Author Topic: Firefox - is it now the only privacy browser left?  (Read 4699 times)

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Offline polonus

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Firefox - is it now the only privacy browser left?
« on: November 28, 2019, 12:56:46 PM »
L.S.

Probably most Google chrome or chromium-based browser users aren't interested in universal first-party ID tracking by DigiTrust.
You are being commercially tracked by it all over the Internet by an universal DigiTrust ID.

Most consumers apparently do not care one hoot.
They either really do not know or aren't interested to know,
what's tracking all of their online movements.

Living their lives in a dumbed down automatic fashion.
Is there anything that will rock their boats any longer?
Pay 8 dollars for a bun, or even not that anymore?

Read: https://digiday.com/media/firefox-browser-will-block-the-iabs-digitrust-universal-id/

Why is it that people rather go for convenience than individual privacy and security?

polonus

« Last Edit: November 28, 2019, 02:00:39 PM by polonus »
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Offline DavidR

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Re: Firedox - is it now the only privacy browser left?
« Reply #1 on: November 28, 2019, 01:10:14 PM »
Not a case of caring one hoot, but for many it is ignorance is bliss.

I can't recall exactly how long I have been using Firefox (a very long time) it was the configurability and access to add-ons/extensions, security based and others that attracted me and that really hasn't changed.
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Offline Asyn

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Re: Firefox - is it now the only privacy browser left?
« Reply #2 on: November 28, 2019, 01:18:45 PM »
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Offline polonus

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Re: Firefox - is it now the only privacy browser left?
« Reply #3 on: November 28, 2019, 02:56:09 PM »
Hi DavidR and Asyn,

What is also a consideration for the many is, that all and everything they do via IP and DNS,
will land at Google's and CloudFlare's table anyway,
and then their reasoning is, "Why not use Google Chrome Browser or an equivalent right away?".

The big issue is that there really are no real alternatives left but Big Silicon Tech Data Grabber.
That Empire does not rule the waves, but it surely rules Interwebz.  ;D

polonus
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Offline Asyn

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Re: Firefox - is it now the only privacy browser left?
« Reply #4 on: November 29, 2019, 01:03:28 PM »
Hi guys, I did dig deeper today and this article caught my attention...

German publishers wrestle with Firefox’s latest anti-tracking changes
https://digiday.com/media/theyre-hurting-german-publishers-wrestle-with-firefoxs-latest-anti-tracking-changes/

Some interesting excerpts: While U.K. and U.S. publishers have seen a negligible effect from the Firefox changes, Germany has a far greater number of Firefox users, estimated by industry sources between 20% and 30%. [...] That’s because, in Germany, where privacy is far more deep-rooted culturally than it is in the U.S. and U.K., the non-profit Firefox browser has always been especially popular. [...] The volume of targetable and trackable users has dropped daily since the latest update earlier this month [...] “These [Firefox] users won’t be available sooner or later for data-driven marketing.”
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Offline polonus

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Re: Firefox - is it now the only privacy browser left?
« Reply #5 on: November 29, 2019, 03:10:44 PM »
Hi Asyn,

On the other hand. Do these German publishers really respect end-users with their basic privacy concerns?

To be able to read Premium articles of the main papers in the Netherlands I have to clear the browser cache beforehand,
as I am entitled to only to read three articles a day. With Cliqz Internet Privacy Browser (a very good German invention),
I can now read as many of such articles as I want. It cleanses the cache by default. Cookie-walls, first-party-trackers,
a real cat and mouse game.

Users should install AdNauseam -> https://adnauseam.io/  because we have to fence for ourselves,
as Big Data Trackers won't self-regulate.

Even worse:
Quote
Google's alternative proposal, part of its "Privacy Sandbox" initiative,
calls for an identifier field capable of storing 64 bits of data – considerably more than the integer 64.

As the Electronic Frontier Foundation has pointed out, this enables a range of numbers up to 18 quintillion,
allowing advertisers to create unique IDs for every ad impression they serve, information
that could then be associated with individual users

That is why firefox now won't sign the Berners-Lee new proposal, as they say it is not binding for big players as Google and facebook.
Also as they see it, there is no way to hold such Big Tech Monopolists responsible, when they do not uphold the nine principles of the Berners-Lee's plan to save the Internet. How to deal with Google and facebook as they cannot be trusted with your privacy!

