Block unwanted web downloads in Firefox

Block unwanted web downloads in Firefox

Hi Norby!

What kind of download do you exactly mean?

Do you mean the updates for Adobe Reader, Adobe Flash player and Java?

Or do you mean actual downloads of programs, images, videos, etc. from websites?

If you mean that the updates for the three said applications run automatically, here is how you can change the setting in Mozilla Firefox to prevent the updates from being downloaded automatically.

• Open Mozilla Firefox
• Click Tools in the Menu Bar
• Select “Options” in the drop down menu
• In the Options window, Select Advanced (the one at the right end with the sprocket icon)
• Click the Update tab
• Under the “Automatically check updates to:”
• Remove the check mark on whichever you want to stop checking the updates automatically
• Java, Adobe Reader, and Adobe Flash Player are in the category of “Add-ons”
• After making a selection, press OK

You can also change the way the updates happen through the application’s settings themselves.

Adobe Reader:

• Open Adobe Reader
• Click Edit in the menu bar
• Select Preferences
• Under Categories on the left column, click Updater
• You will find three options: Automatically install updates, Automatically download updates but let me choose when to install them, Do not download or install updates automatically
• Once you have made your choice, press OK

Java

• Click Start
• Go to Control Panel
• Locate Java, open it
• In Java Control Panel window, click Update tab
• You can choose to Check for Updates Automatically or not by means of the check mark.
• You also have the option to be notified before downloading or before installing the update
• The Advanced button will let you choose the time when you want Java to scan for updates in the internet.
• Once you’ve set your preferences, click Apply and OK

Adobe Flash Player

• Disable your Flash blocker or Adblock Plus first
• Click this link
• Go to the icon of the globe with a check mark – Global Notifications Settings panel
• You can change the range or days when you want Adobe Flash player to check for updates:
  7 days
  14 days
  30 days
  60 days
• Once set, you may simply close that website.

Hope that helps! Good luck!