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Firefox bullshit removal

gist.github.com

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Re: Firefox bullshit removal

#41

Post by krapp »

CapacitorSet wrote: post #29
jftuga wrote: post #19

https://waterfoxproject.org/ https://www.reddit.com/r/waterfox/ Disabled Encrypted Media Extensions (EME) Disabled Web Runtime (deprecated as of 2015) Removed Pocket Removed Telemetry Removed data collection Removed startup profiling Allow running of all 64-Bit NPAPI plugins Allow running of unsigned extensions Removal of Sponsored Tiles on New Tab Page Addition of Duplicate Tab option Locale selector in about:prefer…

>Allow running of all 64-Bit NPAPI plugins >Allow running of unsigned extensions That doesn't sound very nice.

It's to "fix" Firefox's deprecation of XUL-based plugins[0].

[0]https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=15800634

Re: Firefox bullshit removal

#42

Post by stonogo »

quiquex wrote: post #8

"These are used by Mozilla to spy on you, and are as such a significant risk to privacy." Wow that's a big claim. Any proofs that the data collected is not anonymous? It sounds a lot like fear-mongering

It's not on us to prove it's not anonymous. It's on Mozilla to prove it is.

Re: Firefox bullshit removal

#43

Post by stonogo »

SquareWheel wrote: post #40
TheAdamAndChe wrote: post #34

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Yet organizations went decades making fantastic and ever-improving software without telemetry. What changed? Why would telemetry suddenly become a basic requirement for improvement?

And another thing -- what's the deal with automobiles? Horses do a perfectly fine job at getting us around.

Shitty analogy. Cars provided demonstrable benefits to users. Telemetry does not.

Re: Firefox bullshit removal

#44

Post by dyukqu »

JepZ wrote: post #27

Anybody knows if it is possible to use Pocket with a custom server? So far I found only the ticket which tracks the open sourcing process of pocket: https://bugzilla.mozilla.org/show_bug.cgi?id=1343006 11 month old, not even assigned yet... looks like I should come back 2038.

Don't know anything about open-sourcing Pocket. As an (open-source) alternative you can self-host Wallabag[1]

[1]https://wallabag.org/en

Re: Firefox bullshit removal

#45

Post by kazinator »

quiquex wrote: post #8

"These are used by Mozilla to spy on you, and are as such a significant risk to privacy." Wow that's a big claim. Any proofs that the data collected is not anonymous? It sounds a lot like fear-mongering

For a datum to be mathematically anonymous means that there is a proof that no function exists which maps instances of that datum to identities more reliably than a random guess.

A datum isn't anonymous unless proven otherwise. Today's "practically anonymous" is tomorrow's "deanonymized".

Re: Firefox bullshit removal

#46

Post by zachlatta »

stonogo wrote: post #43
SquareWheel wrote: post #40

Earlier quoted context omitted.

And another thing -- what's the deal with automobiles? Horses do a perfectly fine job at getting us around.

Shitty analogy. Cars provided demonstrable benefits to users. Telemetry does not.

I have worked on products and have made changes based on data I got on how users were using them.

Telemetry doesn't replace user feedback or interviews, but it really does help.

Re: Firefox bullshit removal

#47

Post by ______53 »

stonogo wrote: post #42
quiquex wrote: post #8

"These are used by Mozilla to spy on you, and are as such a significant risk to privacy." Wow that's a big claim. Any proofs that the data collected is not anonymous? It sounds a lot like fear-mongering

It's not on us to prove it's not anonymous. It's on Mozilla to prove it is.

I believe you can see the data that's being sent by typing about:telemetry in the address bar.

Re: Firefox bullshit removal

#48

Post by ACow_Adonis »

outworlder wrote: post #20
krapp wrote: post #18

Earlier quoted context omitted.

>Let's disable Javascript too while we are at it. ...as if much of HN's userbase doesn't already do that.

Indeed. I wonder how they can get anything done. (Other than posting on HN itself, that is)

Well, 99% of the javascript/web is more about distraction, advertising and tracking than about getting anything done, and the other 1% is a small number of high-frequency sites that can be selectively white-listed.

Plus my bandwidth is a fraction of others and browser responsiveness shoots up...

I think you may have it arse-backwards when it comes to productivity...

/numbers pulled out of said backwards-arse.

Re: Firefox bullshit removal

#49

Post by kirb »

This gist misleads in a few ways by being so vague and seems to be more about disabling every somewhat useful feature that sounds bad for tinfoil hat enthusiasts. Still has useful things, like disabling Pocket if you don’t want it and forcing newer TLS versions. Others are silly (disabling things that already ask for your permission, like location), dangerous (disabling Google Safe Browsing), or already exposed in the settings UI anyway (DNT, tracking protection, telemetry). To each their own, use these if you think they’re important to you, but for most people it’s fear-mongering about nothing and enabling a few things in the privacy settings page is sufficient.
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