Firefox takes the lead in Germany (over IE)

[polonus]

Hi posters in the thread,

But why was this discussion never taken seriously here: http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052748703467304575383530439838568.html
So IE8 gave up on the user and GoogleChrome as far as I know never even got into this debate. I have the idea that browser was just designed to be a Google tracking machine that could also function as a common web browser,
Unless I use a browser with extensions like NoScript and RequestPolicy combined I am prey to ad trackers all sorts (just have an occasional glance at what Ghostery shows and when I see Kontera and friends from the grey area there, I get the creeps) and do not even have a minimal amount of privacy, but as the average user is a long, long way from realizing the consequences of all that nothing is going to change for a long time,

polonus

[DavidR]

<snip>
ps: read the article, they don't lie about it. Main thing is IE goin' down anyway (insert clap emoticon here)

I find it hard to be bothered to download or read an article when the title is so totally wrong, it isn't firefox making history but IE, by falling off a cliff over the last 18 months.

In the last 18 months firefox has hardly moved and has lost ground in the last 6 months after gaining ground in the first 11 months, so they haven't really won or surpassed anything, they have been undertaken by IE.

[Asyn]

I have the idea that browser was just designed to be a Google tracking machine that could also function as a common web browser.

You're quite right about this..!!
asyn

[bob3160]

Damien,
The only way to maintain your privacy and anonymity these days is to crawl into a hole and hide.
Privacy as you know it is dead and all the extra precautions your taking will still not bring it back.
Sorry friend. 

[Hermite15]

I find it hard to be bothered to download or read an article when the title is so totally wrong, it isn't firefox making history but IE, by falling off a cliff over the last 18 months.

so don't

In the last 18 months firefox has hardly moved and has lost ground in the last 6 months after gaining ground in the first 11 months, so they haven't really won or surpassed anything, they have been undertaken by IE.

I find it hard to hear that you're again mentioning IE dropping on its own...unless users are ditching the Internet, they must be using something else instead right, and as I said, it's Chrome. This said the article title is partly misleading, because Chrome and not Firefox is responsible for the IE fall. And not completely misleading as in the meantime, i.e. until Chrome gets a bigger user base, Firefox will be mathematically the dominant browser in the EU (thanks Chrome ) ...this can still change, depending on how FF4 evolves, and we don't know yet.

[Asyn]

Damien,
The only way to maintain your privacy and anonymity these days is to crawl into a hole and hide.
Privacy as you know it is dead and all the extra precautions your taking will still not bring it back.
Sorry friend. 

Not true, Bob...
There are possibilities to maintain privacy and anonymity...! (eg. TOR, etc...)
But the speed will suffer if one uses free services..
asyn

[polonus]

Hi Asyn,

You are right. I do not mind to give up some anonymity, I am also legally obliged to do so or my ISP is legally bound by regulations. But I like to block some private parties from tracking me, because they will earn from my clicks and what do I get in return, not much only more ads served up faster and I have an ad-machine where I have to read the useful info in between the pop-ups and unders. I know youngsters there had this all day during infancy cannot live without this, but again it is not my world by choice.
And I know what has been repeatedly remembered here by some: "These are the sign of the times, live with it and when you have nothing to hide you have nothing to fear". But all those that state these mutterings, have they ever gave it a split second to ponder why this all was systematically and very subtly brought over us. You can say well I like to give up some anonymity for a good course and the good of all, up and until the moment there is no privacy whatsoever left and you feel you hands tied together at your back and then you will exclaim: "How did that happen, why I forgot to notice - the milkman is no longer coming to the door, I miss the butcher, the greengrocer, now all the farmers start to disappear, we do not have to "hold up appearances" somehow, and at the call center I never know who I will get on the line next. So my point is, I do not want to be lead blindly and want some of my individuality left, so I ask you earnestly where have the checkers gone to check on those that check on us (they have the anonymity now I so clearly miss), and I know there are some people that have given that a good thought also,

polonus

[Asyn]

Well spoken, Damian...!!
asyn

[polonus]

Hi Asyn,

To wake these people up, there is this firefox and googlechrome add-on Google-alarm: http://mashable.com/2010/07/27/google-alarm/
And here: http://www.techexplorer.in/2010/07/google-alarma-firefox-chrome-add-on-that-notifies-you-when-googles-watching-you.html

Why isn't it on the official Firefox add-on page? Is it completely secure?  htxp://jamiedubs.com/googlealarm/
With the finjan check I get malicious code detected in the file requested- comes with an "//eval fadeOut(''+topIC+'')" at the end,

polonus

[Asyn]

Why isn't it on the official Firefox add-on page? Is it secure?  htxp://jamiedubs.com/googlealarm/

Must pass the certification first...!
But there's no real need for it, imo. (Haven't checked it further)
asyn

[Hermite15]

Hi Asyn,

To wake these people up, there is this firefox and googlechrome add-on Google-alarm: http://mashable.com/2010/07/27/google-alarm/
And here: http://www.techexplorer.in/2010/07/google-alarma-firefox-chrome-add-on-that-notifies-you-when-googles-watching-you.html

Why isn't it on the official Firefox add-on page? Is it completely secure?  htxp://jamiedubs.com/googlealarm/
With the finjan check I get malicious code detected in the file requested- comes with an "//eval fadeOut(''+topIC+'')" at the end,

polonus

so, malicious or not?

edit: virus total says OK.
https://www.virustotal.com/analisis/ee0e0c56a12adc919e50992a7198668e59660d4d5c3a7c5060f0dc405184a415-1280779290

[Marc57]

Maybe in Germany, But not everywhere.

http://www.zdnet.com/blog/hardware/ie-up-firefox-down/9152?tag=mantle_skin;content

[rayi34]

The only problem with using other browsers is that you have to end up using IE in many cases. It's odd but I have found that certain drivers are not present in other browsers. I was looking for a driver for Windows 7 in Firefox for HP.com and they were not present when I used Firefox. I have had this experience more frequent with Googles Chrome. I just happened to use IE8 and the windows 7 drivers were present. Has anyone had this experience? I have to use IE for work and I work for the State of Pennsylvania, or else it doesn't work properly.  I avoid IE8 but tend to use it for important things.

[jadinolf]

Nothing against IE8 but some of you may not realize that when many of us got on line there was no Internet Explorer so many of us used Netscape Navigator. I have stayed with the Netscape family which after many different browser names became SeaMonkey. It's not as popular as it's cousin Firefox but still has a loyal following.

For me, IE is there for Windows Update and that's all.

[Dch48]

I've used IE exclusively since I first got on line in 1999. IE4 was the norm then and the browser has improved with every successive release. I have tried all of the others and found them all lacking in many various respects. I tried Netscape back in '99 and absolutely hated it. It wouldn't display a good portion of the web correctly. I really don't care what "takes the lead" in Germany. Their government's policies towards the Internet are ludicrous to say the least.