Sorry, the Add-ons team is working on a fix for this. It looks like a certificate used to sign many popular extensions expired. (The verification process checks that certificate.)

I don't know how soon re-signed versions of those extensions will become available, or whether another workaround will be discovered. We are all hoping to learn more soon.

Thanks! It was strange how it all of a sudden happened! Since you don't have an estimated time yet, I guess I'll just try re-downloading it periodically.

"Sorry, the Add-ons team is working on a fix for this. It looks like a certificate used to sign many popular extensions expired. (The verification process checks that certificate.) "

What is this 1997?

It is called MANAGEMENT. It includes things like dates, and discipline.

And when you get the new certificate, it too will come with an expiration date. So, exactly what is going to happen to make sure that this doesn't happen on that date? (My guess, absolutely nothing.)

Of course DESIGN would include things like "What if" and "Should the User be given the option to ignore it for a day?" Now maybe the answer to that question is "No." But I would dearly love to see the requirements document that says "If the certificate expires then the whole damn system should come crashing down, and we should run around trying to fix things in a hurry." And probably in the absence of an actual process, because a process would be part of a management plan, and that include things like not waiting until the system crashes to get a new certificate.

I wonder what other certificate-time-bombs are ticking away.

Hi DebraBk, the Add-ons team will post official updates here on their forum where you can also give calendar appointment advice:

https://discourse.mozilla.org/t/certificate-issue-causing-add-ons-to-be-disabled-or-fail-to-install/39047

Currently, the only workaround for the regular release of Firefox is to set your system clock back (for example, if your date is May 3, set to May 2; if your date is May 4, set to May 3). You might have to reinstall extensions after that, or maybe Firefox will detect the difference at your next shut down/restart. Changing the date may have other consequences, so I understand this option isn't ideal.

Mozilla has rolled-out a fix for this. The fix will be automatically applied in the background within the next few hours, you don’t need to take active steps.

In order to be able to provide this fix on short notice, they are using the Studies system. You can check if you have studies enabled

1. Go to [=] > Options > Privacy & Security.
2. Make sure Allow Firefox to install and run studies is check marked.

I you had it disabled, you can disable studies again after your add-ons have been re-enabled.

They are working on a general fix that doesn't need to rely on this and will keep you updated.

Thanks, Chris! I made sure that this option is enabled and hopefully it will work.

jscher2000 said

Hi DebraBk, the Add-ons team will post official updates here on their forum where you can also give calendar appointment advice: https://discourse.mozilla.org/t/certificate-issue-causing-add-ons-to-be-disabled-or-fail-to-install/39047 Currently, the only workaround for the regular release of Firefox is to ... Changing the date may have other consequences, so I understand this option isn't ideal.

There again you meanwhile find as an official way"activate studies" ... Not a single word what data of mine will be transfered whilst doing that before beeing able to deactivate it again ... in this case; _NO_ I'll never do that.

Any other opinions?

Hi NothingSyncs, a like-minded person posted a possible solution for you.

The study loads an extension. There is an unofficial link to the extension in a comment on the Add-ons blog. I have not tried it myself, but the link matches what I expect it to be:

https://blog.mozilla.org/addons/2019/05/04/update-regarding-add-ons-in-firefox/comment-page-6/#comment-226171

jscher2000 said

Hi NothingSyncs, a like-minded person posted a possible solution for you.

Yeah thx on the link, haven't seen/found that before ... will give it a try!

Btw: I tested "the official solution" on a blank system besides searching a solution; ... hotfix-reset-xpi-verification-timestamp-1548973 - active ... "wait a few secs" => not a single addon starts working again

_But_ all other studies (dom.connect.xxx and so on) got activated too and sent/received data instantly ... lovely.

Hi NothingSyncs, when you say a blank system, do you mean default settings? But it had extensions already?

There is a bug on file where the developers are trying to figure out why the patch doesn't work in some cases:

https://bugzilla.mozilla.org/show_bug.cgi?id=1549078

Maybe some of the comments/suggestions there will be relevant.

If all else fails, there is a script you can run to temporarily override the failed verification flags, but it isn't an officially supported solution:

• https://www.reddit.com/r/firefox/comments/bkhzjy/temp_fix_for_the_armagaddon_20_for_regular/
• Original source: https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=19824410

jscher2000 said

Hi NothingSyncs, when you say a blank system, do you mean default settings? But it had extensions already?

More details; - Internet unused Win64+FF66.0.3 with some addons (the musthaves which automatically deactivated "today") - made new profile, activated studies, waited (closed, opend, searched for updates by hand etc) - nothing in the new profile & nothing in the old profile changed, still all addons deactivated

Right now most discussions I found look like either I start new & loose my settings and data - or wait 'till xmas for a solution. %-<

* sigh *

NothingSyncs said

• Internet unused Win64+FF66.0.3 with some addons (the musthaves which automatically deactivated "today")
• made new profile, activated studies, waited (closed, opend, searched for updates by hand etc)
• nothing in the new profile & nothing in the old profile changed, still all addons deactivated

Oh, well, it can take up to 6 hours for Firefox to get the study, and I think you need to run the patch in every profile that is affected. I think my earlier replies covered the faster/hackier methods I'm aware of.

I'll have a look if it changes later on ...

Hi, Chris! That worked! I ignored it until 4:20 PM, so it worked within the 6 hours mentioned.

jscher2000 said

Oh, well, it can take up to 6 hours for Firefox to get the study, ...

Well ... nothing happend.

And I don't trust them to have a solution ever before next major upgrade of ff and a total change of addons system.

Be honest ... they missed a date(!) - a date usually known since the day the signature was made - a good number of changes/updates were made because of "security" - and now themselfes miss an expiration date of a signature, a security issue - not able to use a calendar ... honestly: wtf?