This site will have limited functionality while we undergo maintenance to improve your experience. If an article doesn't solve your issue and you want to ask a question, we have our support community waiting to help you at @FirefoxSupport on Twitter and/r/firefox on Reddit.

Search Support

Avoid support scams. We will never ask you to call or text a phone number or share personal information. Please report suspicious activity using the “Report Abuse” option.

Learn More

Download Firefox for Linux without Adblock and other extensions

  • 2 replies
  • 2 have this problem
  • 1 view
  • Last reply by Wizardgoat

more options

I've got a problem downloading a suitable version of Firefox for Linux, to run on a Knoppix Live DVD system, for use in testing publishable extensions that I've developed on Windows. (This is not an extension development question, however, just a problem downloading and configuring FF suitably.)

I was surprised that the current version (FF40) and earlier (FF34) for Linux come with 3 extensions permanently installed - Adblock Plus, FoxyProxy Standard, and NoScript. They apparently cannot be uninstalled, although they can be disabled.

I've read online in various forums that Adblock Plus is a memory hog, and that it, especially, as well as NoScript, can interefere with legitimate code on websites and extensions. I've also read complaints from users that disabling Adblock Plus does not seem to remove all its effects.

During my testing I experienced problems that I suspected were due to Adblock Plus, so I disabled it and restarted the browser. The situation greatly improved, but there were still a few problems that might or might not have been related to memory shortages.

The issue is this: I would like to download "clean" versions of FF for Linux without these 3rd party extensions installed, to achieve more conclusive testing, but have not found a way to do it.

I'm also curious as to why these extensions are being "forced" on Linux users. (I hope that never happens on Windows, or I might become a less committed FF user.)

I've got a problem downloading a suitable version of Firefox for Linux, to run on a Knoppix Live DVD system, for use in testing publishable extensions that I've developed on Windows. (This is not an extension development question, however, just a problem downloading and configuring FF suitably.) I was surprised that the current version (FF40) and earlier (FF34) for Linux come with 3 extensions permanently installed - Adblock Plus, FoxyProxy Standard, and NoScript. They apparently cannot be uninstalled, although they can be disabled. I've read online in various forums that Adblock Plus is a memory hog, and that it, especially, as well as NoScript, can interefere with legitimate code on websites and extensions. I've also read complaints from users that disabling Adblock Plus does not seem to remove all its effects. During my testing I experienced problems that I suspected were due to Adblock Plus, so I disabled it and restarted the browser. The situation greatly improved, but there were still a few problems that might or might not have been related to memory shortages. The issue is this: I would like to download "clean" versions of FF for Linux without these 3rd party extensions installed, to achieve more conclusive testing, but have not found a way to do it. I'm also curious as to why these extensions are being "forced" on Linux users. (I hope that never happens on Windows, or I might become a less committed FF user.)

Chosen solution

Firefox any version for Linux, Mac OSX and Windows from www.mozilla.org or www.mozilla.org/firefox/all does not come with any Extensions.

You may have already had those extensions installed in the Firefox Profile you are using with Firefox.

All three of those Extensions are by a third-party author(s) and not by Mozilla.

Read this answer in context 👍 1

All Replies (2)

more options

Chosen Solution

Firefox any version for Linux, Mac OSX and Windows from www.mozilla.org or www.mozilla.org/firefox/all does not come with any Extensions.

You may have already had those extensions installed in the Firefox Profile you are using with Firefox.

All three of those Extensions are by a third-party author(s) and not by Mozilla.

more options

Thanks James, you were spot on. The Knoppix Live DVD that I booted from had an older version of FF on it, and the profile had the extensions installed. When I deleted the profile to get a clean one it helped, but some program on the DVD attempted to install the extensions anyway. I was able to reply "no" and block them.

In any event I'm happy to know that these are not being packaged with Firefox.

Thanks!