Free Republic
Browse · Search
General/Chat
Topics · Post Article

Skip to comments.

Firefox disables broweser extensions.
my browser | 5/4/2019 | Self

Posted on 05/04/2019 7:58:53 AM PDT by Ouderkirk

I am not much of a vanity poster.

This morning I have noticed that Firefox had disabled my browser extensions for Ghostery and Adblock plus. I tried to install several other adblock anti-trackers and none of them will install.

I have tried to re-install them yet I am denied.

I hate to wave goodbye to Firefox as I have been onboard since the Netscape days. But, I cannot get these extensions to install no matter what I do and I will dump them if they want to force the issue


TOPICS: Computers/Internet
KEYWORDS: adblockers; broweser; dsj02; firefox; mozilla; trackers; windowspinglist
Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first previous 1-20 ... 41-6061-8081-100101-116 next last
To: Chode

ok for htose that deleted their extension and now can’t redownload it- here is a site describing the issue- they are aware of it- and working on it-

https://blog.mozilla.org/addons/2019/05/04/update-regarding-add-ons-in-firefox/

apparently you have to allow ‘studies’ in firefox by going here:

Firefox Options/Preferences -> Privacy & Security -> Allow Firefox to install and run studies (scroll down to find the setting)

but you can disable it again after the fix is applied


61 posted on 05/04/2019 10:25:49 AM PDT by Bob434
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 53 | View Replies]

To: Ouderkirk

I just assumed it was one of their almost daily “improvements” that periodically breaks the browser extensions until the providers can design workarounds. (My email links still default to Firefox, so I noticed the issue last night).

Firefox has been on a suicide run for some time now; I suspect Google folks are behind it to shift everyone over to a flavor of Chrome (Brave for me, Chrome in a pretty dress).

Choices are rapidly narrowing to Google and Microsoft.

I think there is a branch of the old Firefox out there. I’ve got a very old Seamonkey so I’m not sure where they have gone recently.


62 posted on 05/04/2019 10:27:21 AM PDT by PAR35
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: PAR35

a temporary fix is to go to “about:config”, search for “xpinstall.signatures.required” and set it to False. install your adblockers again or whatever you need- then go back into go to “about:config”, search for “xpinstall.signatures.required” and set it to False. and set it back to true

Trying it now- it seems to be working,


63 posted on 05/04/2019 10:33:18 AM PDT by Bob434
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 62 | View Replies]

To: thoughtomator

Is Brave better than Vivaldi? I switched to Vivaldi last yr on a Freepers advice...it seems ok


64 posted on 05/04/2019 10:34:59 AM PDT by goodnesswins (White Privilege EQUALS Self Control & working 50-80 hrs/wk for 40 years!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 16 | View Replies]

To: Bob434

note- my above post will only reinstall, your addon will then be disasbled again- but following the advice from my previous post above that will allow the fix from mozilla to be applied- supposedly- we’ll see-

BTW- I note that adblock plus is not available now, and now it’s called adblock ultimate? is that correct?


65 posted on 05/04/2019 10:37:22 AM PDT by Bob434
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 63 | View Replies]

To: Ouderkirk

I saw it this morning. My Ghostery extension is no longer enabled (it blocks ads and trackers) and i can’t reinstall it either.

I read that it is a bug that Mozilla knows about and has to fix. It has something to do with certificates and whether or not all extensions that have been previously certified are still recognize as certified.

Hoefully the bug is fixed soon.

Meanwhile, maybe I should look for a different ad/tracker blocking extension.


66 posted on 05/04/2019 10:43:16 AM PDT by Wuli
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Ouderkirk
The disabling of extensions is the result of a stupid error at Mozilla where they let a code signing certificate expire. They are trying to fix it.

It does show the great weaknesses built into modern software products be developers who think they have a good solution but really don't.

Here is the bugzilla thread from Mozilla

There are some temporary work arounds, see the bugzilla thread and perhaps the related reddit thread here

67 posted on 05/04/2019 10:50:04 AM PDT by freeandfreezing
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Bob434

they always monkey things up


68 posted on 05/04/2019 10:53:03 AM PDT by Chode ( WeÂ’re America, Bitch!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 65 | View Replies]

To: Ouderkirk

There is a bug Mozilla is working on to fix.

