Is Disconnect a safe add-on?
When I try to download and install Disconnect, Firefox tells me that it prevented the site (disconnect.me) from asking me to install software on my computer. There is an option to Allow, but it makes me nervous that Firefox's default is to prevent it. When I tried clicking on Allow, I saw that the publisher was unverified. Disconnect is supposed to help with online privacy, which is a less fundamental piece of internet hygiene than avoiding malware (such as by downloading software from unknown publishers), so I'm puzzled why the publishers wouldn't take care of that bit of housekeeping.
Can someone advise me?
Thanks.
All Replies (4)
That actually is very common. I can't recall ever seeing a Firefox extension that had a verified author. (I think the author needs to sign the extension with a special type of certificate that most authors do not bother buying. Or maybe there is a technical reason that it is particularly difficult?)
So unfortunately, that leaves you with the problem of having to research and decide whether to trust the site.
There's list of Allowed Sites or "Trusted Sites'" in Tools > Options -> Security --> Allowed Sites - Addons Installation which is a standard part of Firefox. That "list" is only 2 or 3 Mozilla websites, until the user adds more websites. As far as "trusting" that particular domain, that is up to you. IMO, there is no reason for an addons developer not to use the Mozilla Addons website for hosting their addon; unless they are reluctant to submit it to a formal review process of their Addon.
Thanks for these replies.
I haven't paid much attention over the years to whether authors of Firefox add-ons were verified, since I install only add-ons that have plenty of history and good reviews. This was the first time I'd had that particular notification from Firefox, though -- the first time there was a default in place to block me even being asked whether to install, so if unverified authors are common among Firefox add-ons, then there must indeed be something odd about this one in particular.
I have done research on Disconnect, and while it's not being talked about a lot, it does seem to be legitimate, and in articles about it I found no hint of trouble.
So I guess I still have the original question: Does anyone in the Mozilla community know whether Disconnect is safe and legitimate to install, and if it is why did Firefox take a step I'd never seen before to block installation?
Thanks.
For more information about the initial drop-down prompt about allowing the site, see this reply: https://support.mozilla.org/questions/988441#answer-540026
I don't have an opinion on whether the Disconnect extensions are good or bad. Just be aware that sometimes blocking "third party" content in a page can cause issues on some sites, If you notice a feature of a site has stopped working normally, see whether you can temporarily turn off Disconnect or make an exception, as a test.