Hacker News Board Hacker News, browsed like a classic message board
Live data from Hacker News

Google Chrome pushes browser history-based ad targeting

theregister.com

Post reply on HN
Print view View original

101–110 of 167 posts

Re: Google Chrome pushes browser history-based ad targeting

#101

Post by leokennis »

tacker2000 wrote: post #39
tobr wrote: post #2

Just got this blocking modal. In mine, the title says “Turn on an ad privacy feature”. That is misleading to say the least. This is a privacy-invading feature, leaking summaries of my browsing history to anyone who wants to have a look. What’s worse, the modal completely blocks the UI, so you can’t even search for it to understand more. Why am I even using this browser anymore? EDIT: Note this section about privacy g…

Im sorry but if you are using Chrome as a “pro” nowadays, its your own fault. There are countless alternatives available, starting from Firefox, to Brave, to some exotic browsers, and if you must use Chrome, then there is a de-Googled one called Chromium. Its clear that Google is milking every single one of its users using their browser, since they have access to your computers. Probably this is the “vector” they use…

Just want to pour one out to my fellow corporate drones on locked down work laptops, who can usually choose between a pre-installed and managed installation of Chrome (a rock) and/or Edge (a hard place).

Re: Google Chrome pushes browser history-based ad targeting

#102

Post by Stagnant »

mangecoeur wrote: post #87
weikju wrote: post #7

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> Why am I even using this browser anymore? Yeah, stop putting up with all these anti-features! Firefox, Brave etc are not perfect but at least they're not THAT. No matter how many hoops you jump through, still using Chrome means it is being endorsed. Wish more people would reconsider it like you and jump ship!

I have been using Firefox since version 2.x and I never understood what downsides people find with it. I've used chrome and the only difference i saw was annoying pushes from google to log in so that i could be tracked all the time. Otherwise, it shows web pages, what more do you want?

I've used Firefox as my main browser for 15+ years, and the only times I've needed Chrome have been for performance-related reasons in some browser games or some heavier sites. Though recently it feels like firefox's performance has gotten better and I rarely find myself having to launch chrome anymore.

Re: Google Chrome pushes browser history-based ad targeting

#103

Post by matheusmoreira »

the_gipsy wrote: post #93
matheusmoreira wrote: post #82

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I'm neither. I'm a Firefox user frustrated by the decisions of the company in charge of it. Check it out: https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=37015592

It is fair to criticize Mozilla's operations. It's not fair to spew FUD on the best browser alternative that currently exists - your comment implies that Firefox isn't any better than Chrome. That is simply not true from a user-hostileness perspective, which is the context. Financials are another matter, and if they are really so problematic then what you should do is either propose a better alternative, or even work…

My comment didn't "imply" anything. I stated that Firefox may be coming to an end. Then I stated the facts that back up my belief: (1) Mozilla has over a billion dollars; and (2) they are reducing the amount of money allocated to Firefox development.

I simply have no idea how you can possibly draw any other conclusion. It's not "FUD" either. If you can refute the article I posted, I will stop posting it and never speak of the matter again. Until then, I will criticize Mozilla for not spending money developing Firefox. Because I care about Firefox and want to see it kill Chrome, not languish in 5th place dying a slow death with zero leverage to actually stop things like WEI from being inflicted upon us.

Re: Google Chrome pushes browser history-based ad targeting

#104

Post by offices »

mangecoeur wrote: post #87
weikju wrote: post #7

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> Why am I even using this browser anymore? Yeah, stop putting up with all these anti-features! Firefox, Brave etc are not perfect but at least they're not THAT. No matter how many hoops you jump through, still using Chrome means it is being endorsed. Wish more people would reconsider it like you and jump ship!

I have been using Firefox since version 2.x and I never understood what downsides people find with it. I've used chrome and the only difference i saw was annoying pushes from google to log in so that i could be tracked all the time. Otherwise, it shows web pages, what more do you want?

Using Chrome at work and Firefox at home, the only features I missed were low-effort 'translate this page' and extensionless reverse image search.

Wise Google have decided to remove the second point by replacing it with terrible Lens.

The differences aren't really important any more. Both have converged on similar UIs, both have important privacy extensions, both have password managers and payment storage. My only caveat for suggesting Firefox is that it's a possible frying pan -> fire situation, since they push their own revenue-building tat and get paid by Google.

Re: Google Chrome pushes browser history-based ad targeting

#106

Post by offices »

the_gipsy wrote: post #31
samspenc wrote: post #3

Related tweet from Paul Graham: https://twitter.com/paulg/status/1699021936573940154 "If you go to chrome://settings/adPrivacy you can turn off the spyware that got inserted into the latest version of Chrome." And I found PaulG's tweet from this earlier Hacker News discussion https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=37392517

At some point you would have to set a weekly (daily?) reminder to turn off all new sell-out "features" that get added. Also, at some point those "features" stop being an option you can opt-out. The real solution is switching to Firefox.

The Windows model.

Re: Google Chrome pushes browser history-based ad targeting

#107

Post by aembleton »

ranting-moth wrote: post #74

We value your privacy. The valuation is about $20 and we've already sold it to the highest bidder. Thanks for choosing us to auction it off. We'll keep the money as per T&C (we're looking forward to the firstborn too!). As a token of good will, here's an ankle bracelet.

They're giving this away for free. There is no charge for a website to call document.browsingTopics()

Re: Google Chrome pushes browser history-based ad targeting

#108

Post by maleldil »

izacus wrote: post #55
dgan wrote: post #37

Earlier quoted context omitted.

On another spectrum, RuZZians invading Ukraine right now are really thinking they are "liberating" it.

Yeah, please don't compare ads with actual murdering, raping and civilan massacres.

I don't think they're comparing the merits of either, but rather how can humans can convince themselves they're doing the right thing when it's obvious to us that they aren't. "no one thinks himself a villain, and few make decisions they think are wrong".

Re: Google Chrome pushes browser history-based ad targeting

#109

Post by aembleton »

nunodonato wrote: post #9

You got to wonder how much more it will take for people to start switching to another browser. Hopefully not too late

How does this change anything for an end user?

There's a pop up that will be clicked through and soon forgotten and then there will still be ads. The ads might be slightly less targetted as they may now be showing for general browsing categories rather than individual websites visited but its not a big change.

Post reply on HN