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Firefox Sync actually works

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Re: Firefox Sync actually works

#321

Post by yencabulator »

Vinnl wrote: post #315
yencabulator wrote: post #308

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Chrome Sync is also client-side encrypted, you just need to set the sync password. Settings -> You and Google -> Sync and Google Services -> Encryption options

Somewhat relevant: https://palant.info/2023/08/29/chrome-sync-privacy-is-still-...

Google uses some dark patterns in the UX, yes. It's still weird to me that GP says "The most compelling reason to use Firefox Sync is that it is client-side encrypted" when that's table stakes for any browser sync engine I know of.

Re: Firefox Sync actually works

#322

Post by marcosdumay »

jhasse wrote: post #311
marcosdumay wrote: post #75

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Logging in includes giving the device a password. There's no off-channel key synchronization. What means that the encryption is only as good as your password. But AFAIK no browser has it anyway, and nearly no sync service.

Brave uses a QR code to exchange the key.

Actually, I have redone the steps on my computer after that comment, and well, I was wrong.

Firefox sync seems to work by key authorization, that is done by in-channel sharing and user confirmation for PCs and a QR code for phones. It's a quite good process, that looks similar to what you are describing.

I just don't know why I remembered something different.

Re: Firefox Sync actually works

#323

Post by [deleted] »

deanishe wrote: post #279
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.

For the life of me, I don't understand why they do this. It's not 2003. I don't have a separate bunch of WAP bookmarks for my phone.

[deleted]

Re: Firefox Sync actually works

#324

Post by egberts1 »

GeoAtreides wrote: post #283
jvehent wrote: post #224

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)

Even better, you can host the sync server yourself: https://github.com/mozilla-services/syncstorage-rs

Only downside to using your own sync server for your devices' Firefox Sync is that the Firefox/iOS cannot accept custom Sync server URL; with Firefox/iOS, you are stuck with Mozilla Sync server.

Re: Firefox Sync actually works

#325

Post by ParetoOptimal »

yencabulator wrote: post #321
Vinnl wrote: post #315

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Somewhat relevant: https://palant.info/2023/08/29/chrome-sync-privacy-is-still-...

Google uses some dark patterns in the UX, yes. It's still weird to me that GP says "The most compelling reason to use Firefox Sync is that it is client-side encrypted" when that's table stakes for any browser sync engine I know of.

Because them making encryption the default rather than obscuring encryption options with dark patterns strongly signals they aren't trying to trick you into handing over private data for their profit.

Re: Firefox Sync actually works

#326

Post by ParetoOptimal »

athreyac8 wrote: post #236
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 use BitWarden pretty good

They recently updated the Firefox extension with very good UX improvements!

Re: Firefox Sync actually works

#327

Post by camgunz »

ranguna wrote: post #318
GeoAtreides wrote: post #283

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Even better, you can host the sync server yourself: https://github.com/mozilla-services/syncstorage-rs

A local server that uses sentry and spanner? What?

You have an incredulous tone, but you can host Sentry (it's open source) and it's very common to host databases in the cloud.

Re: Firefox Sync actually works

#328

Post by ParetoOptimal »

yesimahuman wrote: post #50

It’s too bad that Firefox has such a great UX and privacy-focused cloud features like this, yet is being held back by its engine. As a heavy FF user for the last few years it’s become more and more clear that the world just doesn’t care about making sites work on FF and I’m more frequently having to switch to Chrome. My dream is that FF would switch to Chromium while keeping all the great features around the browser…

I've run into one site having oversized svg icons in Firefox only over the past few years.

Aside from that, no "chrome only" issues you describe.

Re: Firefox Sync actually works

#330

Post by __MatrixMan__ »

lawn wrote: post #176
__MatrixMan__ wrote: post #143

Passwords belong in a dedicated password manager. Besides those, I don't understand what I'd want to sync. I've even disabled syncing tabs between sessions on the same machine. The last thing I need is for what I was doing yesterday to distract me from what I'm trying to do today. What I want in a browser is a dumb box that starts up as a blank slate every time, renders HTML and JavaScript, and is indistinguishable f…

- Sync installed extensions - Sync configuration and settings Even with your quite unusual requirements, sync could still be beneficial if you use multiple machines.

That's what nix is for.
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