US regulators are not coming to the rescue here, EU is found to be a watchdog without teeth.

Mozilla is the one party against the Big Chrome & Chromium Browser klone wave, that will jump through Google's every hoop.
Sad but that is what we are up against, and everybody has to fence for themselves.

S.G. from the region of Rotterdam, Netherlands.

polonus (volunteer third party cold recon website security analyst and website error-hunter)
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Offline Asyn

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Re: Firefox - is it now the only privacy browser left?
« Reply #6 on: December 02, 2019, 09:22:16 AM »
US regulators are not coming to the rescue here, EU is found to be a watchdog without teeth.
Well, the "EU watchdog" can and does bite, e.g. https://de.reuters.com/article/eu-google-strafe-idDEKCN1R11AG (German)
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Offline rocksteady

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Re: Firefox - is it now the only privacy browser left?
« Reply #7 on: December 02, 2019, 03:49:57 PM »
Same subject content as Asyn's German reuters link, but English language for those interested:
https://ec.europa.eu/commission/presscorner/detail/en/IP_18_4581

Offline polonus

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Re: Firefox - is it now the only privacy browser left?
« Reply #8 on: December 02, 2019, 05:27:14 PM »
Only means US Big Data Tech Monopolists have to slurp more to get even against the potential fines.
It all comes calculated into the bargain from the start, that is Big Tech US scheme for ye.

Moreover they have some additional support from the Irish Republic as there they have their Ireland EU office,
while Ireland won't harm the proponent that put them back onto the economic map (just like facebook).

Big Tech monopoly won't get hurt during the process, else we have to pay with additional data.

polonus
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Offline polonus

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Re: Firefox - is it now the only privacy browser left?
« Reply #9 on: December 03, 2019, 01:22:32 PM »
There is a nice add-on for firefox, temporary container with no counterpart for it in Google Chrome.
The only likewise solution for Chrome is have it inside another container, see:
https://github.com/c0b/chrome-in-docker
What also could do the trick is Google Chrome with an isolated Profile changer,
also a way to circumvent cookie walls and one time article reading.

polonus
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Offline polonus

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Re: Firefox - is it now the only privacy browser left?
« Reply #10 on: December 03, 2019, 04:31:37 PM »
Mozilla decided to remove Avast and AVG add-ons from their firefox browser add-on store add-on list.
Read: https://palant.de/2019/12/03/mozilla-removes-avast-extensions-from-their-add-on-store-what-will-google-do/

Avast has to ask users permiddion to grab data about surfing habits.
Existing add-ons will still function.
Mozilla seemingly is discussing the matter with avast's.

polonus
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Offline polonus

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Re: Firefox - is it now the only privacy browser left?
« Reply #11 on: December 03, 2019, 05:10:58 PM »
Yesterday's block request:
https://bugzilla.mozilla.org/show_bug.cgi?id=1600576

No-one to comment yet?

polonus
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Offline polonus

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Re: Firefox - is it now the only privacy browser left?
« Reply #12 on: December 03, 2019, 07:56:15 PM »
In Bitdefender's Traffic Light extension, Google just ask the end-user to accept new rights for the extension,
then everything is settled.

For the avast (AVG) extension I think Mozilla could do the same, ask the end-user allow it to work and accept new rights for the extension. Could be as simple as just that.

polonus

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Offline Asyn

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Re: Firefox - is it now the only privacy browser left?
« Reply #13 on: December 05, 2019, 08:15:53 AM »
Avast-Statement: We have offered our Avast Online Security and SafePrice browser extensions for many years through the Mozilla store. Mozilla has recently updated its store policy and we are liaising with them in order to make the necessary adjustments to our extensions to align with new requirements. The Avast Online Security extension is a security tool that protects users online, including from infected websites and phishing attacks. It is necessary for this service to collect the URL history to deliver its expected functionality. Avast does this without collecting or storing a user's identification.

We have already implemented some of Mozilla's new requirements and will release further updated versions that are fully compliant and transparent per the new requirements. These will be available as usual in the Mozilla store in the near future.
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