Mozilla has landed Firefox Monitor system add-on into Firefox 67 branch to let alert users with notifications when they visit breached sites. For the uninitiated, some time back, the company launched Firefox Monitor service, that lets you find out if you’re part of data breach.
The company announced in November 2018, Firefox Monitor notifications will be rolling out in coming weeks to desktop Firefox users. Recently, when we contacted Mozilla about Monitor Notifications availability status, the company confirmed to us via email that feature has been rolled out to 100% of users.
Why you’re not seeing Firefox Monitor alerts in Firefox 65?
But they’re limiting notifications display to users in such a way as if only users signed up for Firefox Monitor will able to know they are affected or not. Mozilla don’t want to bother users with too many alerts, we learned. And of course, if sites already taken necessary measures after data breach, then Firefox don’t need to show the notifications to the users.
And Mozilla’s intention with initial launch of Monitor notifications is pretty clear:
“If the user never seen breach alert before, Firefox shows an alert when they visit any breached site added to HaveIBeenPwned within the last 12 months”
“After the user has seen their first alert, Firefox only shows an alert when they visit a breached site added to HIBP within the last 2 months.”
Firefox Monitor System add-on in Firefox Nightly
Coming to the news, the Firefox Monitor System add-on has been integrated into Firefox 67 Nightly (not enabled by default), here is how you can turn it on and see how the Monitor notification feature works.
1. Ensure you’re using latest nighty
2. Find the below preference and and change its value to true.
extensions.
3. Now visit one of the sites that were recently added to HaveIBeenPpwned breached sites list, Firefox maintains one here,
Note: The alerts will only be shown for site that were added in the last 12 months.
For instance, if you visit recent breached site, faceup, you’ll get a notification asking “have an account on this site?” and informs so and so number of accounts compromised in a particular year, clicking alert takes you to Firefox Monitor website and offers information about breach, there you can enter your email address and check if you’re affected.
Note: You’ll be allowed to opt out from receiving notifications from the alert itself when you choose “Never Show Firefox Monitor alerts”.
If you select that option, extensions. fxmonitor,enabled in about:config will be changed to false.
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