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LibreWolf – Custom version of Firefox, focused on privacy, security and freedom

librewolf.net

131–140 of 178 posts

Re: LibreWolf – Custom version of Firefox, focused on privacy, security and freedom

#131

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Just like that North Korean symbol downloader on GitHub, which had a malware downloader hidden in plain sight for nearly a year with no one noticing?

There are far more eyes on firefox and it's hardened forks, then on a random/obscure piece of software (sorry, I have no idea what exact malware you're referencing).

And as has been proven many many times, more eyes don't result in better code reviews.

Re: LibreWolf – Custom version of Firefox, focused on privacy, security and freedom

#132
post #4

There are many valid counterpoints on why you shouldn't trust/use this, but the mere existence of it raises a very valid point and calls Mozilla's BS; why does this fork exist at all if Mozilla supposedly cares about your privacy, security and freedom?

Because Mozilla has to ship a browser that actually works? My grandma won't be going into about:config to temporarily disable this and that to make that site work. Also, people want to watch Netflix as well.

Also, I really don't get all that fuss about some basic "telemetry", that word became way too overloaded. But the least I can do is like, share some basic data with this open-source project I freely use for many hours each day, e.g. in case of a crash.

Re: LibreWolf – Custom version of Firefox, focused on privacy, security and freedom

#133
post #11
post #4

There are many valid counterpoints on why you shouldn't trust/use this, but the mere existence of it raises a very valid point and calls Mozilla's BS; why does this fork exist at all if Mozilla supposedly cares about your privacy, security and freedom?

Mozilla ships Firefox with telemetry (aka spyware, given that it operates silently and automatically without consent) enabled by default. They also ship closed source DRM in the browser which infringes on software freedoms. Mozilla doesn't actually care that much about privacy or freedom, it's just marketing to make line go up and to the right while Mozilla staff can keep collecting paychecks for being "the good guys…

Honestly, it is a pretty disgusting stance is all I can say. It is fine to not agree with every default config Firefox ships with, and feel free to change it for yourself (and distribute that), sure.

But calling it out like that is just scummy, as they don't do anything malicious. All of these are just basic business practices done by most software you have on your computer.

Re: LibreWolf – Custom version of Firefox, focused on privacy, security and freedom

#134

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Telemetry and spyware are not the same thing (irrespective of whatever Firefox is doing). There is a big difference between tracking to try to understand how users are using a software or getting information on bugs and crashes, and tracking with the aim of monetizing personal data. I'm personally not crazy about telemetry implying information is uploaded to a software provider, but from experience I know that trying…

Firefox doesn't get to wear the white hat if they're doing a bunch of shady stuff and saying it's for my own good. By your logic, realistically, Google invading my privacy isn't a particularly big deal since they know the value of the data they're harvesting and will guard it. And third party data brokers are actually just making my web experience more tailored and relevant, so I should let them have their way with m…

Ridiculous comment

Re: LibreWolf – Custom version of Firefox, focused on privacy, security and freedom

#135
post #59

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Telemetry and spyware are not the same thing (irrespective of whatever Firefox is doing). There is a big difference between tracking to try to understand how users are using a software or getting information on bugs and crashes, and tracking with the aim of monetizing personal data. I'm personally not crazy about telemetry implying information is uploaded to a software provider, but from experience I know that trying…

> There is a big difference between tracking to try to understand how users are using a software or getting information on bugs and crashes, and tracking with the aim of monetizing personal data. I don't see the difference. In one case you are trying to improve your product using stolen data (which presumably results in your user sat scores and/or userbase going up and you continuing to receive a paycheck, ie monetiz…

It is human psychology 101 that the default option is chosen in order of magnitudes more cases -- people are lazy. Should they really just let all that usability statistics be lost, even though their owner would more than likely be fine with its usage in most cases?

Are countries with opt-out organ donation also evil? Doesn't the litany of saved lives worth more than a post-death "inconvenience"?

Re: LibreWolf – Custom version of Firefox, focused on privacy, security and freedom

#136

What exactly do we gain by browsing more anonymously if we just read news or go on social media sites?

People profiling your interests, mental state, politics, religion, sexysl orientation, .....

You can deduce a lot with enough data.

Re: LibreWolf – Custom version of Firefox, focused on privacy, security and freedom

#137

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Telemetry and spyware are not the same thing (irrespective of whatever Firefox is doing). There is a big difference between tracking to try to understand how users are using a software or getting information on bugs and crashes, and tracking with the aim of monetizing personal data. I'm personally not crazy about telemetry implying information is uploaded to a software provider, but from experience I know that trying…

> Telemetry and spyware are not the same thing Telemetry is spyware if it's done without the active informed consent of the user. What the collected data is actually used for isn't relevant. Consent is the relevant factor.

I'm sure it is written in some license agreement you implicitly accept by downloading/installing the software.

Re: LibreWolf – Custom version of Firefox, focused on privacy, security and freedom

#138
post #72
post #53

Earlier quoted context omitted.

The Apple throttling thing was specifically to extend the life of the device. When a battery is old, if the CPU is not throttled, the device will instantly power off when the draw is too high. Apple was throttling the CPU when the battery was old and could not sustain such power draw peaks in an effort to make the device remain usable for a longer period with a mostly-consumed battery pack. Had they not done so, the…

Propaganda. Even if, a user toggle would have worked wonders.

Which is what ended up being implemented. That was a PR disaster on apple's part, but their motivation was genuinely good. They could have just let the phones power off randomly, like they were 5-6 years old -- android wouldn't even know about them anymore.

Re: LibreWolf – Custom version of Firefox, focused on privacy, security and freedom

#139
post #53

Earlier quoted context omitted.

The Apple throttling thing was specifically to extend the life of the device. When a battery is old, if the CPU is not throttled, the device will instantly power off when the draw is too high. Apple was throttling the CPU when the battery was old and could not sustain such power draw peaks in an effort to make the device remain usable for a longer period with a mostly-consumed battery pack. Had they not done so, the…

A replaceable battery is a better solution.

They are replaceable. In a service for a low fee after 6 years of usage.

Re: LibreWolf – Custom version of Firefox, focused on privacy, security and freedom

#140
post #118

Earlier quoted context omitted.

You can actually see all of the telemetry data Firefox is sending by going to about:telemetry in your browser. You can also see all of the probes it could be collecting here: https://probes.telemetry.mozilla.org/ Keep in mind that the telemetry that is captured in Firefox goes through a thorough review process, so that it respects user privacy: https://wiki.mozilla.org/Data_Collection

This statement is false. Even with all telemetry disabled (including the option "Allow Firefox to send technical and interaction data to Mozilla") and without anything showing on that page, the browser still sends out interaction data by means of so called "pings", URL parameters, etc.

Wow, a browser is making network connections, how dare it. Come on, these things are there so that if you are on "connected" to a network that require some registration, e.g. an airport, then you can actually be forwarded to that registration page.

Like what do you even think, Mozilla people are sitting on top of all that sweet

  PING www.mozilla.org (3.161.119.172) 56(84) bytes of data.
  64 bytes from server-3-161-119-172.vie50.r.cloudfront.net (3.161.119.172): icmp_seq=1 ttl=248 time=4.06 ms
  64 bytes from server-3-161-119-172.vie50.r.cloudfront.net (3.161.119.172): icmp_seq=2 ttl=248 time=4.16 ms
  64 bytes from server-3-161-119-172.vie50.r.cloudfront.net (3.161.119.172): icmp_seq=3 ttl=248 time=3.64 ms
What the hell would they do with that?
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