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Installing Noxys on Firefox

This guide covers installing the Noxys browser extension on Mozilla Firefox.

Prerequisites

  • Mozilla Firefox version 90 or later
  • Administrator access to your Noxys tenant
  • Internet connection

The easiest way to install Noxys on Firefox is via the official Firefox Add-ons store (addons.mozilla.org).

Steps

  1. From the Noxys Dashboard, navigate to SettingsExtension Setup
  2. Click the Firefox Add-ons link
  3. You'll be taken to the Noxys extension page on addons.mozilla.org
  4. Click Add to Firefox
  5. A permissions dialog appears. Review the requested permissions:
    • Access your data on all websites: Required to monitor AI platform usage
    • Modify data you copy and paste: Used to detect PII before submission
    • Read your browsing history: Limited to AI platform URLs only
  6. Click Add to confirm
  7. The Noxys icon appears in your Firefox toolbar (top right)

Verify Installation

  1. Click the Noxys icon in your toolbar
  2. You should see a login or authentication popup
  3. If you see a "Configuration Required" message, proceed to Configure the Extension

Manual Installation (Development or Self-Hosted)

If you're using a self-hosted instance or development build, you can manually load the extension.

Steps

  1. Download the extension file from your Noxys instance:
    • Navigate to SettingsExtension Setup
    • Click Download Firefox Extension (.xpi) under "Manual Installation"
    • Note: You can also download the ZIP package and extract it
  2. Open Firefox and navigate to about:addons
  3. Click the settings icon (top right) and select Install Add-on From File
  4. Select the downloaded .xpi file and click Open
  5. Click Add when prompted
  6. The extension appears in your add-ons list
  7. The Noxys icon appears in your toolbar

Alternative: Load Unpacked (Development Mode)

For development or testing:

  1. Extract the extension ZIP file to a local folder
  2. Open Firefox and navigate to about:debugging#/runtime/this-firefox
  3. Click Load Temporary Add-on
  4. Select the manifest.json file from the extracted folder
  5. Click Open
  6. The extension loads temporarily (until Firefox restarts)

Enable or Disable the Extension

  • Enable: Go to about:addons and toggle the extension on
  • Disable: Click the toggle again to disable (useful for troubleshooting)
  • Remove: Click the three-dot menu next to the extension and select Remove

Configure the Extension

Once installed, configure the extension to authenticate with your Noxys backend.

  1. Click the Noxys icon in your toolbar
  2. A popup window opens
  3. If it's your first time, click Configure
  4. You'll be prompted for your API token:
    • Go back to the Noxys DashboardSettingsAPI Keys
    • Copy your default API token (or create a new one labeled "Firefox Desktop")
    • Return to the extension popup and paste the token
  5. Click Save
  6. The extension validates the token and connects to your backend

Connection Status

The extension icon indicates connection status:

Icon ColorStatusWhat to Do
GreenConnectedMonitoring is active. All systems normal.
RedConnection ErrorCheck API token, backend URL, or network connectivity.
GrayOffline ModeExtension is running locally but can't reach the backend. Local policies still enforced.
YellowInitializingExtension is starting up. Wait a few seconds.

Troubleshooting

Extension Won't Install

Problem: Firefox shows an error like "This extension cannot be verified" or "Installation failed."

Solution:

  • Clear your Firefox cache: SettingsPrivacyClear Data → Check Extensions
  • Restart Firefox
  • Try installing again
  • If using Firefox ESR (Enterprise), your administrator may have add-on restrictions. Contact your IT team.

"Unverified Extension" Warning

Problem: Firefox shows "This extension is not signed" or shows a warning in your add-ons list.

Solution:

  • This occurs if you're using the development (.xpi) or unpacked version
  • It's normal and expected for manually-loaded extensions
  • The extension functions fully, but will be disabled when Firefox restarts (unless you're using Developer Edition)
  • To keep it enabled permanently, use the version from Firefox Add-ons instead

Extension Shows Red Icon (Connection Error)

Problem: Extension can't reach the Noxys backend.

Solution:

  • Verify your API token is correct:
    • Go to SettingsAPI Keys
    • Generate a new token if needed
    • Copy the exact token (no spaces or extra characters)
  • Check your backend URL:
    • For noxys.cloud users, this should auto-detect
    • For self-hosted, go to SettingsAdvanced and verify the backend URL
  • Verify network connectivity:
    • Check that api.noxys.cloud (or your backend domain) is accessible
    • If behind a corporate proxy, ensure the proxy doesn't block the extension
  • Try logging out and back into the Noxys Dashboard to refresh your token
  • Restart Firefox

Extension Not Detecting AI Usage

Problem: Dashboard shows no activity even though you're visiting ChatGPT, Claude, etc.

Solution:

  • Confirm the extension is installed and enabled:
    • Check your toolbar for the Noxys icon
    • Go to about:addons and verify the toggle is on
  • Refresh the AI platform page after the extension is installed
  • Check the extension has proper permissions:
    • Go to about:addons → Click on Noxys → Permissions
    • Ensure "Access your data on all websites" is checked
  • Open your browser console (F12) and check for errors:
    • Go to the Console tab
    • Visit an AI platform (e.g., ChatGPT)
    • Look for any red error messages
    • Share errors with support@noxys.eu
  • Disable and re-enable the extension:
    • Go to about:addons
    • Toggle the extension off, wait 5 seconds, toggle on
    • Refresh the AI platform page

Can't Find the Noxys Icon

Problem: You installed the extension but don't see the icon in your toolbar.

Solution:

  • The icon might be hidden in the add-ons menu:
    • Look for the puzzle icon in the top right
    • Click it to see installed extensions
    • Pin the Noxys icon by clicking the pin icon next to its name
  • Verify the extension is enabled:
    • Go to about:addons
    • Search for "Noxys"
    • Ensure the toggle is turned on
  • Restart Firefox if you just installed it

Clipboard Permission Warning

Problem: Firefox shows a warning about clipboard access.

Solution:

  • This permission is necessary for Noxys to detect PII before you paste it into an AI platform
  • If you're uncomfortable granting this permission, Noxys will still monitor submitted content, but won't catch pasted data in advance
  • You can disable clipboard monitoring in SettingsExtensionAdvanced if needed

Advanced Configuration

Offline Mode

If your organization's network restricts backend connectivity, Noxys can run in Offline Mode:

  1. Install the extension normally
  2. If the extension detects no backend connectivity, it automatically switches to Offline Mode
  3. Local policies are enforced without cloud synchronization
  4. When connectivity is restored, the extension syncs with the backend

Policy Sync

Policies are automatically downloaded and cached locally on your device:

  1. When you create or update a policy in the Noxys Dashboard, it syncs to installed extensions within 30 seconds
  2. You don't need to manually refresh or reinstall the extension
  3. To force a manual sync, click the Noxys icon → SettingsSync Policies Now

Firefox-Specific Notes

Private Browsing Mode

Noxys works in Private Browsing mode, but with limitations:

  • AI interaction monitoring functions normally
  • However, some extension features may be restricted due to Firefox's privacy controls
  • Policies are still enforced, and interactions are logged to the backend

To allow full functionality in Private Browsing:

  1. Go to about:addons → Click on Noxys
  2. Look for "Run in Private Windows" setting
  3. Toggle it to Allowed

Performance

Firefox's extension architecture means Noxys may use slightly more memory than on Chromium-based browsers. This is normal and typically minimal (~50-100 MB).

Next Steps

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