Firefox Sync actually works • Hacker News Board

Re: Firefox Sync actually works

#221

Post by kej » Thu, Dec 28, 2023, 5:19 PM UTC

bloopernova wrote: post #205

avg_dev wrote: post #185

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I’ll have to look into containers and tree style tabs. I have never knowingly used those.

Tree style tabs enables vertical tabs, which are listed at the side of the window rather than the top. It means you can still read tab titles when you have more than a dozen tabs open. Plus you can nest and rearrange your tabs to fit your work or study. For some, like me, it's a game changer and I dislike using chrome now because it doesn't support vertical tabs. Caveat: to disable top-of-window tabs you have to use…

Minor addition: you have to create a user chrome file AND you have to go into about:config and set "toolkit.legacyUserProfileCustomizations.stylesheets" to true.

Re: Firefox Sync actually works

#222

Post by ddhhyy » Thu, Dec 28, 2023, 5:20 PM UTC

the_pwner224 wrote: post #152

ishanjain28 wrote: post #127

Earlier quoted context omitted.

is it a good idea to use password managers built into web browsers? (vs using a password manager from some third party? bw/1p)

I used Firefox's password manager for a long time but eventually switched to KeePass which is FOSS and not cloud based. It's much better than the browser builtin password managers. I store the .kdbx file in Syncthing (== Dropbox) so it automagically syncs between all my computers and phones. Use the KeepassXC app on computers along with their browser plugins, and the KeepassDX app on Android (idk about iOS). One adva…

Similar workflow here. On iOS I use Keepassium, which can access files on Dropbox, so it can read and write to the master password file there, which then propagates to the other machines with Dropbox installed.

Re: Firefox Sync actually works

#223

Post by JohnFen » Thu, Dec 28, 2023, 5:20 PM UTC

sp332 wrote: post #220

beretguy wrote: post #207

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Most important is that Firefox is the only barrier that protects us from Google locking up internet behind a DRM.

Firefox has compromised on DRM before and there's no reason to expect they won't cave again next time.

In fairness, they did compromise in such a way that you can still keep it disabled. If/when they do it again, they'll likely also keep a safety switch involved as before.

Re: Firefox Sync actually works

#224

Post by jvehent » Thu, Dec 28, 2023, 5:20 PM UTC

The most compelling reason to use Firefox Sync is that it is client-side encrypted. Mozilla stores opaque encrypted blobs that it is entirely unable to decrypt.

Law enforcement agencies request that data from time to time, hoping to obtain browsing history, only to be turned down thanks to the encryption.

(disclaimer: former Mozilla security)

Re: Firefox Sync actually works

#225

Post by WarOnPrivacy » Thu, Dec 28, 2023, 5:20 PM UTC

I run Firefox as a remote app.

Every night, my main Firefox copies it's profile to a local virtual machine; that VM hosts Firefox as a virtual/remote app. I'm posting this from it.

This way I have all my containers and logins but my data stays at home. And browsing from my home IP has advantages.

Re: Firefox Sync actually works

#226

Post by lupusreal » Thu, Dec 28, 2023, 5:21 PM UTC

GeekyBear wrote: post #93

One of the headline features for me is the Firefox recommended extensions program, where the extension code (and updated code) is manually vetted for malware and privacy violations. > Recommended extensions are expected to: Function extremely well. All Recommended extensions should not only perform as they promise, but do so at an exceptional level. For instance, there may be many ad blockers out there, but not all a…

I wish they'd only permit manually vetted FOSS extensions, separating developers (who might secretly sell out) from the ability to push updates directly to users. I want something like F-Droid or Debian but for browser extensions.

In fact it's really disappointing that Mozilla goes out of their way to make it difficult for another organization to do this for Firefox. If you want to install extensions from a source other than Mozilla you need to jump through more hoops than doing the same on android...

Re: Firefox Sync actually works

#227

Post by [deleted] » Thu, Dec 28, 2023, 5:24 PM UTC

GeekyBear wrote: post #186

hackernewds wrote: post #171

Earlier quoted context omitted.

with enough market share, if Google did this they would be cursed with numerous lawsuits for preferential selection and sued successfully

> with enough market share, if Google did this they would be cursed with numerous lawsuits for preferential selection and sued successfully Google already has featured products on the Play Store, so preferential selection doesn't appear to be an issue. However, the likelihood of Google paying human beings to go over the code of a free extension looking for security and privacy violations is about zero.

[deleted]

Re: Firefox Sync actually works

#228

Post by j45 » Thu, Dec 28, 2023, 5:24 PM UTC

ben0x539 wrote: post #210

dekatron wrote: post #84

One of the things that I like about Firefox is that it lets you right click on websites that disable right clicking by holding down shift. Reminds you that the browser should be the user's agent and not the website's.

The current meta for disabling right click seems to be invisible but tangible divs on top of the thing you don't want people to right-click. ... maybe they could add something like ctrl-shift-rightclick to get the context menu on the topmost visible element, and then we can get into more stupid arms races about opacity levels or something...

Convenience + simplicity > complexity

Re: Firefox Sync actually works

#229

Post by j45 » Thu, Dec 28, 2023, 5:26 PM UTC

rideontime wrote: post #200

bloopernova wrote: post #169

Firefox has multiple compelling reasons to use it: Sync Containers Tree Style Tabs uBlock Origin on Android Open Source since 1998! Not based on Chromium Be wary of sync on a fresh Linux install, it might sync the default bookmarks and merge them with your own. Not a huge deal but definitely an annoyance.

If Containers is a sufficient alternative to Chromium's profiles, I'm switching, that was the only thing holding me back.

Containers is what every browser should be or have. Only Firefox as far as I know has containers as thoroughly.

Chrome doesn’t. Safari has something similar.

Re: Firefox Sync actually works

#230

Post by vorticalbox » Thu, Dec 28, 2023, 5:27 PM UTC

zero0529 wrote: post #187

One of my biggest gripes with Firefox sync is the way they have divided the mobile bookmarks from the pc ones. It makes the ux kinda weird as a lot of the bookmarks I use on my desktop I also use on my phone and vice verca. But when I add a bookmark on my phone it ends in a separate mobile bookmark folder.

Can only mirror this, I just want my bookmarks not different sets of them.