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Blocking web fonts for speed and privacy (2016)

collinmbarrett.com

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Re: Blocking web fonts for speed and privacy (2016)

#71

Post by notimetorelax »

wbobeirne wrote: post #22
molticrystal wrote: post #12

In a similar vein, LocalCDN is an extension to serve the most common javascript libraries from your browser instead of going to 3rd party servers, while there are edge cases when you use a local copy, I've rarely had an issue. https://codeberg.org/nobody/LocalCDN/ Removes integrity and crossorigin tags from embedded script and style elements to replace even more frameworks Font Awesome Google Material Icons jQuery Bo…

This will do nothing for websites that are built with bundlers, since the site-specific code will be in the same file making it unique. Probably still catches a good few though.

I thought the whole point is to avoid sending HTTP requests to third party sites. At least for privacy. So in a way who cares if this sites give you all the content instead of just part of the content?

Re: Blocking web fonts for speed and privacy (2016)

#74

Post by adastra22 »

phantomathkg wrote: post #31

This is a very shortsighted view from developer who forget a web page is not only a bunch of text. Designer also play an important role to provide the subtle design element that developers don't value. By blocking all web fonts and fallback to only system font, you may still be able to read the text, but will completely missed the design.

> you may still be able to read the text, but will completely missed the design

So you'll keep everything that matters and throw out the stuff that doesn't. Got it!

Re: Blocking web fonts for speed and privacy (2016)

#75

Post by c12 »

charlieyu1 wrote: post #68
toastal wrote: post #30

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Agreed. It's been like 7 years since icon fonts were recommended and it's a real shame I still regularly see people do it today.

I mean the outdated tutorials still suggest icon fonts. What’s a good alternative?

I sometimes use svg's define symbol method `` (https://developer.mozilla.org/en-US/docs/Web/SVG/Element/def...), you combine all the icons you use into one document that you load with display none and then reference those symbols anywhere else on the page using svg ``.

Re: Blocking web fonts for speed and privacy (2016)

#76

Post by legitster »

> While they deny the practice, these services have the ability of profiling your browser (using browser fingerprinting with your IP address and HTTP referer header) to track what sites you visit, building a valuable profile about you that they could sell to marketers.

As a person who works in martech it's patently bizarre to read this stuff. There's a difference between something being provent theoretically possible in a laboratory environment and actually making it out in the real world.

The entire browser profiling angle refers to something that does not currently exist, does not conceivably scale well, and chases after an infinitesimally small potential monetary gain.

Can someone theoretically climb up the building and break into your apartment on the 6th floor? Sure. Does it need to be included in your risk assessment? Well it's me, your neighborhood burglar, and I'm saying not really.

One underrated aspect of custom fonts on websites is that they actually enhance security for the average user. One of the first and often only things that lets someone know they are being MitM attacked or phished is when the corporate branding feels "off". So while you may not understand the value of "corporate identity" or all of that nonsense, in the days before corporate identity was such a big deal, people got hoodwinked by lookalikes all of the time.

Re: Blocking web fonts for speed and privacy (2016)

#77

Post by legitster »

phantomathkg wrote: post #31

This is a very shortsighted view from developer who forget a web page is not only a bunch of text. Designer also play an important role to provide the subtle design element that developers don't value. By blocking all web fonts and fallback to only system font, you may still be able to read the text, but will completely missed the design.

Chesterton's Fence.

"I see no reason for fonts, so they must serve no real purpose."

Re: Blocking web fonts for speed and privacy (2016)

#78

Post by phantomathkg »

BLKNSLVR wrote: post #62
FractalHQ wrote: post #53

Earlier quoted context omitted.

As both a developer and designer, this comment seems absurd to me. Art and information both play vital roles in the human experience.

I get the feeling there are a lot of points of view in the above sub-thread that are using mutually exclusive definitions of "design". Art being one that doesn't factor in greatly, but also has its own subjective definition. There's design that's for helping the user access and process the information. I like this design, I'm all for it; pro-user. There's design that's for aesthetic; motif; differentiation for the sa…

I don't think form and function should be mutually exclusive. Instead I want it to be a continuum, and I am trying to combat some of the view here who try to turn the function dial to 11.

With good balance, we should be able to create a world that is both aesthetic and functional.

Re: Blocking web fonts for speed and privacy (2016)

#79

Post by qsort »

phantomathkg wrote: post #31

This is a very shortsighted view from developer who forget a web page is not only a bunch of text. Designer also play an important role to provide the subtle design element that developers don't value. By blocking all web fonts and fallback to only system font, you may still be able to read the text, but will completely missed the design.

It's called User-Agent, not HipsterDesigner-Agent.

My browser, my connection, my rules.

Re: Blocking web fonts for speed and privacy (2016)

#80

Post by hulitu »

phantomathkg wrote: post #31

This is a very shortsighted view from developer who forget a web page is not only a bunch of text. Designer also play an important role to provide the subtle design element that developers don't value. By blocking all web fonts and fallback to only system font, you may still be able to read the text, but will completely missed the design.

The "design" is mostly crap anyway so i don't see any win by loading obscure fonts from an obscure web server.
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