Google workspace threatening to block Firefox access

Post by michaelmrose » Fri, Jun 19, 2026, 6:20 PM UTC

SoftTalker wrote: post #32

dijit wrote: post #27

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Is the implication that Firefox is not maintained or? The issue presented doesn’t seem to be “an up to date browser check” it seems to be a “is it latest chrome” check, which is a very different thing.

We don't know. The author doesn't mention how current the Firefox browser is/was. If the organization is indeed enabling a specific check for Chrome that seems a little over the top but they're the ones supporting their users and if they want to make their life easier by only dealing with one browser that's their decision to make. It's like saying that everyone has to use Windows, or a specific line of laptops, or an…

Post by ktm5j » Fri, Jun 19, 2026, 6:22 PM UTC

dijit wrote: post #18

bgc wrote: post #11

This is not a Google-wide thing… this is from Google’s Context-Aware Access product, which is configurable in Google Workspace environments. OP should direct their ire at their corporate IT or infosec team.

it shouldn’t be an option. Some IT departments just see a “more secure” checkbox and will always check it, even if it doesn’t make sense holistically- sometimes compliance incentivises (or forces) this behaviour. A common example is forcing intune/device enrolment for mobile devices (including ipads)- but not for the infinitely less secure laptops: because no such endpoint enforcement checkbox exists

Post by michaelmrose » Fri, Jun 19, 2026, 6:24 PM UTC

squidi wrote: post #15

coldfloor wrote: post #2

Not defending it, but given that they use the word "secure" three times in two sentences, I'm wondering if it's shown to browsers that don't support DBSC. Google has been really pushing/overselling this as a magical solution to cookie theft.

I was thinking it could be a Context-Aware Access thing. Firefox doesn’t support Endpoint Verification plugin

Post by jstummbillig » Fri, Jun 19, 2026, 6:26 PM UTC

dijit wrote: post #27

SoftTalker wrote: post #25

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Using a maintained and up-to-date browser is a reasonable requirement for an IT department (should be for anyone really). Would you suggest they should be allowing IE6 just because a user might prefer it? Of course Google is going to suggest using Chrome, if they detect that the browser might be out of date.

Is the implication that Firefox is not maintained or? The issue presented doesn’t seem to be “an up to date browser check” it seems to be a “is it latest chrome” check, which is a very different thing.

Post by dijit » Fri, Jun 19, 2026, 6:29 PM UTC

jstummbillig wrote: post #47

dijit wrote: post #27

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Is the implication that Firefox is not maintained or? The issue presented doesn’t seem to be “an up to date browser check” it seems to be a “is it latest chrome” check, which is a very different thing.

If we are meant to believe that this is a Chrome-invasion-move, it's the least effective lever of all times. Most of the time the more plausible explanations are just the likely ones.