brown-paper-bag bug

from Jargon File (4.4.4, 14 Aug 2003)
brown-paper-bag bug
 n.

   A bug in a public software release that is so embarrassing that the
   author notionally wears a brown paper bag over his head for a while so
   he won't be recognized on the net. Entered popular usage after the
   early-1999 release of the first Linux 2.2, which had one. The phrase
   was used in Linus Torvalds's apology posting.
    

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