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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

#81

Out of literally all the software vendors I know, including the one I'm working for, Mozilla is the one I'd have least expected to allow such a thing. I'm very surprised (Negatively, needless to say)

I would have said the same thing until they integrated the W3C Encrypted Media Extensions. It's clear they lost their way some time ago.

Why? They allowed proprietary extensions (e.g. Flash) from the start. I don't like it, but I don't see how it represents a loss of their way. Mozilla was never GNU.

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

#82

Out of literally all the software vendors I know, including the one I'm working for, Mozilla is the one I'd have least expected to allow such a thing. I'm very surprised (Negatively, needless to say)

I was concerned for a minute. Then I remembered that this is the browser vendor that constantly spouts it's privacy bonafides yet on a monthly basis "partners" with companies like Pocket to install unwanted addons and functionality and has Google Analytics on their settings pages.

Firefox bought Pocket. And they had negotiated with Google to remove tracking on that page. https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=14753546

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

#83
post #9

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Then these pages should not be full of feelings: https://www.mozilla.org/en-US/ https://www.mozilla.org/en-US/internet-health/

Could you please be more clear? I disabled all my extensions and still don't see anything there that is based on feelings?

I think they are feeling betrayed by Mozilla, and that they are saying language like "We all love the web" and "Internet for people" inspires feelings.

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

#84
post #37
post #34

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> Mozilla's gotta make money somehow They're a nonprofit; they're not allowed to just "make money". And, they already take donations.

I think the the term “non-profit” is more about how an organization spends the money, rather than how they make it. Non profits and charities definitely bring in money through channels other than donations...

I agree.

I merely challenge the notion that a nonprofit -- which proudly tumpets its benevolence and non-profitness -- should get a free pass for covertly installing advertising arrangements, just because they need to "make money".

Their charter and marketing is all about defending the internet from the companies doing shady things to make money, so they can't have their cake and eat it.

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

#85
Previously:

* https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=15921134

This is a link to the GitHub issue:

* https://github.com/gregglind/addon-wr/issues/36

There are several scary things about this:

- Unknown Mozilla developers can distribute addons to users without their permission

- Mozilla developers can distribute addons to users without their knowledge

- Mozilla developers themselves don't realise the consequences of doing this

- Experiments are not explicitly enabled by users

- Opening the addons window reverts configuration changes which disable experiments

- The only way to properly disable this requires fairly arcane knowledge Firefox preferences (lockpref(), which I'd never heard of until today)

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

#86

https://support.mozilla.org/en-US/kb/lookingglass The Mr. Robot series centers around the theme of online privacy and security. One of the 10 guiding principles of Mozilla's mission is that individuals' security and privacy on the internet are fundamental and must not be treated as optional. The more people know about what information they are sharing online, the more they can protect their privacy. ...which you've d…

>Firefox and Mr Robot have collaborated on a shared experience to further your immersion into the Mr Robot universe

I guess that sounds slightly better than "Firefox and Universal Cable Productions".. oh wait..

At least it's an authentic immersion into the world of dubious computer ethics.

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

#87
post #74
post #53

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Apparently it's getting loaded anyway for some people that say they had "Studies" disabled and/or "Studies" itself became re-enabled. The whole idea of slipping paid advertorial content into what are billed as "research" kind of gives the lie to this whole thing and is why I never turn these on in any product. Which is also why it's now "opt-out" by default, and why it will eventually not be an option at all. It's al…

You don't just need "Studies" enabled, you also need to explicitly opt-in to each specific study on an individual basis: > Participation in an individual study is opt-in Source: https://wiki.mozilla.org/Firefox/Shield/Shield_Studies If that didn't happen in this case, then I suspect it's probably a bug.

I can confirm this most certainly did not happen in my case and, from other comments, there seem to be a number of us who did not opt in to this "study."

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

#88
post #37
post #34

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> Mozilla's gotta make money somehow They're a nonprofit; they're not allowed to just "make money". And, they already take donations.

I think the the term “non-profit” is more about how an organization spends the money, rather than how they make it. Non profits and charities definitely bring in money through channels other than donations...

Non-profit orgs are such due to legal designations that give them favorable tax treatment. In return they promise to organize and operate only to fulfill a charitable mission. The mission of Mr. Robot (content sniffing) has nothing to do with the charitable mission of Mozilla, "Our mission is to ensure the Internet is a global public resource, open and accessible to all."

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

#90
post #18

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Wow. So Mozilla lets advertisers push extensions to your browser? Is that right or am I misunderstanding something?

> So Mozilla lets advertisers push extensions to your browser? Of course not. Mozilla can install extensions if you have "shield studies" enabled. They use extensions it to run UI studies and things like that. I think you have to opt-in to each study individually if you want to be part of it. Enabling the studies in your settings only means "notify me when there's a new study I can participate in". See https://suppor…

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