New Tab Override (browser.newtab.url replacement) https://addons.mozilla.org/en-US/firefox/addon/new-tab-override/

With Firefox 41 (and higher), it's no longer possible to customize the page shown in a new tab via changing the preference browser.newtab.url in about.config. Because of the fact that hijackers abused the preference in the past, Mozilla decided to remove it (see bug 1118285). Fortunately, by removing it, Mozilla also introduced a new API to bring this functionality back to life as an add-on. This add-on allows the user to choose a certain page in a new tab.

After installing the extension, you need to use its Options page to set the desired new tab page (instead of using about:config).

Open the Add-ons page using either:

• Ctrl+Shift+a (Mac: Cmd+Shift+a)
• "3-bar" menu button (or Tools menu) > Add-ons

In the left column, click Extensions. Then on the right side, find New Tab Override and click its Options button. (See first screen shot attached.)

Depending on the height of your screen, you may need to scroll down to enter the desired address into the form. (See second screen shot attached.) For example:

• Page thumbnails (default) => about:newtab
• Blank tab => about:blank
• Built-in Firefox home page => about:home
• Any other page => full URL to the page

Then tab or click away from that form field and you can test using Ctrl+t.

Success?

Once you have it set the way you want, you can close the Add-ons page (or use the Back button to return to the Extensions list from that Options page).

@FredMcD and @jscher2000 Thank you both for your quick feedback! Whilst I am not really sure to what extend/how many times the browser newtab has been hijacked (assume people also have to run a decent AV product), it seems we -regretfully- have to live with it. The Add on installed. Works fine indeed.

That said, it is nice that Firefox allows all kinds of changes to their product using add-ons (hopefully they are all signed and can be trusted), but in the end Firefox tends to look like a 'Christmas tree' with all kinds of 3rd party tools to improve it hanging in. Zoom Add-on, Print-Edit, ABP, DownThemAll, etc.etc.

Ah well .. This matter has now been solved.

Thank you both!

=

I agree with you, ffw62, that Firefox has way too many quirks that need to be fixed with an add-on. I also wonder how a hacker could change my new tab page any easier than changing my home page. Or is it the " about:config" settings that is so accessible to abuse? I've always thought that list of so many options should be built right into the standard Options menu, as further Advanced options or even a "Seldom Used" set of options, but should be part of the normal way of changing options.

Glad you asked your question, because I was bumping into the same issue withNew Tabs in version 41.

Hi ffw62, do you want to mark Fred's post as the solution to this thread? That will allow it to be indexed by Google for easier discovery. Thanks.

GeneW said

I've always thought that list of so many options should be built right into the standard Options menu, as further Advanced options or even a "Seldom Used" set of options, but should be part of the normal way of changing options.

gui:config {web link} This extension provides advanced configuration for your browser and many additional options, that are not displayed in the Firefox "Options..." dialog.