Personalized Extension Recommendations

How Recommendations Work

To better predict what extensions you may find interesting, Firefox uses the Telemetry-Aware Add-on Recommender (TAAR) system—a Mozilla service that recommends extensions by examining basic browser Telemetry. This means TAAR analyzes usage statistics from a large number of other Firefox users, looks at other extensions you may have installed, and considers general characteristics about your Firefox profile (like language preference).

Data Analysis Process

Based on this information, TAAR surfaces extension recommendations tailored just for you:

• Usage Statistics: Analyzes patterns from many Firefox users
Extension History: Considers extensions you've previously installed
• Profile Characteristics: Language preferences and basic settings
• Hardware Information: System capabilities and limitations

Privacy Protection

All the data that TAAR analyzes in order to make personalized extension recommendations is anonymized:

• No Personal Information: No names, emails, or identifying details
Aggregated Data: Combined with many other users' information
• Anonymous Processing: No individual user tracking
Purpose Limited: Used only for extension recommendations

Editorial Process

All extension recommendations appearing in the Add-ons Manager must first pass through a thorough editorial process:

• Hand-Selected: Recommended extensions are exceptional extensions chosen by Mozilla's editorial team
Quality Standards: Must meet Mozilla's highest standards for functionality
• User Experience: Evaluated for ease of use and accessibility
Security Review: Thoroughly vetted for security and privacy

Quality Assurance

Recommended extensions meet Mozilla's highest standards for:

• Functionality: Extensions work reliably and as intended
User Experience: Intuitive and user-friendly interfaces
• Security: Safe and secure for users
Performance: Minimal impact on browser performance

No Paid Placement

Important transparency information:

• No Developer Payments: Extension developers cannot pay for placement
No Mozilla Compensation: Firefox does not receive any compensationUser-Focused: Recommendations strictly intended to provide better browsing experienceEditorial Independence: Mozilla maintains full control over recommendations

Desktop Settings Configuration

To disable personalized extension recommendations:

1. In the Menu bar at the top of the screen, click Firefox and select Settings (select Preferences on older macOS versions)
2. Click the menu button and select Settings
3. In the Privacy & Security panel, scroll down to Data Collection and Use
4. Un-check the box that reads, Allow Firefox to make personalized extension recommendations

Note: In Oasis, the exact menu structure may vary slightly, but the setting should be located in the Privacy & Security section under Data Collection and Use.

What Happens When You Opt Out

After disabling personalized recommendations:

• Generalized Recommendations: You'll still see recommended extensions in the Add-ons Manager
No Personalization: Recommendations won't be tailored using your telemetry data
• Standard Suggestions: You'll see general, high-quality extension recommendations
Privacy Enhancement: No telemetry data used for extension suggestions

Re-enabling the Feature

If you change your mind later:

• Easy to Re-enable: Simply check the box again in the same location
Immediate Effect: Personalized recommendations resume immediatelyNo Data Loss: Your previous opt-out choice doesn't affect future recommendationsUser Control: You maintain full control over this feature

Data Sources

What information TAAR analyzes:

• Browser Telemetry: Basic usage statistics and performance data
Extension History: Previously installed extensions and patterns
• Profile Preferences: Language settings and basic configurations
Hardware Information: System capabilities and limitations

Recommendation Algorithm

How TAAR processes information:

• Pattern Recognition: Identifies common extension combinations
User Segmentation: Groups users with similar preferences
• Quality Filtering: Ensures only high-quality extensions are recommended
Relevance Scoring: Ranks extensions by likely user interest

Privacy Safeguards

How your privacy is protected:

• Data Anonymization: All data is stripped of personal identifiers
Aggregated Analysis: Data combined across many users
• Purpose Limitation: Used only for extension recommendations
User Control: You can opt out at any time

Add-ons Manager Access

How to access extension recommendations:

• Menu Navigation: Click menu button → Extensions and themes
Recommendations Tab: Select the Recommendations section
• Browse Categories: Explore different types of extensions
Search Function: Find specific extensions by name or function

Extension Discovery

Ways to find new extensions:

• Personalized Recommendations: Tailored suggestions based on your usage
Featured Extensions: Editorially selected high-quality extensions
• Category Browsing: Explore by function or purpose
User Reviews: Read feedback from other users

Installation Process

How to install recommended extensions:

• Review Details: Read description, features, and user reviews
Check Permissions: Understand what the extension can access
• Install with One Click: Simple installation process
Automatic Updates: Extensions update automatically

Data Collection Scope

What data is collected for recommendations:

• Extension Usage: Which extensions you have installed
Basic Telemetry: Browser performance and usage statistics
• Profile Settings: Language preferences and basic configurations
No Personal Content: No browsing history or personal information

Data Protection Measures

How your data is safeguarded:

• Anonymization: All data stripped of personal identifiers
Aggregation: Combined with data from many other users
• Secure Processing: Data encrypted and securely transmitted
Limited Retention: Data not stored indefinitely

User Control Options

How you maintain privacy:

• Opt-out Choice: You decide whether to participate
Granular Control: Can disable just extension recommendations
• Data Review: Clear information about what data is used
Immediate Effect: Changes take effect immediately

When to Use Personalized Recommendations

Consider enabling if you want to:

• Discover New Tools: Find extensions that match your needs
Enhance Productivity: Get recommendations for workflow improvements
• Stay Updated: Learn about new high-quality extensions
Privacy Comfort: Are comfortable with telemetry-based suggestions

When to Disable Recommendations

Consider disabling if you:

• Have Privacy Concerns: Prefer not to share telemetry data
Prefer Manual Discovery: Want to find extensions yourself
• Use Minimal Extensions: Don't need many browser add-ons
Work in Regulated Environments: Have strict data sharing requirements

Extension Safety Tips

Best practices for extension usage:

• Review Permissions: Understand what extensions can access
Check Reviews: Read user feedback and ratings
• Install from Trusted Sources: Use official Mozilla recommendations
Regular Review: Periodically review installed extensions

Recommendations Not Appearing

If you don't see personalized recommendations:

• Check Settings: Verify the feature is enabled in Privacy & Security
Restart Browser: Restart Oasis to refresh the recommendation system
• Check Internet Connection: Ensure stable connection for data processing
Update Browser: Ensure you're using the latest version

Setting Won't Save

If the recommendation setting doesn't persist:

• Restart Browser: Restart Oasis after changing the setting
Check Permissions: Ensure browser has permission to save settings
• Clear Cache: Clear browser cache and cookies
Check Extensions: Disable conflicting extensions temporarily

Poor Recommendation Quality

If recommendations seem irrelevant:

• Install More Extensions: More data helps improve recommendations
Use Browser Regularly: Regular usage provides better telemetry data
• Check Language Settings: Ensure language preferences are correct
Contact Support: Reach out to Mozilla support if issues persist