Skype plug-in for Firefox blocked by Mozilla due to crashes, epic slowdowns

We're not very big fans of browser toolbars to begin with, and today's news from Mozilla is a perfect example of why. The Mozilla team has decided to block the Skype plug-in, citing serious stability and performance issues. Skype will be added to Mozilla's plug-in blocklist, though users will be prompted and given the option to re-enable it if they wish.

As Stephen Shankland points out over at CNET, the Skype plug-in has had a lengthy run as the #1 or 2 cause of crashes in Firefox 3.6.X. Right now, the total tally is running at about 40,000 crashes per week -- a number that Mozilla just isn't OK with. They also call out Skype's phone number detection and linking feature as a major problem, causing big-time slowdowns when Firefox tries to render a Web page.

If you're concerned this might break Skype on your system, it won't. The Skype program itself will continue to work as it has, you'll just be missing the toolbar in Firefox and the clickable phone numbers on Web pages -- and we don't know many people who will miss those.

Skype plug-in for Firefox blocked by Mozilla due to crashes, epic slowdowns originally appeared on Download Squad on Fri, 21 Jan 2011 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.