Requests still created with working request blockers

straw_collector

Using extensions to block requests by domain, Orion still creates a connection to a blocked domain.

Steps to reproduce:

Find some way to monitor application connections (I'm using Little Snitch in Alert Mode)
Create a new browser profile (I've tested Orion, Firefox, and Chrome)
In Orion, enable extensions from Firefox/Chrome stores (same result with both)
Install uBlock Origin or uMatrix (same result with both)
Create a blocking rule for a domain (I've been using example.com)
Go to the domain in a new tab (remember to clear cache between attempts)
In Firefox/Chrome: extensions show a blocked page and Little Snitch does NOT alert to a new connection (expected behavior)
In Orion: extensions show a blocked page but Little Snitch DOES generate an alert to a new connection (unexpected behavior)

When an extension blocks a request, Orion should not connect to that domain.

0.99.126.4-beta

Sonoma (14)

straw_collector

Attached are 3 videos showing the behavior uBlock Origin in Orion/Firefox/Chrome. In the Orion example, the video first and only shows that navigating to a blocked domain results in an alert. In the Firefox/Chrome videos, first the expected blocked behavior is demonstrated with no alert, then the block is removed to demonstrate the alert without the extension block.

straw_collector

I guess #1890 is related? I read that as preconnections are considered valid and that content blockers should still work on prefetch, so what I may be seeing is the preconnection. I'm not sure if it's prefetch or preconnection though as it also seems like prefetch can work? I would argue there are privacy implications even for a preconnect though. What connections are made could be interesting metadata to an observer of network traffic like an ISP, etc. Regardless, it feels like a subversion of expectation. If preconnects remain then there should be some big obvious warning somewhere.

https://orionfeedback.org/d/1890-remove-speculative-connections-from-orion