Live data from Hacker News

Disable Google Chrome Sign In and Sync

blog.ideasynthesis.com

91–100 of 181 posts

Re: Disable Google Chrome Sign In and Sync

#91

Keep in mind that while everybody here is all outraged about this, nobody else is. Because the experience is so nice. It's the reason why I can search for "prefecture Melun" on my laptop, then jump in the car, open up maps on my phone, Start typing "1" and watch it suggest "12 rue de Gambas, Melun 77320", which happens to be the address of the Melun prefecture. That sort of thing happens for me every day, and i think…

The thing is that you opted into the services you gave examples of, you aren't opting into the Chrome sign-in, it's forced upon you. No one had a problem with Facebook collecting tons of meta data, until one day, it mattered. One more link in the chain that ties users down, everyone is complacent while slowly becoming a product.

Well, kinda. Now the choice is made at what browser you use.

Re: Disable Google Chrome Sign In and Sync

#92

Keep in mind that while everybody here is all outraged about this, nobody else is. Because the experience is so nice. It's the reason why I can search for "prefecture Melun" on my laptop, then jump in the car, open up maps on my phone, Start typing "1" and watch it suggest "12 rue de Gambas, Melun 77320", which happens to be the address of the Melun prefecture. That sort of thing happens for me every day, and i think…

Every feature you've listed works without forced log-in. Taking away the choice to share everything about one's life with an ad company is what people are angry about.

Re: Disable Google Chrome Sign In and Sync

#93
post #85

Earlier quoted context omitted.

That seems hard to believe as it would imply that they have code specifically to cripple the Firefox experience. It's probably at worst that they intentionally don't optimize their sites for Firefox and not actively making it worse.

> That seems hard to believe as it would imply that they have code specifically to cripple the Firefox experience. I think it's more the case of enhancing the Chrome experience and not doing anything to deliberately impact firefox.

That is the same as what I suggested. Which would mean that simply changing a user-agent can't make anything run better on firefox.

Re: Disable Google Chrome Sign In and Sync

#95

Earlier quoted context omitted.

No problems here: Waterfox plus usual privacy oriented addons then Hooktube replacing Youtube. Might seem excessive but works like charm. https://www.waterfoxproject.org/en-US/ https://hooktube.com/ https://addons.mozilla.org/en-US/firefox/addon/ublock-origin... https://www.eff.org/https-everywhere https://www.eff.org/privacybadger https://addons.mozilla.org/en-US/firefox/addon/umatrix/ https://addons.mozilla.org/en-…

Warning: Hooktube link is NSFW. 'Sensual massage' thumbnail on the frontpage...

Just checked, you're absolutely right! I always use the redirector addon rather than going to their homepage though and it has been SFW so far.

Re: Disable Google Chrome Sign In and Sync

#96
Once again another reminder that the need for open source alternatives with minimal to no logging is shown to be a greater necessity in an age where these companies know us better than the government. We can continue to pretend these companies are non-partisan and won't use the data collected for political influence, everyone here is obviously impervious to such influences, but the bigger concern is its influence on public perception.

Re: Disable Google Chrome Sign In and Sync

#97

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I've ran into various comments around the internet/reddit that Google sites like Youtube are slower on Firefox, and that changing the user agent to Chrome fixes it.

No problems here: Waterfox plus usual privacy oriented addons then Hooktube replacing Youtube. Might seem excessive but works like charm. https://www.waterfoxproject.org/en-US/ https://hooktube.com/ https://addons.mozilla.org/en-US/firefox/addon/ublock-origin... https://www.eff.org/https-everywhere https://www.eff.org/privacybadger https://addons.mozilla.org/en-US/firefox/addon/umatrix/ https://addons.mozilla.org/en-…

To all, I can't edit anymore my post to delete it, so just forget about the hooktube address; as others reported it's definitely NSFW while the redirector Firefox addon is safe. I apologize for not checking it before.

Re: Disable Google Chrome Sign In and Sync

#99

Thanks, but no thanks. Ditch Chrome and don’t worry about ugly hacks to remember or bookmark or ask about in the future when they no longer work. Life is too short to put up with such nonsense. There are better alternatives [1] available. P.S.: When you uninstall Chrome on certain platforms, it’ll open your default browser and direct you to a feedback page. Be honest and tell them why, and that you wouldn’t recommend…

I'll add one more to your side note. Please tell your particularly non technical friends and relatives to avoid Google like plague if they care about privacy. Show them how - give a link to Firefox, Privacy badger. A relative of mine who paid $7/month for a VPN service because he cared about his privacy from ISP, but was using Google Chrome and Gmail for sensitive personal Email. Fewer people from the non-engineering…

Do you have any recommendations for a good alternative to Gmail? I've already made the switch away from Chrome, but for some reason my mind blanks on email -- I can only think of Yahoo or Hotmail

Re: Disable Google Chrome Sign In and Sync

#100

Keep in mind that while everybody here is all outraged about this, nobody else is. Because the experience is so nice. It's the reason why I can search for "prefecture Melun" on my laptop, then jump in the car, open up maps on my phone, Start typing "1" and watch it suggest "12 rue de Gambas, Melun 77320", which happens to be the address of the Melun prefecture. That sort of thing happens for me every day, and i think…

The point is that it is forced and you have to opt out, rather than opt in.
Post reply on HN