Mozilla backpedals after Mr. Robot-Firefox misstep

The privacy-promoting nonprofit says mea culpa after distributing an extension to its Firefox browser that made people worry they'd been hacked.

BY
STEPHEN SHANKLAND
DECEMBER 16, 2017 1:33 PM PST

It sounded like a good idea at Mozilla -- promote computer security and privacy awareness using a tie-in with an online game from the popular Mr. Robot hacker TV series. But almost immediately, the plan started backfiring.

On Wednesday, Firefox users started complaining that a cryptic extension had been installed in their browser with no explicit permission or explanation of what it does -- only a description that read "MY REALITY IS DIFFERENT THAN YOURS." People ripped into Mozilla in a Reddit discussion after one Firefox user fretted, "I have no idea what it is or where it came from. I freaked out a bit and uninstalled it immediately."

Mozilla had installed the Looking Glass extension remotely on their machines this week through a partnership with Mr. Robot, but it stopped doing so when people started giving them an earful, the nonprofit organization said.

"Suffice to say, we've learned a good deal in the last 24 hours ... Although we always have the best intentions, not everything that we try works as we want," said Jascha Kaykas-Wolff, Mozilla's chief marketing officer. "Within hours of receiving feedback," Mozilla moved Looking Glass to its Firefox add-on store, where people will be able to get it if they want it as it becomes available this weekend.

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