Privacy is largely a mirage, where are our representatives to protect our privacy when the "free" market cannot, and indeed will not, do it for us?
Each Firefox download has a unique identifier
81–90 of 480 posts
Re: Each Firefox download has a unique identifier
#82Suppose you want to do something anonymously. 1. Download installer from Mozilla from your home network - Mozilla now has your home IP and installer ID. 2. Transfer it via USB key to a secure, anonymous computer - one not linked to you, on a network not associated with you, such as public WiFi. 3. Install Firefox using that installer on said computer. It transmits the installer ID to Mozilla, which matches the one gi…
> Mozilla now has your home IP Since when does Mozilla collect IP addresses?
Re: Each Firefox download has a unique identifier
#83This is involuntary non informed tracking.
Re: Each Firefox download has a unique identifier
#84Suppose you want to do something anonymously. 1. Download installer from Mozilla from your home network - Mozilla now has your home IP and installer ID. 2. Transfer it via USB key to a secure, anonymous computer - one not linked to you, on a network not associated with you, such as public WiFi. 3. Install Firefox using that installer on said computer. It transmits the installer ID to Mozilla, which matches the one gi…
> Mozilla now has your home IP Since when does Mozilla collect IP addresses?
Re: Each Firefox download has a unique identifier
#85That’s really not something they should spent much time puzzling over, much less implement tracking IDs for.
Re: Each Firefox download has a unique identifier
#86Suppose you want to do something anonymously. 1. Download installer from Mozilla from your home network - Mozilla now has your home IP and installer ID. 2. Transfer it via USB key to a secure, anonymous computer - one not linked to you, on a network not associated with you, such as public WiFi. 3. Install Firefox using that installer on said computer. It transmits the installer ID to Mozilla, which matches the one gi…
> Mozilla now has your home IP Since when does Mozilla collect IP addresses?
Re: Each Firefox download has a unique identifier
#87Earlier quoted context omitted.
> Mozilla now has your home IP Since when does Mozilla collect IP addresses?
They had to serve you the file, for which they needed your IP. If they're willing to assign each downloaded client a unique ID what are the odds they are not storing the IP address associated with that unique ID?
Re: Each Firefox download has a unique identifier
#88Earlier quoted context omitted.
> Mozilla now has your home IP Since when does Mozilla collect IP addresses?
Any connection to Mozilla's servers reveals your IP to them. Given the amount of telemetry in Firefox, it's foolish to assume they don't log these IPs. And in either case, they could be legally compelled to. But afaik, under US law, they cannot be compelled to subvert their software, e.g. to add such spyware features if they were not already present.
Re: Each Firefox download has a unique identifier
#89Earlier quoted context omitted.
Firefox was successful when it was the alternative, better, option to the dominant Internet Explorer. Now the dominant browser is Chrom(e|ium). The two scenarios are very different.
Precisely. Firefox is never going to defeat Chrome in the "being Chrome" category. If it wants to exist as more than a tool for Google to avoid antitrust lawsuits, it can't keep playing that game. It has to differentiate. Privacy is not differentiation because it's invisible and HN commentators are 90% of the people who care about it. I want the sense of power back. I want the feeling that Firefox gave me a decade ag…
I can't think of better words to describe my feeling as a Firefox holdout. It's still my default browser, and the one I use for 97% of my work. Mozilla is breaking my heart with their floundering. Like a fantasy author who keeps getting mired in side quests and can never get back to the main plot.
Stop with the goofy marketing tie ins, the hostile telemetry choices, the side products like Pocket and VPN, and just make a fucking browser that doesn't attempt to hide complexity from the user. Focus on that, do yearly fundraising like Wikipedia does, and be content.
Re: Each Firefox download has a unique identifier
#90Earlier quoted context omitted.
> Mozilla now has your home IP Since when does Mozilla collect IP addresses?
You seem to be unaware that intelligence services have been hoovering up internet traffic wholesale for decades, and that telcos do it internally as well. Verizon's "supercookie" is a great example.