Unknown Mozilla dev addon "Looking Glass 1.0.3" on browser... or is it just malware?
{
"name": "Looking Glass",
"version": "1.0.3",
"isActive": false,
"id": "pug.experience@shield.mozilla.org"
}
Addon info reads: Looking Glass version 1.0.3 MY REALITY IS JUST FIFFERENT FROM YOURS Created By: PUG Experience Group(Gregg Lind, Bianca Danforth, Kamyar Ardekani, Matt Grimes Diana Livits, Jeffrey Kaufman and others) <glind at mozilla.com>
I did not remember installing this addon, I would not knowingly install it. Firefox, Antivirus and OS are all up-to-date. Any explanations welcomme because I can't find any reference online.
Screenshot isn't being uploaded, external link: https://imgur.com/RDZf6Z0
Modified by James
Chosen solution
It is part of Firefox : https://wiki.mozilla.org/Firefox/Shield/Shield_Studies
Copy/Past about:studies into the Address Bar and Enter.
Copy/Paste about:preferences#privacy into Address Bar then Enter Untick the box that says : Allow Firefox to install and run Studies.
Please let us know if this solved your issue or if need further assistance.
Read this answer in context 👍 66All Replies (20)
Chosen Solution
It is part of Firefox : https://wiki.mozilla.org/Firefox/Shield/Shield_Studies
Copy/Past about:studies into the Address Bar and Enter.
Copy/Paste about:preferences#privacy into Address Bar then Enter Untick the box that says : Allow Firefox to install and run Studies.
Please let us know if this solved your issue or if need further assistance.
The @mozilla.com is a official Mozilla email domain. The glind is for Gregg Lind at Mozilla. The @shield.mozilla.org is used for extensions id.
It seems to be related to Shields studies yes, but for some reason Looking Glass is not coming up with exact related results in various places I looked.
Would be helpful if it said so in the description instead of creepy Lewis Carrol quotes...
Folks this is really unacceptable. Reddit is losing their mind about it. It's fine if this is associated with Shields studies - but you need use a meaningful description - not some random quote that you think might be cute. It's not amusing to the millions of users who are thinking WTF.
Modified by James
This add on does not look right and does not identify itself as part of the Pioneer program. I removed it. If you want us to participate in this program you need to be clear, not cute with us.
A number of bug reports have been filed:
Bug 1424977 - Is the Looking Glass extension a prank?
Bug 1425171 - about:addons should indicate when an extension is a study
Bug 1425187 - Don't allow shield studies/experiments without any explanation in description what they do and without related Mozilla bug URL with more detailed information
Please see Bugzilla Etiquette before commenting in bug reports.
edited out direct bugzilla links due to bug Spam.
Modified by James
Mozilla needs to get ahead of this immediately and fix it. You now have a situation where users are panicking because they think they've been infected with a virus or Trojan - the longer this just sits around with no action the worse it's going to get. Users shouldn't have to go on a treasure hunt to determine why something has been installed on their system. I would think that Mozilla would want as many people as possible to participate in Shield studies - and this definitely isn't the way to go about it. All this is doing is creating bad publicity for the project.
AliceWyman said
A number of bug reports have been filed: Bug 1424977 - Is the Looking Glass extension a prank? Bug 1425171 - about:addons should indicate when an extension is a study Bug 1425187 - Don't allow shield studies/experiments without any explanation in description what they do and without related Mozilla bug URL with more detailed information Please see Bugzilla Etiquette before commenting in bug reports.
It is NOT a bug - you just didn't hide it well... To any privacy concerned user in 21th century, this is a HUGE step down - our IT department started to ban Firefox installations this morning :(
This is bad for me, they won't care if it is a joke or not, forced to using EDGE @work again!!!
Modified by James
iustinn said
It is NOT a bug - you just didn't hide it well... To any privacy concerned user in 21th century, this is a HUGE step down - our IT department started to ban Firefox installations this morning :( This is bad for me, they won't care if it is a joke or not, forced to using EDGE @work again!!!
I see you Spammed Bug#1425187
iustinn, Please read https://bugzilla.mozilla.org/page.cgi?id=etiquette.html before commenting in ANY Bugzilla reports again.
The bugzilla.mozilla.org is a general issues tracker that is used to track a variety of things including things related to the desktop Firefox web browser as you can see in https://bugzilla.mozilla.org/enter_bug.cgi#h=otherProducts| for example. Reports on b.m.o for actual Bugs in something only make up a portion of all the reports. The Bugzilla tracker software is not just used by Mozilla as it is also in use by over a hundred other companies and projects that uses the Bugzilla software to keep track of things.
We just call it a Bug #123456etc because it is simple and not because it was about an actual bug.
And to others reading the above mentioned bugs, the "I'd like to vote for this bug. But somehow I can't." and "+1" is considered pointless "Me too" Spam. https://bugzilla.mozilla.org/page.cgi?id=etiquette.html
Good job dragging firefox's bar lower once again. User permission on each install, priority ONE. Not the best thinking to make the choice to do this. Let you foot heal before you shoot it again if you don't mind. I don't want your extensions, unless I want it.
Can I add my voice to those saying that invisibly installing add-ons with no proper description is a really dumb thing to do.
Ah! Same here. Just uninstalled firefox and also thunderbird. I did hope everything is gonna be ok after Firefox quantum. I was wrong. Goodbye guys.
Apparently, this is part of shield studies - which is suppose to assist in features for future versions - as part of this effort, one would think that they would encourage participation. The way to do that IMHO would be to give accurate descriptions. All this accomplished was confusing and upsetting quite a few people - who have now found and turned off their shield studies participation. People who wish to opt out of this study follow the instructions here: https://goo.gl/NPGakb If this unfortunate choice by Mozilla has made you want to not participate in future shield studies (I hope not), then go to Preferences / Privacy & Security - scroll down to "Firefox Data Collection and Use" - and uncheck the box: "Allow Firefox to install and run studies".
Is Mozilla making money on this thing? Then this is just adware.
After the last update, I had several extensions that were disabled. Apparently, Mozilla wants to replace them with adware!???
"Shields DOWN Mr. Spock" cos some tosser at Mozilla doesn't understand that the key words are confidence and transparency.
Just thought support folks might want to know that Mozilla broke a professional certification exam: