So I got sick of how bad DDG browser is, so I finally switched back to FF and kept DDG just for app tracking blocking. I have uBO added and all set up. The pages are now beautiful. It’s like a whole new internet! However, when I click on links in apps, it doesn’t open directly in FF, some sort of Intermediary browser (run by FF) opens the page with a menu that has the option to “Open in Firefox”. FF is my default browser. Everything is set to not open links in-app. How can I make this stop and the links open directly in FF?
If you’re on android (which is what it sounds like) then the app can use the webview api which will render in a webview browser, not your selected browser. The app would need to give you the option to open webpages externally if you didn’t want to use the webview browser.
Ok, so take for instance Jerboa here that I’m using to make this comment. It has the option to open links directly in the app, or in my chosen browser (Firefox). When I set it to open links in the browser, it opens this “intermediary” browser, which then has a menu with the option “Open in Firefox”. I want it to skip that entirely and just open it directly in my Firefox browser.
Yeah, I’m saying jerboa should have an option to open links in an external browser. And then they wild open in your default browser and not the in-app webview browser. I’m not sure if jerboa has this, but I use boost and it does.
It does have this and I have it set that way (to open in my browser). It does not open in the app OR the browser. It’s some kind of “intermediary” browser. I want it to skip this and just open in Firefox proper.
I have never heard of this before. I have no solution, but I wish you luck
What you are referring to are androids custom tabs. It’s an android feature where an app can request an “in-app” browser window from the systems default browser. The system also allows the app to specify some customizations like the color of the action bar and I think its possible to add some buttons as well.
Firefox supports this feature and many apps give you an option to turn it off, but it’s up to the app opening the links.
In correct. Look at the other replies. This has been an issue for over three years, apparently.
Yeah DDG browser is horrible. Snakeoil, not actually fingerprint protecting too.
Their App Tracking protection is too. If you want privacy
- use a trackerblocking DNS server
- set apps to “battery restricted”
- isolate apps in the work profile using shelter
- use GrapheneOS
I dont know how that tracking protection is supppsed to work, but either DNS or some VPN, and both will be weak and unconfigurable.
Their browser extension is snakeoil too. Use noscript and ublock origin.
Please read what the actual problem is:
Example: I’m here using the Jerbo app. I have it set to open links in my browser, Firefox. It does not do this. It opens some sort of “Intermediary” browser (NOT Jerboa, NOT Firefox) that has a menu with the option “Open in Firefox”. I want it to skip doing this and just open links directly in Firefox.
It does this no matter what app I’m trying to open links in.
I already commented on that. There is no setting and it is not webview. The page is opening in Firefox, simply a different UI.
Some apps allow to edit how links are opened, for example Feeder. You can select browser “custom tab” or how it is called or real browser.
It matters what app you use because that is a wanted feature and not every browser supports it.
Sorry, I missed that because you replied to someone else with that. So it is Firefox…but does it still clear all data on exit an utilize uBlock Origin like the normal ui? I’m just trying to protect my data as much as possible and not create any more of a footprint than I already have over the years.