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More detail, please

  • 1 reply
  • 1 has this problem
  • 9 views
  • Last reply by Paul

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Thanks for making Mozilla possible. I rely on your work for the security of my work.

I am considering downloading CleanURLs (https://addons.mozilla.org/en-US/firefox/addon/clearurls/). I would like to do this because it takes me a lot of time to clean a URL when I want to share a URL with someone. And, sometimes, a cleaned link in an Amazon URL doesn't work.

Since I am doing this for privacy and security which, I assume, is a reason many people have for downloading this extension. I am concerned about letting programs, apps, extensions, etc. roam wild in my computer.

Today's limitations are helpful, but not very clear. For example, if I download ClearURLs, it will have permission to:

  • Access my data on all websites
  • Download files and read and modify the browser's download history
  • Access browser tabs
  • Access Browser activity during navigation

(See attached image.)

Much of what happens on the internet is based on trust. I trust Mozilla so, even knowing about these permissions, I may download it.

However, this is a good example of a common practice which, itself, raises questions of security and privacy.

Pretty much everything I download has permission statements like these, and no way to opt out of them and still make use of the download. I think this is probably true for many of your users.

Using your permission statement as an example, why does the extension need to have permission to:

  • Access my data on all websites? The only thing this app does is clean URLs. I would happily give it permission to pop-up when I want to copy a URL and ask if I want to copy the whole URL or a cleaned URL. That is much safer than letting an extension access all my data.
  • Download files and read and modify the browser's download history. Why is this permission needed? The stated purpose of the extension is limited to cleaning URLs - which would seem to have nothing to do with the download process or my browsing history.
  • Access browser tabs. Once again, what's this have to do with Cleaning URLs?
  • Access Browser activity during navigation. For a third time, what's this have to do with Cleaning URLs? If it is for a limited purpose, such as catching unclean URLs and asking if the user would like to clean the URL - then it should say that.

I have taken the time to share this with the hope that you find these suggestions useful for the future development of CleanURLs.

Thanks for making Mozilla possible. I rely on your work for the security of my work. I am considering downloading CleanURLs (https://addons.mozilla.org/en-US/firefox/addon/clearurls/). I would like to do this because it takes me a lot of time to clean a URL when I want to share a URL with someone. And, sometimes, a cleaned link in an Amazon URL doesn't work. Since I am doing this for privacy and security which, I assume, is a reason many people have for downloading this extension. I am concerned about letting programs, apps, extensions, etc. roam wild in my computer. Today's limitations are helpful, but not very clear. For example, if I download ClearURLs, it will have permission to: * Access my data on all websites * Download files and read and modify the browser's download history * Access browser tabs * Access Browser activity during navigation (See attached image.) Much of what happens on the internet is based on trust. I trust Mozilla so, even knowing about these permissions, I may download it. However, this is a good example of a common practice which, itself, raises questions of security and privacy. Pretty much everything I download has permission statements like these, and no way to opt out of them and still make use of the download. I think this is probably true for many of your users. Using your permission statement as an example, why does the extension need to have permission to: * Access my data on all websites? The only thing this app does is clean URLs. I would happily give it permission to pop-up when I want to copy a URL and ask if I want to copy the whole URL or a cleaned URL. That is much safer than letting an extension access all my data. * Download files and read and modify the browser's download history. Why is this permission needed? The stated purpose of the extension is limited to cleaning URLs - which would seem to have nothing to do with the download process or my browsing history. * Access browser tabs. Once again, what's this have to do with Cleaning URLs? * Access Browser activity during navigation. For a third time, what's this have to do with Cleaning URLs? If it is for a limited purpose, such as catching unclean URLs and asking if the user would like to clean the URL - then it should say that. I have taken the time to share this with the hope that you find these suggestions useful for the future development of CleanURLs.
Attached screenshots

All Replies (1)

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Hi

Please appreciate that add-ons for Firefox are developed and supported by independant developers. I recommend that you contact the developer directly using the link on the add-on page to seek support with their software.