Add a verified system for Addons/Extensions/Themes

[Justin4]

This would involve authors verifying that they are who they say they are. This is important for all addons but especially those that claim to be from a company.

For example the DeepL addon (https://addons.mozilla.org/en-US/firefox/addon/deepl-free/) is made by AllStarE LLC (https://addons.mozilla.org/en-US/firefox/user/20069396/).

Do we know that AllStarE LLC is the owner of DeepL? Is this Addon officially made by DeepL?

Flathub (https://flathub.org/) have a similar system with their applications. This helps users identify applications that are officially submitted by or at least endorsed by the application developer(s).

This would help ensure trust and safety of users of Firefox/Thunderbird Addons/Extensions/Themes, etc.

[Jon]

Thanks for submitting an idea to the Mozilla Connect community! Your idea is now open to votes (aka kudos) and comments.

[kserio]

Dear kind Sirs and Madams, I appreciate the time and effort you put in to making things better however, 

“I understand that software evolves and that new features are sometimes necessary. What I would ask is that you remember that your users aren't all experiencing these changes in the same way. As I get older, unexpected changes to familiar interfaces can cause me to question whether I am suddenly having difficulty remembering something I have used successfully for years. That can be surprisingly distressing and can even cause me to panic.

Please give users the ability to retain a familiar layout when possible. If you introduce new widgets or rearrange existing features, let us hide them, move them, or restore the previous arrangement. I don't object to giving me new tools. I object to having my familiar tools moved without giving me control over my own workspace. I do not like chatgpt on the side in a small area. I can see where it might be helpful in using more than one screen but I need fuller space for that due to my writing and stuff. Please stop moving around my bookmarks. Some of them have even disappeared from my list and from my firefox page. They are important icons being they help me pay my bills!

If something isn't broken, please consider letting the user decide whether it needs fixing.” I do look forward to a response from some one not too busy and hard hearted. Thank you. Kim Serio, an aging individual trying to keep a grasp on sanity while her mother is struggling with dementia.

[Cooldash]

"Verified" authors of addons

This idea is adding a "verified" "badge" to certain authors of addons. For example, they could pay for a "developers liscence" (albeit a bit over the top) or just be trusted by officials to earn it, for example an addon from Mozilla would get it and users would know its safe and trusted. This is similar to the extensions verified thing in VS Code, which you may have heard of.

Notice how in the VS code screenshot, extensions like "Cat Reviews" (an extension by an indie/unknown developer) dont have a red checkmark, but extensions from well known companies such as Microsoft do. This is important because it will help people have peace of mind, knowing the extension they downloaded is safe. And it helps against unsafe addons because having no checkmark means they arent a verified creator. It doesnt block indie creators, allowing for creativity and things, but it keeps the store safer

[Jon]

Thanks for submitting an idea to the Mozilla Connect community! Your idea is now open to votes (aka kudos) and comments.

[smda]

I would also suggest implementing unverified tag along with verified to not cause ambiguity

[Jon]

(Note: similar ideas have been merged into this thread)

[QwertyUIOP012]

It is a bit labor-intensive to implement this reliably, but, it is a necessary step.  Speaking for myself, I have foregone downloading many extensions because there were unknown developers, or, because I don't know if the developers have deeper understanding of security issues.  I download extensions from known sources that have some demonstrated awareness of security, such as EFF.