this post was submitted on 02 Feb 2026
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Starting with Firefox 148, which rolls out on Feb. 24, you’ll find a new AI controls section within the desktop browser settings. It provides a single place to block current and future generative AI features in Firefox.

They actually listened to the community, thats very nice.

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[–] solrize@lemmy.ml 28 points 1 day ago (4 children)

Pepperidge Farms remembers when Firefox had a control like that to turn JavaScript on and off. The rest of you are supposed to have forgotten. Oops.

[–] technocrit@lemmy.dbzer0.com 1 points 5 hours ago* (last edited 5 hours ago)

Javascript? Y'all aren't using text only browsers??!?! Sellouts. \s

[–] UnfortunateShort@lemmy.world 8 points 20 hours ago

There is still NoScript, which is arguably much better than that, since it offers more granular control

[–] blaggle42@lemmy.today 3 points 22 hours ago (1 children)

I wrote myself a little plugin for firefox.

It runs nice, and I want to install it permanently. It does something I want.

Can I? No. Why? Because Firefox... Apparently I'm not adult enough to control my own browser. WTF.

I have to either get their developer build or become a developer with an account. WTF.

So I think, I don't want their developer build, I just want this plugin--- I make a mozilla plugin developer account- because apparently that's how I'm supposed to do it- I try to create the plugin upload


Can I? No. Why? Because they want my phone number before I can make a plugin just for myself. WTF.

So - I ask ChatGPT if there is any work around for this, can it search, I just want to run my own plugin, I don't want the developer build, I don't want the developer account, I just want to run my own plugin- ChatGPT says it can't help me because I'm not adhering to Firefox's EULA. WTF.

So I give up on the plugin - and today, I just happen to notice Mozilla silently turned on SYNC for my web history for that fucking Mozilla plugin developer account. So I guess I'm sending them everything I ever do on the web. WTF.

I go and try to find out what information they've stolen from me, can I find it? No. The have some link, to another link, to another link, to another link, which eventually ends up on some page where I can ask them to pretty please send me what information they stole. Why can I not see this without writing a letter! WTF.

WTF WTF WTF. I hate Mozilla.

Please let them burn in software hell.

/rant

[–] glog78@digitalcourage.social 5 points 20 hours ago (1 children)

@blaggle42 @solrize
https://www.w3tutorials.net/blog/firefox-add-ons-how-to-install-my-own-local-add-on-extension-permanently-in-firefox/

There er multiple ways but yes they don't make it easy cause the want to make the attack vector aka ( a "friend" sent you a email with the "hottest new" firefox extension ) as small as possible.

Showing a important part of the website link. Step 3: Install an Unsigned .xpi (Advanced) #Unsigned XPIs require manual placement in your Firefox profile (and may need Firefox Developer Edition/Nightly). Enable Unsigned Extensions (If Needed): Open Firefox Developer Edition/Nightly. Navigate to about:config. Search for xpinstall.signatures.required and set it to false (double-click the preference). Warning: Disabling signature checks exposes you to security risks. Only install unsigned extensions from trusted sources.

[–] blaggle42@lemmy.today 4 points 19 hours ago (2 children)

I understand what you are saying - but - if I want to install a program on my computer - I should be allowed to do so - the same with firefox


maybe it might need me doing the equivalent of sudo, entering some password - or just clicking through, "ok, yes I know, extensions can do bad things.", "yes I really know that I shouldn't install an extension if I don't know exactly what it is" 10 times, but


etc..

I just don't buy the "attack vector" argument. There are many ways to mitigate, without removing the ability.

Anyway, in a way this was a good experience - I am going to try to ditch firefox sooner than later now.

[–] WhyJiffie@sh.itjust.works 1 points 5 hours ago (1 children)

don't enable unsigned extensions. It's there for good reason.

upload your addon to addons.mozilla.org. there's an option to not publish, but only upload for signing. then you'll get back a signed xpi you can install properly.

[–] blaggle42@lemmy.today 1 points 1 hour ago

Doesn't work. Try to do it without giving them a phone number or installing some other application. You can't. Or I couldn't.

Then, after you can't and you think, "I'll go to the forums, see if there is a way." You'll find out Mozilla has problems with sign in. I mean come on.. But this is irrelevant, this whole flow is dumb. And it presumes that I shouldn't be able to control my own browser.

We need a new firefox - just like the original firefox showed that Mozilla was bloat and dumb, we need another that shows the current is bloat and dumb.

[–] TheBlackLounge@lemmy.zip 0 points 12 hours ago (1 children)

Using dev edition is the equivalent of sudo.

Firefox can just install an extension from clicking a link, combine that with tech illiterate people just panic-clicking "ok" on every popup, that really is an attack vector.

I mean, billions of people click yes on a "hey we're gonna take all your data and sell it to everyone, are you okay with that?" screen multiple times a day...

[–] blaggle42@lemmy.today 1 points 1 hour ago

Again. You are saying you shouldn't be able to install applications on your computer.

I mean, if that's what you believe. I don't. I think I should be able to decide what I run and where I run it.

Especially if the company thinks of itself as open source.

[–] phoenixz@lemmy.ca -2 points 23 hours ago (1 children)

Meh, no script does that quite well, not?

[–] solrize@lemmy.ml 1 points 22 hours ago (1 children)

No it doesn't, you want to be able to turn off JS while it is running, and that is now impossible. Noscript stops it from running in the first place and that breaks too many sites.

[–] TheBlackLounge@lemmy.zip 1 points 11 hours ago

You can do it. F12->debugger->cog->uncheck "Show paused overly", click the pause button. Very very few sites still work well that way. It just doesn't make sense to have this functionality in a HTML5 world.