Is there a way that I can detect if Firefox will open a particular URL in an IE tab?

Question

I have a web page that links to another web application, which unfortunately only completely functions in IE, so, when viewing the original page with another browser (like Chrome or Safari) I display a warning that the application won't operate fully operate unless opened in IE.

Of course, some savvy users of Firefox have the IE tabs extension and have configured it such that the problematic web application always opens in an IE tab. These users would prefer it if my intrusive warning weren't shown for them as it is not necessary.

So, is there a way that my web page can detect that the URL will open in an IE tab? I presume it would require the extension to expose this information somehow as Firefox does not generally allow javascript access to settings for security reasons.

Answer 1

well I am not sure how FF's IE tab works but I assume they share cookies set a cookie when it is IE and check whether it exists and do not show the warning. This will only remove the warning after first usage if my assumption about cookies is correct.

Second is more hacky, use css :visited puseudo styles to detect whether your user has ever downloaded the XPI of firefox tabs.