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Show HN: We launched a new web browser

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Re: Show HN: We launched a new web browser

#101

Post by hrbf »

jesprenj wrote: post #95
hrbf wrote: post #90

This is an honest question because I really don’t get it: what problem does this solve, especially with regard to “distributed domains”?

DANE is a really big deal. It removes the dependency on TLS certificate authorities so self signed certificates can be used and verified via records, published in DNS and signed with DNSSEC. Though I have greater concerns regarding privacy of the new browser. Is it like ungoogled-chromium? DANE should really be merged into upstream chromium.

Interesting idea. This can be done with the existing DNS infrastructure I believe. It really sounds like a workable solution.

Re: Show HN: We launched a new web browser

#102

Post by hrbf »

kelthuzad wrote: post #97
hrbf wrote: post #90

This is an honest question because I really don’t get it: what problem does this solve, especially with regard to “distributed domains”?

The first thing I would think of is not having to trust random certificate authorities, which would avoid incidents like this [0]. Another problem with the current state of the web was explained in an article I read a few days ago [1]. [0]: https://slate.com/technology/2016/12/how-the-2011-hack-of-di... [1]: https://www.politico.com/news/2022/04/09/website-domain-more...

An interesting thought. This relates to DANE if I understand correctly. This can work on existing infrastructure.

But what about this “distributed domains“ thing though? Unless I’m understanding it wrong, there’s blockchain technology involved. Why?

Re: Show HN: We launched a new web browser

#103

Post by jedimind »

raesene9 wrote: post #98
kelthuzad wrote: post #94

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Quoted post unavailable.

Unfortunately, the number of people qualified and with the time to do a source code review of something as complex as a browser, is very small. For the vast majority of users that's not a realistic prospect...

So you're saying that either way he has to trust someone. Then why not trust a company which at least open sources their code so anyone who has an interest in auditing the software can do so? (or have experts audit it for them,[who they also need to trust])

Yet people seem to trust google without batting an eye? "Google fired dozens of employees from 2018 to 2020 for accessing users' personal data."

https://www.businessinsider.com/google-fired-employees-abusi...

Re: Show HN: We launched a new web browser

#104

Post by somenameforme »

mr-pink wrote: post #72
autoexec wrote: post #40

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> i would like an open source browser that shares data collected from all its users. so the public can have access to the types of data google et al have. That sounds like a disaster waiting to happen. The public once got a hold of a sample of the anonymized searches of AOL customers and it didn't take long for individuals to get identified. The amount of data google has on people goes far beyond the things they sear…

either the data collection should be banned or everyone should have access. why should monopolies like google and those who can afford access to data brokers get to extend their power indefinitely? why do people support snowden's leaks but no one is leaking similar shit from google? it can be a payment for releasing your data publicly if people don't want to give it up for free.

Real whistleblowers acting against the interests of the powerful within a society need to be willing to sacrifice their own lives (and even possibly putting their family and loved ones at risk as well) for ideology. And by definition of being at a point to have access to such information, they also are probably at a position in life where not doing so would allow them to continue to lead an extremely comfortable life.

And ultimately, it may not even matter. Snowden's leaks revealed that basically every single privacy related conspiracy theory of times past was true. They showed that the NSA had are not only trading your nudes [1], but even have spies all the way down into things like World of Warcraft and XBox Live [2]. They also demonstrated countless illegal acts that violated every single possible interpretation of the 4th amendment.

And now? Snowden is holed up in some place in Russia knowing full well he'll likely getting Assanged, or worse, if he ever steps foot in a place friendly to the US. And the powers that be? They've only become more flagrant in all of their violations, endlessly protected from the law by a mixture of national security and lack of standing legal claims.

Don't underestimate what genuinely leaking against the interests of the powerful entails. People like Snowden are truly unique and selfless individuals.

[1] - https://time.com/3010649/nsa-sexually-explicit-photographs-s...

[2] - https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/the-nsa-was-spying...

Re: Show HN: We launched a new web browser

#105

Post by kelthuzad »

hrbf wrote: post #102
kelthuzad wrote: post #97

Earlier quoted context omitted.

The first thing I would think of is not having to trust random certificate authorities, which would avoid incidents like this [0]. Another problem with the current state of the web was explained in an article I read a few days ago [1]. [0]: https://slate.com/technology/2016/12/how-the-2011-hack-of-di... [1]: https://www.politico.com/news/2022/04/09/website-domain-more...

An interesting thought. This relates to DANE if I understand correctly. This can work on existing infrastructure. But what about this “distributed domains“ thing though? Unless I’m understanding it wrong, there’s blockchain technology involved. Why?

You are repeating the question while both of the given articles explain the current problem of the internet and make the reader understand the why.

Another user in this thread with the name 'jillesvangurp' has elaborated on the why, which is worth a read.

Re: Show HN: We launched a new web browser

#106

Post by fsflover »

jedimind wrote: post #103
raesene9 wrote: post #98

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Unfortunately, the number of people qualified and with the time to do a source code review of something as complex as a browser, is very small. For the vast majority of users that's not a realistic prospect...

So you're saying that either way he has to trust someone. Then why not trust a company which at least open sources their code so anyone who has an interest in auditing the software can do so? (or have experts audit it for them,[who they also need to trust]) Yet people seem to trust google without batting an eye? "Google fired dozens of employees from 2018 to 2020 for accessing users' personal data." https://www.busin…

> either way he has to trust someone. Then why not trust a company which at least open sources their code

Because the alternative is to trust a company which open sources their code _and_ a lot of security researchers regularly verify the code.

> Yet people seem to trust google without batting an eye

There are always people who believe in wrong things.

Re: Show HN: We launched a new web browser

#107

Post by charcircuit »

jedimind wrote: post #103
raesene9 wrote: post #98

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Unfortunately, the number of people qualified and with the time to do a source code review of something as complex as a browser, is very small. For the vast majority of users that's not a realistic prospect...

So you're saying that either way he has to trust someone. Then why not trust a company which at least open sources their code so anyone who has an interest in auditing the software can do so? (or have experts audit it for them,[who they also need to trust]) Yet people seem to trust google without batting an eye? "Google fired dozens of employees from 2018 to 2020 for accessing users' personal data." https://www.busin…

I'm not sure what you expect Google to do? Permission to access personal data was limited to a small number of Google employees and when they abused their power they were fired. Do you want them to have some sort of AI that guesses the intent of looking at personal data?

Re: Show HN: We launched a new web browser

#108

Post by charcircuit »

Melatonic wrote: post #65

Handshake has looked interesting for awhile now but what is the point of a blockchain based DNS? Isn't a big selling point of DNS having the fastest possible response times?

The block time would be more comparable to a record's TTL, and not how long it takes to look up that record.

Re: Show HN: We launched a new web browser

#109

Post by blacklion »

jjcon wrote: post #11
userbinator wrote: post #4

built on Chromium If only Firefox(Gecko) would get some more attention...

Why exactly? I honestly do not understand HN fascination with Firefox. Firefox isn't even in the top 3 browsers anymore and has about the same Marketshare as Samsung internet. It is irrelevant at this point. Blink is the standard for rendering now just as Linux is the standard for web servers.

> Blink is the standard for rendering now just as Linux is the standard for web servers.

It is THE problem. Software should not be "standard".

Re: Show HN: We launched a new web browser

#110

Post by daenz »

raesene9 wrote: post #98
kelthuzad wrote: post #94

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Quoted post unavailable.

Unfortunately, the number of people qualified and with the time to do a source code review of something as complex as a browser, is very small. For the vast majority of users that's not a realistic prospect...

Not only that, but review every single commit forever. It's just not realistic.
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