Mozilla blocks Skype's Firefox extension

WEB BROWSER DEVELOPER Mozilla has blocklisted Skype's Firefox extension, claiming it slows down and crashes the browser.

Mozilla found that the Skype plugin for Firefox violates its established criteria for add-ons by automatically installing itself when the user installs or updates Skype's standalone application. The browser outfit says "a large number of Firefox users who have installed Skype have also installed the Skype Toolbar, knowingly or unknowingly".

Skype's extension parses webpages for telephone numbers, adding its own button allowing users to call the number using its Skype Out system. Mozilla claims that the extension was involved in almost 40,000 crashes of the Firefox browser last week and makes the browser's document object model engine up to 300 times slower.

This has led Mozilla to "soft-block" all versions of Skype's Firefox extension. The soft block results in users being notified that the extension is disabled, but gives them the ability to enable it if they wish.

Mozilla said it has contacted Skype and will work with the company to identify what needs to be fixed in its extension. It also said it will remove the soft-block once those fixes are in place. µ