InformAction Forums

I'm going to try to keep this short:

Fresh version of Windows 7 (64bit) on a new SSD; with latest OS updates. Ditto on Firefox (except that I brought over my old profile, because history, bookmarks, etc...). Ran into an issue I had been having rarely before I got the SSD, except it was happening more often: Something was focus stealing. I was able to narrow it down to Firefox (specifically, if FF is closed, my fullscreen games/apps work as they should, focus stays put). I then proceeded to go through addons to narrow it down. As I was running out of addons to test (I originally didn't think Noscript would be the issue) -- eventually I had to give in. And, poof! With Noscript disabled all my focus stealing issues disappeared.

I went from seeing random focus stealing seemingly every few minutes with firefox open to playing for an hour straight with no issues.

I tested this again with Noscript open and focus was stolen within 5 minutes -- For the record I notice the focus stealing really obviously because I have a mouse with customizable LED lights and I have it setup so my default windows 'profile' uses light blue, whereas my game(s) use green or red -- so it's obvious when focus is stolen since the mouse swaps to light blue. When the focus does shift, there are no notifications, windows, or anything -- from a user standpoint it's like something has alt-tabbed to a phantom window. Even more irritating is that it's not just other apps/games/programs that lose focus -- Firefox can lose it too. Typing a comment, eg, and focus will be lost randomly and I'll get windows error sounds trying to type.

I was just going to disable Noscript and move on -- but seeing as a google search showed no one having similar issues I figured it couldn't hurt to report it somewhere.

For the record, here's a list of my extensions:

Application: Firefox 25.0.1 (20131112160018)
Operating System: WINNT (x86-msvc)

- Adblock Plus 2.4
- DownloadHelper 4.9.21
- DownThemAll! 2.0.16
- Extension List Dumper 1.15.2 <-- removed after making this list
- Firebug 1.12.5
- Forecastfox 2.2.2
- Lazarus: Form Recovery 2.3
- Magic Actions for YouTube™ 6.2.5
- Reddit Enhancement Suite 4.3.0.4
- Screengrab (fix version) 0.97.16c
- Speed Dial 0.9.6.16
- Tab Mix Plus 0.4.1.2.02
- Web Developer 1.2.5
- User Agent Switcher 0.7.3 (Disabled)
- NoScript 2.6.8.5 (Disabled)
- Personas Plus 1.7.3 (Disabled)
- Logitech SetPoint 6.5 (Disabled)
- Fast Dial 4.11 (Disabled)

Thanks again for Noscript, but it looks like this is where I have to finally stop using it.

First time I hear about something like that.
Extensions conflict maybe?
Did you actually try on a clean profile with just NoScript installed?

Flash is notorious for stealing focus, causing arbitrary page jumps.

First time I hear about something like that.
Extensions conflict maybe?
Did you actually try on a clean profile with just NoScript installed?

I actually did create a new profile, with only Adblock and Noscript installed, I was seeing focus stealing still. If I get a chance I'll test just NS alone and see if it still happens

As for flash -- this would happen even if I used the task manager to force-close the flash plugin-container (or just disable the flash player) -- I actually thought it was flash too, but after focus kept getting stolen even with it disabled I had to rule it out.

> if I used the task manager to force-close the flash plugin-container

It will just re-instate itself if it is needed, called.

> (or just disable the flash player)

That's the better way.