How to Use the Firefox Browser in Kiosk Mode

Browser kiosk mode is an option when you are operating any kind of public terminal with anonymous access, e.g.:

• Educational service in a museum

• Service terminals or ticket vending machines for public transport

• Entry portal for a corporate intranet

Albeit configuring an IGEL OS device for browser kiosk mode may seem quite extensive, you have the possibility to define your own flavor of kiosk mode. Consider the following settings.

Settings under Sessions > Firefox Browser > Firefox Browser Sessions > [Session Name]

->Activate Autostart.

Settings under Sessions > Firefox Browser > Firefox Browser Sessions > [Session Name] > Settings

->Set When browser starts to Global setting.

->If necessary, select the correct Start Monitor.

Settings under Sessions > Firefox Browser > Firefox Browser Global

->Set When browser starts to Show my start page.

->Set Start Page to the desired start page.

Settings under Sessions > Firefox Browser > Firefox Browser Global > Tabs

->Set New pages should be opened in to the current window or to a new tab.

Settings under Sessions > Firefox Browser > Firefox Browser Global > Content

->If applicable, activate Block pop-up windows.

->Activate Load images automatically.

->If required, activate Enable JavaScript and adapt the actions permitted for JavaScript according to your needs.

Settings under Sessions > Firefox Browser > Firefox Browser Global > Privacy

->Set Save Browsing History (in days) to Do not save History.

->Deactivate Save information entered in forms and the Search bar.

->Deactivate Remember Passwords.

->Activate Clear private data when closing browser.

->Activate all items in the area Select the items to be cleared.

->If you want to suppress any tracking of the user's activities, activate Allow private browsing feature and Always start in private browsing mode.

->If applicable, activate Enable "Do Not Track" feature.

->To make the browser block domains and websites which are known for tracking users, activate Enable built-in tracking protection.

Settings under Sessions > Firefox Browser > Firefox Browser Global > Security

->To enable phishing protection, activate Safe Browsing.

->To enable protection against malicious downloads, activate Malware Protection.

->Activate Hide local filesystem.

Settings under Sessions > Firefox Browser > Firefox Browser Global > Restart

->Activate Restart. The browser will restart automatically if a user closes the browser window.

->If you want the browser to restart automatically after some idle time, activate Restart after idle time and specify Idle time after which a restart occurs in minutes or seconds.

Settings under Sessions > Firefox Browser > Firefox Browser Global > Window

->If the browser shall run in full-screen mode, activate Start in full-screen mode.

->Activate Hide configuration page of the browser.

Settings under Sessions > Firefox Browser > Firefox Browser Global > Menus & Toolbars

->Activate Hide App Menu/Menu Bar.

->Select which menus and toolbars are to be hidden. In the kiosk mode, all menus, toolbars, and the address bar are commonly hidden.

->Deactivate User Customization of toolbars.

Settings under Sessions > Firefox Browser > Firefox Browser Global > Context

->Activate Hide the browser's context menu.

Disabling Access to Developer Tools

To disable access to the developer tools, add the following custom preference.

For general instructions on adding custom preferences, see How To Set Advanced User Preferences for the Browser.

Disabling Crash Reports

To disable crash reports, add the following three custom preferences.

For general instructions on adding custom preferences, see How To Set Advanced User Preferences for the Browser.