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Firefox Private Browsing mode upgrade

blog.mozilla.org

71–80 of 321 posts

Re: Firefox Private Browsing mode upgrade

#71
post #66

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> What about that data is harmful to you? Arguments like these always reminds me of the story where some town had a population register that included religion, and then the Nazis invaded. You don't know how or when the collected data will be misused, whether by the original owner, a malicious third-party breaching their systems, or the government (and even somewhat-stable governments can quickly turn sour, see Russia…

I agree, which is why I asked what data is being collected. If it's like, "a user launched Firefox version 105.0.1 and has Pocket disabled," I've got a tough time caring. Telemetry is genuinely useful information. But if it's like, "a user with IP 123.45 opened MyFavoriteReligion.com and spent 20 minutes at that domain" then it's bad news. So, I'd like to know what's actually being transmitted.

I'm not sure I follow your example, because any telemetry event will always include the IP as it's required to establish a connection.

Re: Firefox Private Browsing mode upgrade

#72
post #9

> Last year we launched Firefox Colorways, a new desktop feature that allowed our users to express their most authentic selves and bring joy while browsing the web > “‘Independent Voices’ are the voices of the past and present that create a better future,” said Keely Alexis. “I chose this [analogy] as my inspiration for the collaboration because it feels authentic to me but it also aligns with Firefox and the vision…

> “‘Independent Voices’ are the voices of the past and present that create a better future,” said Keely Alexis. “I chose this [analogy] as my inspiration for the collaboration because it feels authentic to me but it also aligns with Firefox and the vision that we can make the world better, on the internet and beyond.”

Hooli is about people. Hooli is about innovative technology that makes a difference, transforming the world as we know it. Making the world a better place, through minimal message oriented transport layers.

Re: Firefox Private Browsing mode upgrade

#73
post #23

Earlier quoted context omitted.

But Mozilla deceived us by indicating they had privacy improvements for us! This particular incident is a minor annoyance, but it's an indicator of how those in charge view those of us who care about actual privacy and functionality.

Mozilla really can't win on HN, a feature that basically only exists to save one click (efficiency!) for the kind of people who consume PB regularly is very power user and aligns with their brand as being privacy focused when private mode is the thing that is always visible in the bar. Nobody on HN seems to know at all how to market tech to a general audience and play the game of "staying relevant" so they always hav…

How much do you want to bet the "general audience" does not care one bit about this and will not meaningfully move the (declining) DAU numbers?

Mozilla's problems are in its fundamentals, not its marketing.

Re: Firefox Private Browsing mode upgrade

#74
post #9

> Last year we launched Firefox Colorways, a new desktop feature that allowed our users to express their most authentic selves and bring joy while browsing the web > “‘Independent Voices’ are the voices of the past and present that create a better future,” said Keely Alexis. “I chose this [analogy] as my inspiration for the collaboration because it feels authentic to me but it also aligns with Firefox and the vision…

the entire colorways branding reminds me so much of that Silicon Valley scene it's hilarious. That said the themes are pretty good though, in particular the matte versions.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_GtF_zpJc_w

Re: Firefox Private Browsing mode upgrade

#75

What I want to know is have Firefox fixed the show-stopper bug with their implementation of Private Windows yet ? In Firefox, if I login to something in one Private Window, and open a second Private Window, my session is maintained (e.g. login to Protonmail on one, I open a second private window and I'm already logged in). So I assume Firefox is sharing cookies and whatnot between Private Windows. Brave doesn't do th…

Isn't this normal? I just tested it in Chrome appears like sessions are across private windows there as well.

So I guess its just an extra feature of Brave.

Re: Firefox Private Browsing mode upgrade

#76
post #25
post #20

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Qutebrowser is best, I pay for it voluntarily though it's free. But Firefox is mostly independent eh? Did they stop taking google money yet?

Qutebrowser isnt independent if you care that google money is involved, it uses blink. Firefox is the only even vaguely independent browser engine that keeps up at all with google.

> Qutebrowser isnt independent if you care that google money is involved, it uses blink.

Did something change? Last I checked almost all funding for Firefox was from Google.

Re: Firefox Private Browsing mode upgrade

#77

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Firefox used to be so extensible that what is developer tools in every browser today started in Firefox as an extension, Firebug (yes, I am aware it is slightly more nuanced, but it is close enough for this argument.) Also for a long while one of my preferred FTP programs was just a Firefox extension. Yes, I think Google must be punished harsher for Chrome than Microsoft was for IE, but Mozilla couldn't have done muc…

Quoted post unavailable.

As long as it's FTPS and it works for the intents and purposes you use it for, what's wrong with using it?

Re: Firefox Private Browsing mode upgrade

#78

What I want to know is have Firefox fixed the show-stopper bug with their implementation of Private Windows yet ? In Firefox, if I login to something in one Private Window, and open a second Private Window, my session is maintained (e.g. login to Protonmail on one, I open a second private window and I'm already logged in). So I assume Firefox is sharing cookies and whatnot between Private Windows. Brave doesn't do th…

I think it's pretty clearly not a bug. Chrome behaves the same way. Private session is cleared when all windows are closed.

I am curious though. What happens if you drag a private tab into its own window? Is state shared with the original private window? How is this communicated to the user? And what if I drag a different private window tab into the new private window? Does each tab retain it's original window?

Edit: you might be interested in the Firefox add-on Temporary Containers. You can open a new tab in its own container that isn't shared with anything else

Re: Firefox Private Browsing mode upgrade

#79
post #48

Why don’t you give power users at the very least in about:config an option to disable ALL phoning home by Firefox upon launch and exit. As it stands even with all telemetry off Firefox is extremely chatty and I’ve had Mozilla developers tell me they have no intention to fix this. You can profile this yourself on macOS with Charles Proxy (GUI) or mitmproxy (CLI). Until this is fixed all I can do is roll my eyes when I…

> As it stands even with all telemetry off Firefox is extremely chatty and I’ve had Mozilla developers tell me they have no intention to fix this. What data is being communicated? What about that data is harmful to you? (Genuinely asking for more information, not trying to convince you you're wrong.)

All telemetry at the very least transfers your IP address which is legally considered personal information. A browser can not therefore be considered privacy-respecting if it has telemetry turned on by default.

Respecting users' privacy at a fundamental level is important for a tool that is our most intimate window to the web (a web browser) even if you personally have 'nothing to hide'.

Re: Firefox Private Browsing mode upgrade

#80

Mozilla & Firefox stop trying to be a god-damned social movement. Just be a fucking browser.

but that was the plan... part of the great shift from freedom in software, to open source code.

"is mozilla about open software? or was it about that old RMS (yuck) what was it? looked like a joke... gnu is not gnu?? wut"

/angry-snark

just trying to vent some frustration...

edit: I actually believe that software should guarantee freedom, but I've understood that gnu's play failed, copyright is not the side of freedom of individuals, but on the side of freedom for corporations-as-individuals. my own ignorant opinion (because I'm just guessing) is taboo https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=33248402

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