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

Why when I go to a Home Page (CNN) and am logged in automatically, I still get prompted by Software Security Device for master password when click on link?

  • 6 replies
  • 7 have this problem
  • 28 views
  • Paskiausią atsakymą parašė shirleyone

more options

When I go to a Home Page (CNN) and am logged in automatically, I still get prompted by Software Security Device for master password when click on link on the page as soon as the new one comes up in a new tab. FF 26.0 It started happening 12/24 in the evening.

    1.  I have switched to FF 24.0 and back to see if that cured it.  No
    2.  I checked to see if maybe it was the CNN address on my General tab in Options.  No
    3.  I and went to the security tab to see if I showed it as an exception to warn me when site try to install add-ons.  No that didn't work.
When I go to a Home Page (CNN) and am logged in automatically, I still get prompted by Software Security Device for master password when click on link on the page as soon as the new one comes up in a new tab. FF 26.0 It started happening 12/24 in the evening. 1. I have switched to FF 24.0 and back to see if that cured it. No 2. I checked to see if maybe it was the CNN address on my General tab in Options. No 3. I and went to the security tab to see if I showed it as an exception to warn me when site try to install add-ons. No that didn't work.

All Replies (6)

more options

Details like websites remembering you (log you in automatically) are stored in a cookie.

  • Tools > Options > Privacy > Firefox will: "Use custom settings for history": Cookies > Show Cookies

So as long as you have this cookie then you do not have to enter the Master Password, but as soon as you enter a web page where you have stored a name and password then Firefox will prompt for the Master Password.

more options

I went to:

  • Bulleted list itemTools > Options > Privacy > Firefox will: "Use custom settings for history": Cookies > Show Cookies

I checked and CNN.com is in there with several cookies and I am still getting asked with I click on a link on the CNN home page to provide my password for software security device? I am not kidding. I have checked everything I can think of and it's driving me crazy!!  :-)

more options

The CNN page has a login form (id=cnnConnectFormLogin) that might get triggered for some reason.

There are a lot of iframes on the cnn.com page, some link to Facebook.
So it could be possible coming from one of these iframes if you have a login saved from pages in an iframe.

more options

I checked the CNN sign in area and it shows me signed in. Even on the pages where I get the FF Software Security Device popup for master password. That is what freaked me out in the beginning.

more options

Thank you so much for working with me on this. Here is what I did to narrow the problem to I think "it's CNN's problem:

  • Changed my home page.
  • Clicked on a link - immediately went to another tab and no window appeared requesting FF password.
  • Changed back to CNN and sure enough, when clicked on link went to new tab and immediately FF asked for password again.

Letting CNN know about it. Thanks again, Cor-el!

more options

Thank you so much for working with me on this. Here is what I did to narrow the problem to I think "it's CNN's problem:

  • Changed my home page.
  • Clicked on a link - immediately went to another tab and no window appeared requesting FF password.
  • Changed back to CNN and sure enough, when clicked on link went to new tab and immediately FF asked for password again.

Letting CNN know about it. Thanks again, Cor-el!