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Firefox removed Yandex search option

bugzilla.mozilla.org

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Re: Firefox removed Yandex search option

#11

Post by ogurechny »

My submission was flagged because of the phrase “golden shower”, huh. Copying it here:

https://hg.mozilla.org/releases/mozilla-release/shortlog/35f...

Basically, Firefox 98.0.1 is a point release only concerned with removing Yandex search for users in Belarus, Kazakhstan, Russia, and Turkey, and switching them all to Google by default. Some old promotions from mail.ru and ok.ru were blocked, too, but these have been dead as a doornail and irrelevant.

Note the smoking gun: regular Google links were used in configuration file on 11 March, and then were switched to firefox-tagged (sponsored) ones on 13 March (“part 2”). Why couldn't Mozilla switch Yandex search users to regular Yandex links the same way if they reportedly had “troubles” with their agreement, which supposedly would be the best for the users, and best for Mozilla, apparently? Imagine their wet faces when they beg on their knees for more after successful extension of Google's sponsorship agreement onto 4 big countries, and you'll know why.

The changelog for 98.0.1 is currently absent. The changelog for 98 has a vague note about search engines. The relevant code-related bugs have zero explanations. Bug 1748923 is private. The UI that alerts the user about the removed search engine was introduced two weeks ago (and had it text changed to be more vague). There is a specific (and vague) help article about the switch:

https://support.mozilla.org/en-US/kb/search-engine-removal

However, the first signs were noticed about a month ago (in Russian):

https://www.opennet.ru/opennews/art.shtml?num=56721

As usual with Mozilla, there were bugs. Users of previous version of Firefox that automatically update the list of search engines but have no UI to warn them about the changes got it removed silently.

I personally don't use Yandex, its results for IT-related English language queries have been quite shitty, in all honesty, for many years, most likely because of the supposed full-on focus on keeping the existing (mostly non-English-speaking) users. However, it's another nice example of treating people like swine by those who have even a tiny bit of power over them. Oh, we're used to that, thank you very much.

Re: Firefox removed Yandex search option

#12

Post by smt88 »

mistrial9 wrote: post #2

can we recognize the difference between civilians (people) and armed participants in conflict (military) in this discussion?

The deal is simple: when Russia stops slaughtering Ukrainian civilians, the rest of the world will stop isolating their economy. It's much like the shipping blockades that were used against the European Axis countries in WWII.

Russian civilians should consider themselves lucky that the war is only economic for them.

Re: Firefox removed Yandex search option

#13

Post by throwmeariver1 »

leosarev wrote: post #4
mistrial9 wrote: post #2

can we recognize the difference between civilians (people) and armed participants in conflict (military) in this discussion?

Why this even relevant? I want to talk about Mozilla Firefox removing control from the user, which was their promise for years. I don't see difference between them doing it for political message, or Google doing it for profit.

Are they? Do you know about their contract with yandex? You are emotional about something that is 100% financial in nature. If it wouldn’t be you can bet that with the Mozilla Foundation being the way they are in the last years would ponder themselves with a blog post or at least a tweet. Money talks or in this case it doesn’t anymore.

Re: Firefox removed Yandex search option

#14

Post by ksec »

ogurechny wrote: post #11

My submission was flagged because of the phrase “golden shower”, huh. Copying it here: https://hg.mozilla.org/releases/mozilla-release/shortlog/35f... Basically, Firefox 98.0.1 is a point release only concerned with removing Yandex search for users in Belarus, Kazakhstan, Russia, and Turkey, and switching them all to Google by default. Some old promotions from mail.ru and ok.ru were blocked, too, but these have been…

>My submission was flagged because of the phrase “golden shower”,

In 99.9% of cases HN dont accept editorialised headline. Although I have no idea why this current post is also flagged as well. Firefox removed Yandex is a perfectly valid description. May be it should get rid of the latter part.

Re: Firefox removed Yandex search option

#15

Post by ogurechny »

ogurechny wrote: post #11

My submission was flagged because of the phrase “golden shower”, huh. Copying it here: https://hg.mozilla.org/releases/mozilla-release/shortlog/35f... Basically, Firefox 98.0.1 is a point release only concerned with removing Yandex search for users in Belarus, Kazakhstan, Russia, and Turkey, and switching them all to Google by default. Some old promotions from mail.ru and ok.ru were blocked, too, but these have been…

It wouldn't be a problem if there was a clear statement from Mozilla, or from Yandex. However, both declined to comment (as of now) because, obviously, the talk might give the users the revelation they have been sold and resold like cattle. So because of the corporate handling of the matter now we have a shitstorm among common computer users because something has seriously changed with their “internet”.

