14 DAY TRIAL // Mozilla has released an official fix for an add-on issue in older versions of Firefox browser.
An expired certificate wreaked havoc for Firefox users in early May, as it disabled extensions in the browser and blocked them from installing new add-ons.
Mozilla rolled out updated versions of Firefox to resolve the issue, including Firefox 66.0.4 and Firefox 66.0.5, promising a separate fix for older versions of the browser as well.
This fix is now available as a dedicated add-on called Disabled Add-On Fix for Firefox 52-56, and it can be installed from Mozilla using this page.
As the description of the extension reveals, simply installing it resolves the bug by deploying a new security certificate in the browser.
“On May 3, 2019, an expired security certificate prevented existing and new add-ons from running or being installed in Firefox. We are very sorry for the inconvenience. This extension will install a new security certificate and re-enable extensions and themes for Firefox versions 52 through 56,” Mozilla says.
“If you install this extension and then upgrade to a supported version of Firefox, please uninstall this extension as it may not be compatible with updated versions.”
Separate patch for Firefox 57 – 65 also in the works
As per GHacks, the same extension can be used to resolve the issue in other Firefox-based browsers as well including, for example, Waterfox.
At this point, Firefox versions 57 to 65 are yet to receive this add-on fix, but Mozilla previously said a patch for these releases was in the works as well.
Mozilla last week said it would remove all telemetry data it collected from Firefox users after requiring them to enter its Studies program to receive an emergency fix. The company revealed its investigation on the add-on blunder was still in the works, with more details to be shared at some point in the future after the analysis comes to a conclusion.