Mozilla Firefox Blocks Microsoft Add-Ons -- Temporarily
Mozilla added Microsoft's .NET Framework Assistant to its add-ons blocklist over the weekend. The blocklist blocks programs with evident security vulnerabilities. Before the weekend was over, the app was stricken from the list again.
Mike Shaver, Mozilla's VP of engineering, announced on October 16 in a blog entry that the Microsoft .NET Framework Assistant provided a serious security risk and therefore "put the blocklist entry live immediately." Shaver emphasized that Microsoft itself had concurred with the blockage, leading to the move. Over the weekend Windows users were confronted partly with a warning that the Firefox browser was blocking for security reasons not only .NET Framework Assistant but also the Windows Presentation Foundation (WPF) in all versions for all applications.
Meanwhile Mozilla has removed at least the .NET Framework Assistant from the list. Even with the previous blocklist in effect, a new override mechanism in the works should prevent the add-on from being disabled. The WPF add-on still remains on the list.
Shaver issued a follow-up blog to describe the flip-flop as acknowledging Microsoft's revised discovery of the Framework Assistant indeed not being a "vector for this attack." Meanwhile users are puzzled over what correspondence transpired between the two entities between Friday evening and Sunday afternoon. In any case, Shaver appreciates everyone's "patience and support."
Subscribe to our Linux Newsletters
Find Linux and Open Source Jobs
Subscribe to our ADMIN Newsletters
Support Our Work
Linux Magazine content is made possible with support from readers like you. Please consider contributing when you’ve found an article to be beneficial.
News
-
Canonical Bumps LTS Support to 12 years
If you're worried that your Ubuntu LTS release won't be supported long enough to last, Canonical has a surprise for you in the form of 12 years of security coverage.
-
Fedora 40 Beta Released Soon
With the official release of Fedora 40 coming in April, it's almost time to download the beta and see what's new.
-
New Pentesting Distribution to Compete with Kali Linux
SnoopGod is now available for your testing needs
-
Juno Computers Launches Another Linux Laptop
If you're looking for a powerhouse laptop that runs Ubuntu, the Juno Computers Neptune 17 v6 should be on your radar.
-
ZorinOS 17.1 Released, Includes Improved Windows App Support
If you need or desire to run Windows applications on Linux, there's one distribution intent on making that easier for you and its new release further improves that feature.
-
Linux Market Share Surpasses 4% for the First Time
Look out Windows and macOS, Linux is on the rise and has even topped ChromeOS to become the fourth most widely used OS around the globe.
-
KDE’s Plasma 6 Officially Available
KDE’s Plasma 6.0 "Megarelease" has happened, and it's brimming with new features, polish, and performance.
-
Latest Version of Tails Unleashed
Tails 6.0 is based on Debian 12 and includes GNOME 43.
-
KDE Announces New Slimbook V with Plenty of Power and KDE’s Plasma 6
If you're a fan of KDE Plasma, you'll be thrilled to hear they've announced a new Slimbook with an AMD CPU and the latest version of KDE Plasma desktop.
-
Monthly Sponsorship Includes Early Access to elementary OS 8
If you want to get a glimpse of what's in the pipeline for elementary OS 8, just set up a monthly sponsorship to help fund its continued existence.