MB v4.5.18 - Web Protection Prevents Browser From Detecting Geolocation

[lmacri]

I have a problem where my Firefox browser cannot automatically detect my geolocation if MB Premium's Web Protection module is enabled, even if the site is excluded in both Firefox and Malwarebytes.  Kudos to jdb2 for posting Web Exclusions Not Working in Malwarebytes Premium 4.5.18 on 29-Nov-2022 and pointing me in the right direction.

I live in Manitoba, Canada, and use Malwarebytes Premium v4.5.18 on a Win 10 Pro v21H2 laptop. Even before updating to v4.5.18, I noticed that every time I browsed to https://www.mygroceryoffers.ca/ (a website where I load weekly Scene+ reward offers from Sobeys grocery store) in my default Firefox browser it would repeatedly prompt me to allow Firefox to detect my geolocation, even though that site was excluded in my Firefox settings at Tools | Settings | Privacy & Security | Permissions | Locations | Settings.  Each time I visited that site I would have to manually change my region to Manitoba on the home page.

 

After reading jdb2's post today I temporarily turned OFF my Web Protection module in Malwarebytes, and when I browsed to https://www.mygroceryoffers.ca/ it correctly detected my geolocation.

As jdb2 also observed, I created an exclusion for https://www.mygroceryoffers.ca/ in Malwarebytes at Settings | Allow List, but when I turned Web Protection back ON it once again prevented Firefox from detecting my location.

 

I currently have Malwarebytes Browser Guard v2.2.5 installed in my Firefox browser but if this browser extension is disabled (Tools | Add-ons and Themes | Extensions) my geolocation still doesn't work as long as Web Protection is turned ON in Malwarebytes Premium.  Also note that I can reproduce this behaviour in my MS Edge browser.  

I understand that I can request to have https://www.mygroceryoffers.ca/ whitelisted in the False Positives | Website Blocking board but don't want to do this just in case there's a bug in Web Protection and Malwarebytes asks me to do further testing.
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64-bit Win 10 Pro v21H2 build 19044.2251 * Firefox v107.0.1 * MS Edge v107.0.1418.62 * Microsoft Defender v4.18.2210.6-1.1.19800.4 * Malwarebytes Premium v4.5.18.226-1.0.1823 * Macrium Reflect Free v8.0.7175
Dell Inspiron 15 5584, Intel i5-8265U CPU, 8 GB RAM, 256 GB Toshiba KBG40ZNS256G NVMe SSD, Intel UHD Graphics 620

[Malwarebytes]

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[lmacri]

Sorry, forgot to attach my diagnostic logs.

mbst-grab-results.zip

[AdvancedSetup]

Can you go to the setting page for the extension. Then click on the Download Debug Logs and then zip and attach.

Thanks

 

[lmacri]

14 minutes ago, AdvancedSetup said:

Can you go to the setting page for the extension. Then click on the Download Debug Logs and then zip and attach.

Hi AdvancedSetup:

Here's the debug log for Malwarebytes Browser Guard v2.5.5 from Support | Download Debug Logs.  The .txt file was only 7 KB in size so let me know if I've attached the wrong log.

BG-Logs_v2.5.5_2022-12-01_121525.zip

My MB Premium v4.5.18 Web Protection module was enabled at the time this log was captured.
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64-bit Win 10 Pro v21H2 build 19044.2251 * Firefox v107.0.1 * MS Edge v107.0.1418.62 * Microsoft Defender v4.18.2210.6-1.1.19800.4 * Malwarebytes Premium v4.5.18.226-1.0.1823 * Macrium Reflect Free v8.0.7175
Dell Inspiron 15 5584, Intel i5-8265U CPU, 8 GB RAM, 256 GB Toshiba KBG40ZNS256G NVMe SSD, Intel UHD Graphics 620

[AdvancedSetup]

Great, thanks. Can you please go into MB4 and go to Settings, General and enable Event log data then restart the computer. Then browse the web and try to replicate the issue.

Then using the MBST tool again, gather new MBST logs and attach.

Thank you @lmacri

[lmacri]

1 hour ago, AdvancedSetup said:

...Can you please go into MB4 and go to Settings, General and enable Event log data then restart the computer. Then browse the web and try to replicate the issue. Then using the MBST tool again, gather new MBST logs and attach...

