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Why do banking websites only see firefox as a mobile device?

  • 7 cavab
  • 1 has this problem
  • 29 views
  • Last reply by cor-el

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All the questions relating to content and banking websites in this community have resulted in assuming, and pointing to, individual website issues.

I spent quite a bit of time with Tier 3 banking site support and found this out - Firefox for Windows Desktop (not mobile) shows up on their web servers as a mobile version. As such, mobile content is a condensed set of data and that is what is sent.

That is why desktop users are asked for authorization codes like mobile users.

Would the Firefox for Windows developers please correct this bug so that we don't have to find new browsers for banking sites from our desktops?

To clarify, the type of browser that is seen by the website originates with the browser. Please fix this for Windows desktop users.

Thanks. ed9213

All the questions relating to content and banking websites in this community have resulted in assuming, and pointing to, individual website issues. I spent quite a bit of time with Tier 3 banking site support and found this out - Firefox for Windows Desktop (not mobile) shows up on their web servers as a mobile version. As such, mobile content is a condensed set of data and that is what is sent. That is why desktop users are asked for authorization codes like mobile users. Would the Firefox for Windows developers please correct this bug so that we don't have to find new browsers for banking sites from our desktops? To clarify, the type of browser that is seen by the website originates with the browser. Please fix this for Windows desktop users. Thanks. ed9213

All Replies (7)

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Separate Security Issue: Update your Flash Player or remove it using these links; http://helpx.adobe.com/flash-player/kb/uninstall-flash-player-windows.html Uninstall Flash Player | Windows http://helpx.adobe.com/flash-player/kb/uninstall-flash-player-mac-os.html Uninstall Flash Player | Mac

Note: Windows users should download the ActiveX for Internet Explorer. and the plugin for Plugin-based browsers (like Firefox).

Note: Windows 8 and Windows 10 have built-in flash players and Adobe will cause a conflict. Install the plugin only. Not the ActiveX.

Flash Player Version: Version 30.0.0.134

https://get.adobe.com/flashplayer/ Direct link scans current system and browser Note: Other software is offered in the download. <Windows Only>

https://get.adobe.com/flashplayer/otherversions/ Step 1: Select Operating System Step 2: Select A Version (Firefox, Win IE . . . .) Note: Other software is offered in the download. <Windows Only> +++++++++++++++++++ See if there are updates for your graphics drivers https://support.mozilla.org/en-US/kb/upgrade-graphics-drivers-use-hardware-acceleration

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ed9213 said

Firefox for Windows Desktop (not mobile) shows up on their web servers as a mobile version

Websites learn what you are using thru the User Agent that is sent by the browser. Yours looks like this;

User Agent: Mozilla/5.0 (Windows NT 6.1; Win64; x64; rv:61.0) Gecko/20100101 Firefox/61.0

https://support.mozilla.org/en-US/kb/how-reset-default-user-agent-firefox

http://www.howtogeek.com/113439/how-to-change-your-browsers-user-agent-without-installing-any-extensions/


I spent quite a bit of time with Tier 3 banking site support

Have they said others have the same issue?

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FredMcD, Thanks for your replies. I will remove flash player if you think that will solve the issue, and will see if that affects any other browsing experiences.

Since I have no one at the other end of a session to tell me what he/she sees, I am not sure if the browser registers as a Windows desktop version only if the browser is full screen, and as a mobile if it is in a reduced window. If one has multiple windows open on the screen at the same time, like I usually do, Firefox doesn't fill up the screen and seems to send a mobile signature in that configuration. I'd need to verify. Am in a reduced window right now, but hadn't started out that way.

Tier 3 at Bank of America said that the only complaints were from Firefox users, but since users can can successfully use the features on their website with other browsers they won't go into a project for the web developers over one browser.

Hope that helps.

Thanks.

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HI, Adobe Flash needs to be update and it is a Separate Security Issue and has nothing to do with your issue you having.

Running as a reduced Window may be the cause depending on what the Bank uses to sniff your info.

It could be Extensions but you did not share that information. It also could be related to your Security Programs like : Avast/AVG, Kaspersky, BitDefender and ESET & sometimes McAfee.

Please do this to check if Extensions are the cause : SAFE MODE

In Firefox Safe mode these changes are effective:

  • all extensions are disabled (about:addons)
  • default theme is used (no persona)
  • userChrome.css and userContent.css are ignored (chrome folder)
  • default toolbar layout is used (file: localstore-safe.rdf)
  • Javascript JIT compilers are disabled (prefs: javascript.options.*jit)
  • hardware acceleration is disabled (Options > Advanced > General)
  • plugins are not affected
  • preferences are not affected

TEST''''is issue still there ?

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You can check out at the browserspy website how websites see you:

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Hello Pkshadow,

Safe mode made no difference in the performance of the browser/site combo.

It seems that the site opens in full desktop mode, from the desktop, only if the browser is full screen, regardless of what the signature is, as determined by the suggestion from cor-el.

Unless Firefox developers can connect with Bank of America developers and resolve issues relating to the mobile/desktop data being displayed, and issues relating to the website's use of Flash for some of their features and blanking out in Firefox, I will have to use another browser.

Disappointed.

Ed9213

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