Quit sideloading: Firefox to stop add-ons installing other add-ons

When a browser extension itself installs another extension, experts call this sideloading.

Due to the fundamental security risks involved, Firefox developer Mozilla has now banned sideloading in the latest browser version (74), set for release in March 2020.

Mozilla said sideloading not only leads to malicious software repeatedly being installed on computers, but these sideloaded add-ons are also notoriously difficult to uninstall.

This is because sideloaded extensions often can’t be found in the Firefox browser’s add-on manager like normal extensions.

To prevent users from inadvertently deleting extensions they want, the next update of Firefox will allow users to decide whether sideloaded add-ons should be installed properly or removed. – dpa

Source: TheStar