Mozilla Firefox 8 allows better control of add-ons

After noting some third-party applications secretly install add-ons to the Firefox Web browser, Mozilla is taking steps to give users more control over the add-ons. Mozilla said two new features, which may be completed for Firefox 8, will disable third-party add-ons until the user expressly opts in or approves them. “We understand that there are legitimate use cases for some third-party add-on installations, and that those developers have done the right thing by asking users to opt in to the add-on, following our performance best practices, and providing a good user experience. Unfortunately, the extent of unwanted add-ons installed through these methods has caused us to take action, but we’re confident that users who truly want such add-ons to be installed will opt in when Firefox prompts them," it said in a blog post. Users who want to try out these and other new features in Firefox can do so with Firefox’s Aurora (test) version starting next week, it added. Mozilla said more than 1.5 million add-ons such as extensions and themes are downloaded every day from its official add-ons gallery. But it also noted third-party applications frequently install bundled add-ons into Firefox as part of their own installation process. “While some of these applications seek the user’s permission beforehand, others install add-ons into Firefox without checking to make sure the user actually wants them," it said. It said these add-ons installed by third parties present problems such as slowing down Firefox start-up and page loading time; cluttering the interface with toolbars; and lagging behind on compatibility and security updates. The first of the two new features requires users to opt in to add-on installation. “If Firefox starts and finds that another program has installed an add-on, Firefox will disable the add-on until the user has explicitly opted in to the addition. Users that want the functionality provided by a third-party-installed add-on can easily allow the installation, while users who don’t can cancel or ignore the prompt," it said. A second feature will manifest itself when users upgrade to the new version of Firefox. Users will be presented with a one-time dialog to select the add-ons they wish to keep installed. By default, all of the add-ons will be kept but add-ons installed by another application will be disabled unless the user chooses to keep them. If any add-ons will be disabled, the user will be asked to confirm the changes. This additional step should ensure users do not accidentally disable add-ons they wish to keep. — TJD, GMA News