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Firefox Sync actually works

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Re: Firefox Sync actually works

#301

Post by kevincox »

ishanjain28 wrote: post #127
herdcall wrote: post #8

Yes, it just works; but a few days back all my devices suddenly lost almost all of the passwords. Not all but most of them, couldn't make out any pattern or reason. Luckily a Linux laptop that I don't usually use had the full set and I had to export them, sync, and import them back to restore everywhere. Very scary, any ideas why this could've happened? I immediately backed up for the future, but this kind of loss sh…

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

Whatever password manager you use I would consider browser integration critical. This is because it will check the domain for you and prevent phishing attacks that may work if you need to copy+paste your password. The fact that the password doesn't auto-fill is a huge red flag that interrupts your regular workflow and requires an unusual manual action to be phished.

But whether that is an in-browser password manager or a third-party manager with browser-integration (usually via an extension) probably doesn't matter much.

Re: Firefox Sync actually works

#302

Post by toyg »

Krssst wrote: post #249
TrisMcC wrote: post #218

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Firefox has its own profiles, which are separate from containers. `about:profiles` shows you a window for creating and switching to a different one. I add that as a bookmark on the bookmarks toolbar of the two profiles I use I believe there is a `-P` option to open a new window with a specific profile. I do not use it. I usually just open the browser and then go to the aforementioned bookmark and open the other profi…

IMO containers are easier to use than profiles. The main issue is that history seems to be shared across containers, but being able to mix tabs from multiple containers in the same window is very practical. Though I guess it increases the risk of accidentally opening some website in the wrong container if this is one concern. (though there is a feature to make some website always open in a given container)

The main difference is that profiles allow for different extensions to be enabled. You effectively get completely different browsers. The price for that power is a bit of IT geekery - if used regularly, you'll need either a bookmark to about:profiles or a desktop shortcut pointing to Firefox.exe -P yourProfile.

I mostly use containers for everyday work, but when a site looks borked (which typically happens because of strict ad-blocking extensions doing their job), I temporarily switch to my "unprotected" profile that has no ad-blocking whatsoever.

(And also when I test new extensions I build, but that's a very niche use case.)

Re: Firefox Sync actually works

#303

Post by pferrel »

I have three google accounts, one personal, one for my business, one for garbage web sites where I need an email but do not trust with my everyday address.

Chrome sucks at dealing with these since sync is tied to the account you have logged into and you have to switch login every time you access another account. This switch affects every new tab.

Firefox does not touch the FF login when you access some Google account info or email so FF sync works sooo much better than Chromes. Chrome needs to scrap and rethink how it uses Google accounts IMHO.

Re: Firefox Sync actually works

#304

Post by pmw »

dv35z wrote: post #270
leetcrew wrote: post #233

Earlier quoted context omitted.

this is absolutely a killer feature if you follow the one account per stage per region guidance with AWS accounts (which you really should).

Can you say more about this?

I am not the OP, but I believe he's referring to the ability to be logged in to different AWS accounts simultaneously. Without containers, logging in to AWS account B would invalidate the tabs where you're already logged in to account A.

Re: Firefox Sync actually works

#305

Post by xvector »

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)

Isn't this the same with Safari?

Re: Firefox Sync actually works

#306

Post by ta8903 »

vehemenz wrote: post #284
zeta0134 wrote: post #111

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Safari works great if you run 100% Apple devices, and breaks the moment you want to mix and match with even one non-blessed device. Firefox will happily sync to everything, and so will Chrome.

These are reasonable caveats, but I don’t think this disqualifies Safari as not worth writing about if you’re a so-called tech journalist. There are way more Apple-only users than Firefox users.

But we're talking about anyone who ones at least one non-Apple main device being excluded, I don't think their number would be as high.

But you're right that Apple devices and services are not even considered in a certain type of tech journalism.

Re: Firefox Sync actually works

#307

Post by zevon »

nottorp wrote: post #132
marcosdumay wrote: post #92

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Don't use your personal account on your work browser. Or, actually, on anything in your work. (And the other way around too.) Nobody implements proper context switching and privacy from yourself. The only kind of privacy anybody even acknowledges the existence is from 3rd parties.

Personal account? Account? When I switch from my desktop to my laptop and back, I sometimes get an extra Firefox icon in my dock. I once hovered over it and I think it was the sync feature. I don't have a Firefox account and I'm not signed in into any browser on any account. Why does it try to sync things without my permission?

Sounds like the "Handoff" functionality baked into MacOS. If it is, it is not the same cloud-based sync mechanism referred to in this thread and by the person you are replying to. You can disable Handoff system-wide in System Settings --> General --> AirDrop & Handoff.

Re: Firefox Sync actually works

#308

Post by yencabulator »

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)

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

Re: Firefox Sync actually works

#309

Post by OJFord »

billyzs wrote: post #261
nickdandakis wrote: post #158

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I actually wish Mozilla put out a dedicated password manager. They have Sync, and they have SoPS (or well, used to?). I'd gladly pay extra for it

There used to a standalone Firefox Password app for mobile but it got the axe.

Lockwise.

And it had way better UX when auto-fill didn't work, because for some reason about:logins doesn't work on mobile, so you have to hunt through a menu mess to copy the password manually from Firefox.

I continued to use it (because they didn't stop it syncing) until I switched phone and so couldn't easily install it.

Re: Firefox Sync actually works

#310

Post by jhasse »

ishanjain28 wrote: post #127
herdcall wrote: post #8

Yes, it just works; but a few days back all my devices suddenly lost almost all of the passwords. Not all but most of them, couldn't make out any pattern or reason. Luckily a Linux laptop that I don't usually use had the full set and I had to export them, sync, and import them back to restore everywhere. Very scary, any ideas why this could've happened? I immediately backed up for the future, but this kind of loss sh…

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

Sure, why not?
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