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Unknown Mozilla dev addon "Looking Glass 1.0.3" on browser

(support.mozilla.org)
757 points shak77 | 1 comments | 15 Dec 17 13:47 UTC | HN request time: 0.001s | source
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hitekker ◴[15 Dec 17 19:26 UTC] No.15934310[source]▶
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 the world.

Really, guys. If Mozilla was hellbent on invading your privacy, do you really think they would proudly entitle their tracker "Looking Glass". Or would they call it debugservice_1223?

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1. scott_karana ◴[15 Dec 17 23:02 UTC] No.15936001[source]▶
> 3) The developers responsible were having fun with an opt-in research service.

Having fun at whose expense, though? Widely deployed platforms used for extremely sensitive, personal materials shouldn't be subjected to "for fun experiments". That's the height of unprofessionalism.

What if the add-on had a bug, or an unintended side effect? Come on.