Why is Firefox v36 asking "Do you want the application 'Firefox.app' to accept incoming network connections"? It never did before, so what should I say?
I'm on a Mac OS X 10.6.8 Have just upgraded Firefox from v35 to v36. Every few minutes I get a message "Do you want the application 'Firefox.app' to accept incoming network connections?" It's never done that before, so why now (v36) and what should I say? The message goes on, "Clicking Deny may limit the application's behavior. This setting can be changed in the Firewall panel of security preferences." The other option button is Allow. The computer has always had Firewall switched on. Is Firefox suggesting I now switch Firewall off? What has changed since v35? Has Mozilla offered any information about this? Thank you.
Svi odgovori (5)
hi o1uno, this is happening because of a new "send video to device"-feature that was introduced in firefox 36 - this is sending out packets to the local network to recognize compatible devices like roku or chromecast. if you don't make use of that you can safely block those requests with your firewall.
Thank you philipp, very helpful! It would have been even more helpful if Mozilla had offered that information in the first place! Hopefully next time there's a change such information will be made available. Thanks again, no1uno
They don't ask, they just do. Leaving us holding the bag.
Hello FredMcD,
I wasn't suggesting they 'ask'. But I believe an entirely new and fundamental message like "Do you want the application 'Firefox.app' to accept incoming network connections?" warrants a few words of clarification.
I'm a fan of Mozilla, my comments are intended to be constructive!
philipp said
hi o1uno, this is happening because of a new "send video to device"-feature that was introduced in firefox 36 - this is sending out packets to the local network to recognize compatible devices like roku or chromecast. if you don't make use of that you can safely block those requests with your firewall.
Philipp what do you mean "block those requests with your firewall"? I'm on Mac 10.10.2, and FF 36.0.4, and in SysPrefs under "Security and Privacy" in the Firewall, I have FF set to "block incoming connections" so why is it still asking me this EVERY TIME I open FF? I dont use "roku or chromecast" so don't need that "Packets to recognize compatible devices" thing, so I set the FIREWALL to BLOCK, shouldn't that stop that warning?