You can get your extensions added (if missing) or enabled if you change an option in your Firefox browser. It is an option in your Firefox privacy setttings that allows or disallows Mozilla to collect data for “studies”. If you set it to allow the studies you can get your extensions back. Then you can reverse that setting when the bug is fixed.


69 posted on 05/04/2019 11:02:16 AM PDT by Wuli
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: upchuck

https://discourse.mozilla.org/t/certificate-issue-causing-add-ons-to-be-disabled-or-fail-to-install/39047/14


70 posted on 05/04/2019 11:08:32 AM PDT by GOPJ ("Elites reflexively exempt themselves from the ravages of their own policies." - nathanbedford)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 13 | View Replies]

To: Ouderkirk
Have not loaded the latest Firefox update (don't allow "automatic" updates) and Adblock is still working... Thereby Adblock getting it's same C+ rating from me...

Thxs for the heads up...

71 posted on 05/04/2019 11:15:10 AM PDT by SuperLuminal (Where is Sam Adams now that we desperately need him)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: freeandfreezing

The bug has been fixed. May need to refresh Firefox to get it to work.

Help>Troubleshooting Information>Refresh.


72 posted on 05/04/2019 11:16:00 AM PDT by Boomer (One can be an American or a Democrat but never both; not since Zero was elected anyway.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 67 | View Replies]

To: Ouderkirk

Currently using Waterfox, like it so far.


73 posted on 05/04/2019 12:04:17 PM PDT by COUNTrecount (If only Harvey Weinstein's bathrobe could talk.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Ouderkirk

I’m guessing that since Firefox is an open-source system, it is somewhat dependent on corporations to persevere. What do corporations want? They want our data, and they want to pitch their stuff to us. So I suspect Mozilla and their corporate sponsors engaged in a sort of quid pro quo. Disable the blockers, and you get to keep riding our gravy train.


74 posted on 05/04/2019 12:29:39 PM PDT by Tolerance Sucks Rocks (Modern feminism: ALL MEN BAD!!!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Boomer; All

OK. Then, never mind, y’all, what I just said (above).


75 posted on 05/04/2019 12:30:56 PM PDT by Tolerance Sucks Rocks (Modern feminism: ALL MEN BAD!!!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 72 | View Replies]

To: Ouderkirk

You’re a blessing!
Thank you for starting this thread.
FF disabled my add-ons an hour ago.


76 posted on 05/04/2019 12:39:04 PM PDT by 1_Rain_Drop
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Ouderkirk

Yes. They fixed it this morning just reinstall from the add on area. I lost my theme too but was able to reinstall this am.


77 posted on 05/04/2019 1:10:28 PM PDT by JayGalt (You can't teach a donkey how to tap dance.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Ouderkirk

My addons are all disabled too. But I wonder if my Firefox can be fixed. I never left version 52.9.0. The new stuff went south so I stopped updating. Hmmm, if they changed my old version maybe they can put it back?????


78 posted on 05/04/2019 1:29:22 PM PDT by Allen In Texas Hill Country
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Ouderkirk

Happened to me last evening. Here is the fix.

Simple to re-enable the extensions.
Right click on the toolbar and click on “Menu bar” if it does not have a check mark.

From the Menu bar> Tools> Add-ons> Left click on the icon that looks like a gear then click on “Debug Add-ons” then click on “Load Temporary Add-on...”
A folder opens. Go to the location below then one by one select the extensions you want enabled.

C:\Users\your username\AppData\Roaming\Mozilla\Firefox\Profiles\your profile name.default\extensions

You have to have Hidden items turned on for you to see the extensions.
https://www.howtogeek.com/howto/windows-vista/show-hidden-files-and-folders-in-windows-vista/


79 posted on 05/04/2019 2:12:37 PM PDT by minnesota_bound
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Ouderkirk

Yep. So has Firefox.

https://blog.mozilla.org/addons/2019/05/04/update-regarding-add-ons-in-firefox/


80 posted on 05/04/2019 2:15:04 PM PDT by Old Student (As I watch the balkanization of our nation I realize that Robert A. Heinlein was a prophet.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]


Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first previous 1-20 ... 41-6061-8081-100101-116 next last

Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.

Free Republic
Browse · Search
General/Chat
Topics · Post Article

FreeRepublic, LLC, PO BOX 9771, FRESNO, CA 93794
FreeRepublic.com is powered by software copyright 2000-2008 John Robinson