Hi AdvancedSetup:

Here's the requested MBST diagnostic logs.

mbst-grab-results.zip

 

I'm not sure why, but after enabling Event Logging in MB and rebooting, the first time I browsed to https://www.mygroceryoffers.ca/ I didn't see the usual pop-up asking me if I would like to allow the site to access my geolocation.  However, the site still incorrectly defaulted to the wrong location of Nova Scotia (i.e., instead of Manitoba where I live).

I closed and reopened my Firefox browser at ~ 1:50 PM and the pop-up returned as shown below the next two times I browsed to https://www.mygroceryoffers.ca/, which is what I normally see, so if you're checking the event log you might want to check events that occurred around 1:50 PM.

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64-bit Win 10 Pro v21H2 build 19044.2251 * Firefox v107.0.1 * MS Edge v107.0.1418.62 * Microsoft Defender v4.18.2210.6-1.1.19800.4 * Malwarebytes Premium v4.5.18.226-1.0.1823 * Macrium Reflect Free v8.0.7175
Dell Inspiron 15 5584, Intel i5-8265U CPU, 8 GB RAM, 256 GB Toshiba KBG40ZNS256G NVMe SSD, Intel UHD Graphics 620

[AdvancedSetup]

Thank you for the logs. I have submitted them to our internal team for review

 

[digmorcrusher]

FYI, I went to that site and it defaulted to Nova Scotia as well, the pop up asking for permission to access my location appeared, I clicked 'Allow", location then reverted to Manitoba( I live in Manitoba as well), I closed browser and then opened site again, this time the location was correct, it showed Manitoba. This is using Chrome and not using MB. ( not sure if this helps😁)

Edited December 1, 2022 by digmorcrusher

[AdvancedSetup]

Thank you for the feedback @digmorcrusher

 

[AdvancedSetup]

Off topic but the number 555 always brings up the 555 timer IC from when I was back getting my electronics degree.

 

Congrats on reaching 555 posts and helping out here on the forums.

 

 

[Firefox]

33 minutes ago, AdvancedSetup said:

number 555 always brings up the 555 timer IC from when I was back getting my electronics degree

oh yeah, those good old triple 5 timers

[digmorcrusher]

2 hours ago, AdvancedSetup said:

Off topic but the number 555 always brings up the 555 timer IC from when I was back getting my electronics degree.

 

Congrats on reaching 555 posts and helping out here on the forums.

 

 

Thanks, but I rarely post anymore, the team you have that manages and provides support on the forum does an excellent job, they sure don't need my help.

Edited December 2, 2022 by digmorcrusher

[lmacri]

3 hours ago, digmorcrusher said:

...I closed browser and then opened site again, this time the location was correct, it showed Manitoba. This is using Chrome and not using MB...

Hi digmorcrusher:

Thanks for the feedback (and "Hi" back at you from the Keystone Province.  Go Bombers!!)

When you say that your geolocation worked at https://www.mygroceryoffers.ca/ as expected "using Chrome and not using MB" could you just confirm that you weren't using Malwarebytes Premium at the time? Or did you mean that you weren't using Malwarebytes Browser Guard with your Chrome browser?

The third image in my original post <above> shows that geolocation on that site correctly identifies my location as Manitoba as long as I disable the Web Protection module in Malwarebytes Premium and agree to give https://www.mygroceryoffers.ca/ permission to access my location.
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64-bit Win 10 Pro v21H2 build 19044.2251 * Firefox v107.0.1 * MS Edge v107.0.1418.62 * Microsoft Defender v4.18.2210.6-1.1.19800.4 * Malwarebytes Premium v4.5.18.226-1.0.1823 * Macrium Reflect Free v8.0.7175
Dell Inspiron 15 5584, Intel i5-8265U CPU, 8 GB RAM, 256 GB Toshiba KBG40ZNS256G NVMe SSD, Intel UHD Graphics 620

[digmorcrusher]

Hi Imacri, to clarify, I was not using MB or  MB Browser Guard at the time, neither are installed at this time on my rig.

 

PS. I'm a Riders fan. heh  heh 😛