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Unknown Mozilla dev addon "Looking Glass 1.0.3" on browser

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Re: Unknown Mozilla dev addon "Looking Glass 1.0.3" on browser

#331

Post by nine_k »

geofft wrote: post #278
blauditore wrote: post #170

Many people seem to be shocked because Mozilla installed an add-on automatically. In my opinion, it doesn't really matter since the code is coming from Mozilla - they're building the whole browser, so they could introduce functionality anywhere. If someone distrusts their add-ons, why trust their browser at all? The main question is what behavior is being introduced. I haven't researched deeply, but apparently the ad…

> In my opinion, it doesn't really matter since the code is coming from Mozilla - they're building the whole browser, so they could introduce functionality anywhere. If someone distrusts their add-ons, why trust their browser at all? An appropriate response here would be to decide that you no longer trust their browser at all. It's hard to quantify trust exactly. I'm fine with trusting the partly-closed-source Google…

What do we know about marketing gimmicks hidden in Chrome? If they are not made in the form of add-ons, or if they are add-ons but Chrome has a way to hide them (as it hides Flash), we just never know. I bet Google's marketing gimmicks, if any, are not open-source either, and not included in Chromium.

Hence, as you said, the only way is to trust Google here, without much ability to verify.

Re: Unknown Mozilla dev addon "Looking Glass 1.0.3" on browser

#332

Post by takeda »

Karunamon wrote: post #325
hitekker wrote: post #319

1) Mozilla uses weird, spooky language in an add-on. 2) Users are justifiably concerned. 3) Mozilla explains that the add-on is actually anodyne; the developers responsible were having fun with an opt-in research service. 4) Some users try to justify their initial overreaction by painting Firefox as mysterious, dangerous entity, fabulating conspiracy theories about one of the most forthright and open OSS companies in…

3.5) Most users insist that this isn't okay, that addon installations should be approved by the owner of the computer. This isn't about what the addon itself does or does not do, it's the principle of force-pushing unwanted content without prior affirmative consent. This would apply even if the addon was just a stub that didn't have any executable code in it. In this case, it's worse: an ad.

When you install Firefox it asks whether you want to take part in these studies. You can also change the setting at any time in preferences (about:preferences#privacy section).

Re: Unknown Mozilla dev addon "Looking Glass 1.0.3" on browser

#333

Post by geofft »

nine_k wrote: post #331
geofft wrote: post #278

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> In my opinion, it doesn't really matter since the code is coming from Mozilla - they're building the whole browser, so they could introduce functionality anywhere. If someone distrusts their add-ons, why trust their browser at all? An appropriate response here would be to decide that you no longer trust their browser at all. It's hard to quantify trust exactly. I'm fine with trusting the partly-closed-source Google…

What do we know about marketing gimmicks hidden in Chrome? If they are not made in the form of add-ons, or if they are add-ons but Chrome has a way to hide them (as it hides Flash), we just never know . I bet Google's marketing gimmicks, if any, are not open-source either, and not included in Chromium. Hence, as you said, the only way is to trust Google here, without much ability to verify.

I have never seen marketing gimmicks in Chrome, apart from the choice of default search/new tab page.

Re: Unknown Mozilla dev addon "Looking Glass 1.0.3" on browser

#334

Post by [deleted] »

GrayShade wrote: post #283
callahad wrote: post #223

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Just coming up to speed, apologies for the potentially obvious questions. 1. Can you explain what you mean by "unknown Mozilla developers?" Unknown to whom? 2. Can you provide more detail on what specific configuration changes are reverted when opening the add-ons window? That sounds like a fairly serious bug. 3. What is the specific "this" you're trying to "properly disable?" You shouldn't have to dive into things l…

I'll try to answer in the parent's place, since I've been watching this issue. > Can you explain what you mean by "unknown Mozilla developers?" Unknown to whom? Unknown in the sense that this extension wasn't documented at all, there was no Bugzilla issue for it and it's not clear whether it was properly vetted by QA. Whether you argue that this kind of silent push updates is good or bad, I think they aren't tested a…

[deleted]

Re: Unknown Mozilla dev addon "Looking Glass 1.0.3" on browser

#335

Post by hitekker »

Karunamon wrote: post #325
hitekker wrote: post #319

1) Mozilla uses weird, spooky language in an add-on. 2) Users are justifiably concerned. 3) Mozilla explains that the add-on is actually anodyne; the developers responsible were having fun with an opt-in research service. 4) Some users try to justify their initial overreaction by painting Firefox as mysterious, dangerous entity, fabulating conspiracy theories about one of the most forthright and open OSS companies in…

3.5) Most users insist that this isn't okay, that addon installations should be approved by the owner of the computer. This isn't about what the addon itself does or does not do, it's the principle of force-pushing unwanted content without prior affirmative consent. This would apply even if the addon was just a stub that didn't have any executable code in it. In this case, it's worse: an ad.

