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Firefox to Block All 3rd Party Trackers by Default

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Re: Firefox to Block All 3rd Party Trackers by Default

#21

Post by dvfjsdhgfv »

fimdomeio wrote: post #11

One thing mentioned on the responses that might be really concerning is the fact that this will mean that for a lot of analytics it will look like firefox usage is close to zero. No usage data, devs caring less about firefox, users having more problems when using firefox, less users using firefox, less users having 3rd party trackers blocked, chrome monopoly growing.

Since when we decided it is OK to install global tracking for everybody, whether they want it or not? The User-Agent is still visible to the website I'm visiting.

It's enough that a few large websites provide stats summary for their users. It is not necessary that Google, FB and co. track the entire Internet.

Re: Firefox to Block All 3rd Party Trackers by Default

#22

Post by traderjane »

fimdomeio wrote: post #11

One thing mentioned on the responses that might be really concerning is the fact that this will mean that for a lot of analytics it will look like firefox usage is close to zero. No usage data, devs caring less about firefox, users having more problems when using firefox, less users using firefox, less users having 3rd party trackers blocked, chrome monopoly growing.

But you're saying here that metrics might not faithfully keep track with reality; presumably an industry that cares will simply improve their metrics until they don't care.

Re: Firefox to Block All 3rd Party Trackers by Default

#23

Post by wbxrs »

Freak_NL wrote: post #20
wbxrs wrote: post #8

I think this is a bad idea. Even though I personally block 3rd party trackers by default, breaking the web by default will cause problems. Also, ad blocking will start being a problem when enough people start doing it. I still remember the days of no websites yelling at you for blocking their ads. Things are going to get much worse.

Good. Let them yell, allow the system to break. I'm not convinced that the current status quo of paying for services via targetted advertising that amounts to quite a severe level of manipulation and tracking is tenable (nor desirable). Figure out something better. The alternative is what we do now: a select group with tech savvy blocks advertisements, and lets the masses pick up the bill by 'accepting' ads and havin…

>The alternative is what we do now: a select group with tech savvy blocks advertisements, and lets the masses pick up the bill by 'accepting' ads and having their every movement online tracked.

And I like it. I know it's selfish; I'm just speaking my mind.

Soon, there will be so many people blocking ads that many websites will simply become pay-per-view, and that's going to be bad for me.

Re: Firefox to Block All 3rd Party Trackers by Default

#24

Post by wbxrs »

happyvalley wrote: post #14
wbxrs wrote: post #8

I think this is a bad idea. Even though I personally block 3rd party trackers by default, breaking the web by default will cause problems. Also, ad blocking will start being a problem when enough people start doing it. I still remember the days of no websites yelling at you for blocking their ads. Things are going to get much worse.

> I think this is a bad idea. Even though I personally block 3rd party trackers by default, breaking the web by default will cause problems. How is this “breaking the web”? Honest question, I would not subscribe to that sentiment, but am interested in other points of view.

By default, unless the user has changed his settings, if a website tells a browser to load something, the browser should do so.

Re: Firefox to Block All 3rd Party Trackers by Default

#25

Post by dvfjsdhgfv »

lcnmrn wrote: post #18
wbxrs wrote: post #8

I think this is a bad idea. Even though I personally block 3rd party trackers by default, breaking the web by default will cause problems. Also, ad blocking will start being a problem when enough people start doing it. I still remember the days of no websites yelling at you for blocking their ads. Things are going to get much worse.

Third party cookies shouldn't exist in the first place.

I partly agree with you: they should be an earned privilege that I agree to turn on for some websites, not something turned on by default. because there are some genuine use cases, such as single sign-on, that they're actually useful for.

Re: Firefox to Block All 3rd Party Trackers by Default

#26

Post by fxfan »

traderjane wrote: post #19

Firefox's Container's approach has been quite interesting to use, but if a suggestion could get out to the Firefox team, I would advise improved streamlining of workflow for the extension, including with sync and returning browser setup, and for organizing and setting up new containers (configuring them to always open for a domain, putting them in folders).

Containers have some great add-ons built around them, have you taken a look?

I agree with your point completely though- needs to be a front and center feature.

I'd like to add something else- firefox should ship a 'power user' edition. Comes pre-installed with uBlock origin/uMatrix/temporary containers/sidebar tabs/greasemonkey/Tridactyl (sorry emacs users ;)

Re: Firefox to Block All 3rd Party Trackers by Default

#27

Post by Fnoord »

rbinv wrote: post #13
KozmoNau7 wrote: post #5

Will this also force Do Not Track to be on, similar to the current tracking blocklists in Firefox? That's the primary reason why I have it turned off and rely on uBlock Origin + a few other extensions.

DNT is pretty much dead because no one ever really honored it.

Irrelevant information to the question.

Firefox right now has two options related to DNT:

"Send web sites a “Do Not Track” signal that you don’t want to be tracked

(_) Always

(_) Only when Firefox is set to block known trackers"

These two options don't become irrelevant, but the choice related to them does if the default is "block known trackers" (if that is the same as "block all 3rd party trackers by default).

Re: Firefox to Block All 3rd Party Trackers by Default

#28

Post by jraph »

dvfjsdhgfv wrote: post #6
claudiojulio wrote: post #2

Does this mean that analytics will also be blocked? If it is true it will be a shot in the foot, because Google pays a lot of money to Mozilla. Translated automatically.

One of the main reasons to use Firefox these days is to be more free from the tentacles of Google. So this move is a logical step in the right direction. If you're OK with being permanently tracked by Google, you might as well use Chrome.

One might also want to use Firefox to resist against a Chrome monopoly. I do use Firefox for both reasons.

The fact that I prefer it to Chrome also for convenience and practical reasons helps a lot of course.

Re: Firefox to Block All 3rd Party Trackers by Default

#29

Post by zaarn »

wbxrs wrote: post #24
happyvalley wrote: post #14

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> I think this is a bad idea. Even though I personally block 3rd party trackers by default, breaking the web by default will cause problems. How is this “breaking the web”? Honest question, I would not subscribe to that sentiment, but am interested in other points of view.

By default, unless the user has changed his settings, if a website tells a browser to load something, the browser should do so.

What if the website told the browser to load malware?

Browsers in the modern web need to defend the user, not execute arbitrary instructions from random websites that nobody cares about.

Re: Firefox to Block All 3rd Party Trackers by Default

#30

Post by eric-hu »

keepmesmall wrote: post #16
wbxrs wrote: post #8

I think this is a bad idea. Even though I personally block 3rd party trackers by default, breaking the web by default will cause problems. Also, ad blocking will start being a problem when enough people start doing it. I still remember the days of no websites yelling at you for blocking their ads. Things are going to get much worse.

"breaking the web by default" It's not breaking the web, it's breaking part of the web's grasp on users. Is the web for people or is it there to use people? "Ad blocking will start being a problem" I live in the days where both all ads and all bullshit responses to my adblocker ("don't block my ads!!") are blocked; it's a breeze of fresh air. Sometimes a site tries to get around it and I block it permanently.

What do you use to block the requests to disable your ad blocker?
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