Where did you install Firefox from? Help Mozilla uncover 3rd party websites that offer problematic Firefox installation by taking part in our campaign. There will be swag, and you'll be featured in our blog if you manage to report at least 10 valid reports!

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 is firefox checking google's safe browsing API for some of our company's internal javascript files?

more options

I work for an IT department on an internal web-based app. When firefox loads 2 specific js files, it sends a request to safebrowsing.clients.google.com. In our China offices, this request can take a long time to return, if at all, and firefox then blocks remaining content from the app server. I haven't checked the content of the js files, but is it possible that something like embedded URLs or other squirrely content of the js file is triggering firefox to phone google home?

I work for an IT department on an internal web-based app. When firefox loads 2 specific js files, it sends a request to safebrowsing.clients.google.com. In our China offices, this request can take a long time to return, if at all, and firefox then blocks remaining content from the app server. I haven't checked the content of the js files, but is it possible that something like embedded URLs or other squirrely content of the js file is triggering firefox to phone google home?

All Replies (1)

more options

Firefox will check for an update to the SafeBrowsing file (urlclassifier3.sqlite and 2 associated files) that is stored in the Profile folder soon after Firefox is launched and then check periodically for as long as Firefox is open. To the best of my knowledge the SafeBrowsing API does not check with Google on a file by file basis, it uses the local file to check URL's.

Now, if your company configured their Firefox installations to not use the SafeBrowsing file to save HHD space with roaming profiles, Firefox might be checking externally - my guess.