection-firefox-desktop

If you have any other questions, feel free to ask.

Browse Safe!

Hi My_Cheese_Is_Slippin',

Thank you for the links. I had visited both pages before. Now I have re-visited them. Reading the content of the pages, I still cannot find the answer to my question. Maybe my question was not clear:

While using Enhanced Tracking Protection: When a website asks for permission to install cookies - and I accept - will Firefox then allow those cookies to be installed or not?

Thank you very much for your help.

Maybe you missed it:

"Cookies Firefox blocks and doesn’t block

By default, Firefox blocks the cookies that track your browsing activity across multiple websites. This includes cross-site tracking cookies set by ad, social media, and analytics companies. Other cookies, such as those that remember your login credentials or items in your shopping cart, are still permitted by default."

When a website asks you to allow cookies, they're asking to allow first party site cookies.

So, the answer is Yes. Firefox will allow the cookies.

"When a website asks you to allow cookies, they're asking to allow first party site cookies.

So, the answer is Yes. Firefox will allow the cookies."

And this is where it gets a little tricky, at least as I see it. Because here in the EU, any given website doesn't just ask permission to install cookies necessary for the website to function. Websites also ask permission to install trackers and 'third-party' cookies. Usually, websites will ask permission for a slew cookies. I have copied and Google-translated headers for the different categories of cookies on offer from a local (Danish) newspaper:

- Storage of and access to information - Personalisation - Ad selection, delivery and reporting - Content selection, delivery and reporting - Measurement - Google

In addition, the newspaper asks permission to share information with collaborators. Those are a lot of options. Presumably designed (in part) to make visitors simply click 'yes to all'.

Now, if Firefox allows cookies to be installed based on a simple request from a website, Enhanced Tracking Protection is virtually useless in the EU. That would mean that I - or anyone - wanting to block cookies and trackers would have to manually block them from every site. Or choose some other plug-in for Firefox.

Conversely, if Firefox does not grant access based on requests from websites, then I - or anyone - could simply click 'yes' to safely(!) get rid of both the omnipresent banner and the intrusive code. From a user’s point-of-view it would make a lot more sense if filters were absolute and not open for being amended by simple requests from any given website.

But understanding you correctly, you believe that Firefox will allow anything I - or anyone - accept when requested? Even though the specific type of cookie is listed as wanted blocked?

If this is indeed true, that would be very disappointing. And something that I would suggest consider changing. In the meantime, any suggestions to how I best protect myself from intrusive code?

Thank you very much for your help and time.

They don't specifically state Trackers and Fingerprinters. They disguise that sort of activity as a benefit to you to "Personalize" your visit to their site. And that's when Enhanced Tracking Protection works for you.

So, if a website asks permission to install a tracker disguised as some legitimate first-party cookie, then Firefox's Enhanced Tracking Protection will recognise and block said disguised tracker? Disregarding the fact that I (inadvertently) allowed said disguised tracker to be installed?

Exactly.

If you like, you can create a New Profile for testing. That way, you won't risk any of your important information in your Default Profile. You can test different levels of Enhanced Tracking Protection and see what is being blocked and what isn't. __________________________________________________________________

Type (or paste) about:profiles in the address bar and press Enter. You will see at least one Profile which says: Profile: Default User (or default-release) - This is the profile in use and it cannot be deleted. That is the Profile with all of your data. Just above that, click Create A New Profile. A Profile Wizard will open. Go through the steps naming the Profile anything that you want, except Default User, of course. Below the new profile click Launch Profile In New Browser

In the first window, under Profile: Default User (or default-release), select Set As Default Profile. When you launch Firefox again, it will open your Default Profile. (Profile Manager - Create, remove, or switch Firefox profiles) Close that window.

(The New Profile won't interfere with anything or use any resources. You can leave it if you ever want to Test something again, or, you can Remove it later.)

Also see: Profiles - Where Firefox stores your bookmarks, passwords and other user data

Hi My_Cheese_Is_Slippin',

I let out an audible sigh of relief when i read the word 'exactly'. You have restored my faith in humanity... And, possibly, engineering.

Thanks!

Keep in mind that Enhanced Tracking Protection is a User Option. You can change the level of protection. You can disable it for a specific website or you can disable it completely. You can allow the "disguised trackers" if that's what you want to do. Test it in another profile and you will see for yourself.

And, don't feel like you are being picked on in the EU. Here in the US, we have the same pesky banners and the same invasion of privacy to contend with. It truly is a "World Wide" web.