195
submitted 10 months ago by Elephant0991@lemmy.bleh.au to c/firefox@lemmy.ml

The issue:

Android users with Firefox can't access Google Search (including intl sites and localized domains like google.de, .co.uk, .com.br). Instead, they see a blank page.

Cause:

A server-side bug on Google's end related to User-Agent (UA) sniffing, which serves an empty page to newer Firefox versions.

Affected versions:

All Firefox versions on Android (>= 65) including Mobile 121.0, Nightly 123, and older.

Chrome not affected:

The bug is specific to Firefox.

Solutions:

  • Use a different browser (Chrome, etc.) or search engine (DuckDuckGo).

Advanced users can:

  • Change Firefox's UA in developer settings or with add-ons.

  • Request the desktop version of Google from Firefox settings (region-dependent).

Status:

  • Problem identified as critical and escalated.
  • Still unresolved at the time of reporting.

Additional notes:

  • Disabling Firefox's Enhanced Tracking Protection doesn't fix the issue.
  • Some users report google.co.in loading the desktop site instead of mobile.
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[-] eya@lemmy.dbzer0.com 126 points 10 months ago

"bug" aka purposely making firefox unusable on one of the largest websites in the world so more people use chromium

(these allegations are based solely on prejudice against google and its subsidiaries, and do not necessarily hold true in reality)

[-] KpntAutismus@lemmy.world 25 points 10 months ago

perfectly reasonable and logical prejudice, i might add. we really need to get people to use alternative search engines. google has been sucking fat balls for a long time now. either people are going to start to switch, or the frog will continue boiling.

[-] OpenStars@startrek.website 24 points 10 months ago
[-] cyborganism@lemmy.ca 13 points 10 months ago* (last edited 10 months ago)

Even if it's for only a short period of time, it's enough to do a lot of damage. Especially as people are becoming privacy conscious and are looking to start using Firefox.

[-] JokeDeity@lemm.ee 2 points 10 months ago

What does this mean, I'm confused?

[-] cyborganism@lemmy.ca 2 points 10 months ago

Yes. So was I when I wrote this comment. I don't know why I wrote Chrome.... ๐Ÿ˜‘

[-] JokeDeity@lemm.ee 2 points 10 months ago

Makes way more sense now, lol.

this post was submitted on 09 Jan 2024
195 points (98.0% liked)

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