I've been installing Firefox with useful extensions on all computers of friends and relatives (if only because it's not fucking Google Chrome Cage), and now they got a shovelful of shit straight from Mozilla.

Re: Firefox removed Yandex search option

#16

Post by ksec »

fredoliveira wrote: post #10
leosarev wrote: post #6

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I understand that editorializing title is bad. How can I make it less editorialized? I'm open for suggestions.

Removing the statement in parens would help.

Yes. Firefox removed Yandex Search Option is a fact, what is in the parens is OP's personal opinion. Unfortunately the submission has been flagged already. Not sure why though, I think some users are flagging it.

Re: Firefox removed Yandex search option

#17

Post by mananaysiempre »

leosarev wrote: post #5
mananaysiempre wrote: post #3

Looking at the diff[1], this seems to remove Yandex-, Odnoklassniki-, and Mail.Ru-related bundled bookmarks and extensions (that apparently exist in some build configurations?), if this removes the search option as well it does not seem obvious. (The editorialized submission title is obviously against HN guidelines, but it’s unclear what should be done about it if the original page title is purposefully obscure—and i…

Yes, it's does remove search option. See this article (sorry, in Russian) but s-shot is missing yandex https://vc.ru/services/379414-poiskovik-yandeksa-propal-iz-n...

Not sure it’s the right patch though. (Does a search engine need an extension to support being used for omnibox search? It might.) In any case, the two ultimate sources of the linked report seem to be:

Grigory Bakunov[1] (ex-Yandex) observes Yandex has been removed (but e.g. OZON is still there): https://t.me/addmeto/4782 (ru, but basically amounts to a screenshot)

Mozilla posts a vague note saying the “default search engine” (NB: omnibox default, not just installation default) may change in Firefox 98, no specific engines are named: https://support.mozilla.org/en-US/kb/search-engine-removal (en)

[1] https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q4076123

Re: Firefox removed Yandex search option

#18

Post by ogurechny »

ogurechny wrote: post #15
ogurechny wrote: post #11

My submission was flagged because of the phrase “golden shower”, huh. Copying it here: https://hg.mozilla.org/releases/mozilla-release/shortlog/35f... Basically, Firefox 98.0.1 is a point release only concerned with removing Yandex search for users in Belarus, Kazakhstan, Russia, and Turkey, and switching them all to Google by default. Some old promotions from mail.ru and ok.ru were blocked, too, but these have been…

It wouldn't be a problem if there was a clear statement from Mozilla, or from Yandex. However, both declined to comment (as of now) because, obviously, the talk might give the users the revelation they have been sold and resold like cattle. So because of the corporate handling of the matter now we have a shitstorm among common computer users because something has seriously changed with their “internet”. I've been ins…

It also affected Firefox ESR (unless, I guess, there is a custom policy for search engines). Because, you know, system administrators simply love self-destructing software.

Tomorrow they will disable mouse input, and tell everyone that those who need it should've had a specific rule.

Re: Firefox removed Yandex search option

#19

Post by leosarev »

throwmeariver1 wrote: post #13
leosarev wrote: post #4

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Why this even relevant? I want to talk about Mozilla Firefox removing control from the user, which was their promise for years. I don't see difference between them doing it for political message, or Google doing it for profit.

Are they? Do you know about their contract with yandex? You are emotional about something that is 100% financial in nature. If it wouldn’t be you can bet that with the Mozilla Foundation being the way they are in the last years would ponder themselves with a blog post or at least a tweet. Money talks or in this case it doesn’t anymore.

I'm ok with them cancelling contract with Yandex and changing defaults. I'm not ok with them removing this OPTION from browser.

Re: Firefox removed Yandex search option

#20

Post by BuckRogers »

smt88 wrote: post #12
mistrial9 wrote: post #2

can we recognize the difference between civilians (people) and armed participants in conflict (military) in this discussion?

The deal is simple: when Russia stops slaughtering Ukrainian civilians, the rest of the world will stop isolating their economy. It's much like the shipping blockades that were used against the European Axis countries in WWII. Russian civilians should consider themselves lucky that the war is only economic for them.

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