this post was submitted on 09 Jan 2024
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Firefox

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Google Search bug shows blank page in Firefox for Android (www.bleepingcomputer.com)
submitted 10 months ago by Elephant0991@lemmy.bleh.au to c/firefox@lemmy.ml
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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 23 points 10 months ago (2 children)

"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)

[–] OpenStars@startrek.website 5 points 10 months ago

Google:

Oh no anyway

[–] cyborganism@lemmy.ca 3 points 10 months ago* (last edited 10 months ago) (1 children)

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 0 points 10 months ago (1 children)

What does this mean, I'm confused?

[–] cyborganism@lemmy.ca 1 points 10 months ago (1 children)

Yes. So was I when I wrote this comment. I don't know why I wrote Chrome.... 😑

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

Makes way more sense now, lol.

[–] nieceandtows@programming.dev 6 points 10 months ago (1 children)

I tried signing into Google today on Firefox and got 'sigin in using a safe browser. This is not a safe browser'. I refreshed the page and it was gone and I was able to sign in. What the heck.

[–] joyjoy@lemm.ee 4 points 10 months ago

Google should follow their own advice and kill the user agent.

[–] JokeDeity@lemm.ee 6 points 10 months ago (1 children)

I really don't understand why Google isn't being taken to court over the obvious monopolistic strategies they've been implementing.

[–] Earring7377@mastodon.social 3 points 10 months ago

@JokeDeity they are in court right now with the USA.

[–] Scary_le_Poo@beehaw.org 3 points 10 months ago

Or you know, Don't use fucking Google?

Nowadays Google sucks ass anyway

[–] 1984@lemmy.today 2 points 10 months ago* (last edited 10 months ago)

Real professional engineers at Google. Reading the browser name is just so hard.

[–] omxxi@feddit.de 2 points 10 months ago

ah yes, a "bug"

[–] skizzles@lemmy.ml 2 points 10 months ago (1 children)

I'm on 121.0 mobile and have no issues accessing Google.com. Not that I use it anyway but figured I'd test.

[–] Lanky_Pomegranate530@midwest.social 1 points 8 months ago

It's not a bug. It's a feature.