I would agree with you, if the add-on in question was not developed, shipped, and offered by the people who made the browser, of which the add-on sandbox is a part.

In my view, that sandbox is a trusted area between the browser and the user.

Mozilla has the privilege accorded to it as the developer of the browser, to modify the addon sandbox so long as they don't infringe on my interests, e.g., security, stability, privacy, speed.

For example, Chrome automatically disable extensions that ask for too many new permissions upon update. Chrome will also make it difficult to add extensions that are not listed on the chrome store.

If we remove the right for browser developers to install, uninstall and alter add-ons, then we're essentially forcing them to modify the browser instead, which is overkill for the add-on in question.

At the end of the day, if you can't trust the developers of your browser, then you should install another one and disable add-ons entirely.

3.5 falls into 4.

Re: Unknown Mozilla dev addon "Looking Glass 1.0.3" on browser

#336

Post by nix0n »

feelin_googley wrote: post #324
zie wrote: post #222

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Have fun in Lynx. that's probably the only browser that wouldn't do something like this. Well maybe Safari, not because Apple wouldn't, but because they just don't care enough about ad revenue. Chrome: They leech everything they can get away with, granted it goes only to Google, but you know it's just to feed their never-ending ad-revenue goal. MS: They bypassed IE only ads, and went on to build ads into the entire O…

The truth is that there have been other text-only browsers both before and after lynx. I have tried every one I could ever find, since the 1990s. Some of them seem to have been forgotten. IMO, whatever is in todays package collections is not a true representation of all text-only browsers ever written. Most times when someone cites "lynx", as is common on HN, I interpret this as a signal they are not too familiar wit…

Which is the best text-only browser?

Re: Unknown Mozilla dev addon "Looking Glass 1.0.3" on browser

#337

Post by tinus_hn »

blauditore wrote: post #170

Many people seem to be shocked because Mozilla installed an add-on automatically. In my opinion, it doesn't really matter since the code is coming from Mozilla - they're building the whole browser, so they could introduce functionality anywhere. If someone distrusts their add-ons, why trust their browser at all? The main question is what behavior is being introduced. I haven't researched deeply, but apparently the ad…

Then why not install it when the user opts in? Installing this kind of crap automatically is sleazy.

Re: Unknown Mozilla dev addon "Looking Glass 1.0.3" on browser

#338

Post by michel-slm »

kryptiskt wrote: post #267
blauditore wrote: post #170

Many people seem to be shocked because Mozilla installed an add-on automatically. In my opinion, it doesn't really matter since the code is coming from Mozilla - they're building the whole browser, so they could introduce functionality anywhere. If someone distrusts their add-ons, why trust their browser at all? The main question is what behavior is being introduced. I haven't researched deeply, but apparently the ad…

The major problem is that they installed an add-on without properly communicating what it was. A somewhat smaller problem but still a big problem is that was an utterly frivolous add-on that shouldn't have been pushed to people who didn't explicitly want it. But the biggest problem is that Mozilla seems to have trouble understanding why any of those two would be a problem, I want my browser vendor to be serious and n…

Indeed. I'm seeing people recommending Chromium (not Chrome) instead of Firefox because of this.

Re: Unknown Mozilla dev addon "Looking Glass 1.0.3" on browser

#339

Post by _qbjt »

dao- wrote: post #159
proaralyst wrote: post #7

Looks like it's a promo for Mr Robot, which is really not ok. > What's happening? Are you a fan of Mr Robot? Are you trying to solve one of the many puzzles that the Mr Robot team has built? You’re on the right track. Firefox and Mr Robot have collaborated on a shared experience to further your immersion into the Mr Robot universe, also known as an Alternate Reality Game (ARG). The effects you’re seeing are a part of…

> Looks like it's a promo for Mr Robot, which is really not ok. From what I've heard (I work for Mozilla), this is promo for Firefox. As I just wrote elsewhere in this thread: I believe the idea is that Mr. Robot fans use Firefox to participate in the ARG, not that Firefox users suddenly start watching Mr. Robot. So if anything I'd expect that Mozilla pays Mr. Robot for this.

> So if anything I'd expect that Mozilla pays Mr. Robot for this.

The irony is that Mr. Robot is owned by Universal, a subsidiary of Comcast. So much for that commitment to net neutrality.

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