Firefox Developers stop supporting add-ons that are installed by directly copying files into the add-ons directory (\/usr\/lib\/mozilla\/extensions\/, \/usr\/share\/mozilla\/extensions\/ or ~\/.mozilla\/extensions\/), processed by all instances of Firefox on the system (without user binding). This method is typically used for preinstalling add-ons in distributions, replacing add-ons at the time of application installation, or for delivering an add-on with its own installer.
In Firefox 73, scheduled for February 11, such add-ons will continue to work but will be moved from the shared directory of all browser instances to individual user profiles, meaning they will be converted into the format used during installation via the add-ons manager. Starting with the release of Firefox 74, expected on March 10, support for add-ons not bound to user profiles will be discontinued.
Developers of add-ons installed without profile binding are advised to switch to their products through the official add-ons catalog . To manually install separately downloaded add-ons, you can use the option to load an add-on from a file, available in the add-ons manager.
The reason for the proposed changes is the emergence of problems with such add-ons for usersāthese add-ons are often imposed and activated without the explicit consent of the user. Moreover, since the add-on is not tied to the user profile, the user cannot remove them through the official add-ons manager. Directly copying add-ons is also often used to inject malicious add-ons into Firefox.
Source: opennet.ru
