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Windows 11 Officially Shuts Down Firefox’s Default Browser Workaround

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Re: Windows 11 Officially Shuts Down Firefox’s Default Browser Workaround

#481

Post by buu700 »

NmAmDa wrote: post #471
paxys wrote: post #409

Earlier quoted context omitted.

It’s a very different world today than when Microsoft went through antitrust proceedings for IE6. Regulatory authorities worldwide are getting more toothless by the day. Heck Apple doesn’t even let you use alternate browsers or install your own apps and they are celebrated for it. On what basis would there be action against Microsoft now?

Ironically that's the main reason why chrome doesn't dominate the browser market completely.

I would almost prefer a Chromium monoculture over having to deal with supporting WebKit, and I say this as a Firefox user.

Re: Windows 11 Officially Shuts Down Firefox’s Default Browser Workaround

#482

Post by hadem »

steve_taylor wrote: post #476
hadem wrote: post #473

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Are you sure...? I've been using Firefox as my default browser on iOS for awhile now.

It's Safari (WkWebView) dressed up as Firefox. That's all Apple lets them do.

As in Firefox is not rendering content with Gecko, it's rendering via WebKit?

Re: Windows 11 Officially Shuts Down Firefox’s Default Browser Workaround

#483

Post by paxys »

hadem wrote: post #482
steve_taylor wrote: post #476

Earlier quoted context omitted.

It's Safari (WkWebView) dressed up as Firefox. That's all Apple lets them do.

As in Firefox is not rendering content with Gecko, it's rendering via WebKit?

Yes. You aren't allowed alternate browser engines on iOS. Every browser in the App Store is Safari wrapped in different skins.

Re: Windows 11 Officially Shuts Down Firefox’s Default Browser Workaround

#484

Post by deepbluev7 »

jhoelzel wrote: post #111
Datagenerator wrote: post #98

Earlier quoted context omitted.

That's the moment you fire up Firefox without prefetch nor studies and enjoy the peaceful DNS logs without the constant telemetry calls to LinkedIn and to all interested 3rd parties, five eyes etc

i thought that too! but firefox has different dns requests going to their servers as well.

There is a German article, that goes in depth on how to disable pretty much all of them and explains what they do: https://www.kuketz-blog.de/mozilla-firefox-datensendeverhalt...

A few of them actually do make sense for a normal user (i.e. the Wifi portal stuff). But you can disable it if you spend some effort on it or you can also use an alternative build of Firefox without it. Not great, but also not terrible imo. Sorry, that I have no English source.

Re: Windows 11 Officially Shuts Down Firefox’s Default Browser Workaround

#485

Post by dataflow »

drdaeman wrote: post #209
modeless wrote: post #196

Firefox should go all the way on this. Exploit bugs, modify binaries, whatever it takes. With user consent of course. If the user says they want Firefox to be their default browser, Firefox is justified in modifying the operating system to achieve that. Ultimately Microsoft is powerless to stop this except by using their antivirus to block installation of Firefox in the first place, and I'd like to see them try that…

This. Just like in the ol' good days, install an API hook (e.g. with Microsoft Detours[1]) that would patch relevant functions in-memory. Microsoft cannot block this because they'll be breaking lots of existing things (automation tools, gaming overlays, AV software even). And if MS would want to play it rough and start blocking hook DLLs with permission barriers, make this API patcher a kernel module. [1]: https://gi…

> make this API patcher a kernel module

You mean an unsigned one?

Re: Windows 11 Officially Shuts Down Firefox’s Default Browser Workaround

#486

Post by Decabytes »

I wonder how many people will actually switch away from Windows this time. It’s interesting to see people saying they will stick with Windows 10, when the same thing was said about the Windows 7-10 transition.

Will people eventually just get worn down like last time, my guess is probably. But maybe that is too pessimistic

Re: Windows 11 Officially Shuts Down Firefox’s Default Browser Workaround

#487

Post by anshumankmr »

Liquid_Fire wrote: post #3
anshumankmr wrote: post #2

As someone who used Firefox and has Windows 11, how is it going to affect me? My links open in Firefox only (and the only time I open links is either from WhatsApp or occasionally some link in a doc file or PDF I am reading). It works fine for me so far.

I think it's only for 'microsoft-edge:' URLs, used by certain Windows features (e.g. Bing search from the start menu, or opening the online help via a link in the Settings). Most other links will just be normal http:/https: links and will use your actual default browser.

Can I just rename edge.exe (or whatever the name of the executable is)?

EDIT: I can't do that on my office laptop. My personal laptop isn't compatible with Windows 11.

What about something like this?https://microsoftedge.microsoft.com/addons/detail/open-in-fi...

(I have major trust issues with extensions after huge disaster with the Chrome extension to suspend tabs which had malicious code embedded in it)

Re: Windows 11 Officially Shuts Down Firefox’s Default Browser Workaround

#488

Post by Underphil »

gmadsen wrote: post #480
sockaddr wrote: post #478

Anyone on the fence about ditching Windows for Linux should just do it. If you pick a popular distro and hardware you'll likely run into only minimal issues, if any. My sound and wifi worked right out of the box even though I built my own system. Why anyone still puts up with this garbage, abusive, disrespectful OS is beyond me.

ive had to break down and at least have a windows vm. ive picked up making music as a hobby and all the various production and plugin-in software is a no go with linux. Same with VR related things. I would love to get a mac, but unfortunately arm isn't really supported for my other use cases (ros middleware robotics)

I know this isn't the panacea to your problems, but I do a ton of music production and LinVst + Reaper works really well these days.

It is still ultimately a workaround, but it's a possibility.

Re: Windows 11 Officially Shuts Down Firefox’s Default Browser Workaround

#489

Post by keithnz »

contravariant wrote: post #406
keithnz wrote: post #400

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I think the grandma case is just made up. I've seen older people use win11 just fine, they aren't so incompetent that they can't click a button on their task bar. If they are having trouble with that, then even if they could get to the windows button easily in the corner, they'd have a tricky job clicking any of the things that come up in the windows menu which are all the same size, and now, not even aligned to the…

This isn't about being competent this is about stuff in corners of the screen being easier to hit.

key word being "easier". Thing is, when something is already easy, claiming "easier" is better isn't really a thing. Given clicking on the windows icon is actually a "sometimes" activity, it doesn't need to be optimized to be the easiest thing.

Re: Windows 11 Officially Shuts Down Firefox’s Default Browser Workaround

#490

Post by FourthProtocol »

a5aAqU wrote: post #332
FourthProtocol wrote: post #309

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I will stick with MS Office. I can use it when disconnected from everything, and (note hyperbole, but the cynicism is real) I avoid the creepy feeling that Google is logging every mouse movement and keystoke I make for teh ads. In fact I welcome my evil Microsoft overlord any day before I use something from Google. I see MS as the lesser of two evils.

> I avoid the creepy feeling that Google is logging every mouse movement and keystoke I make for teh ads. Microsoft is doing it too: https://www.pcworld.com/article/423165/how-to-turn-off-windo... There's still Linux.

Always with the Linux. I can't use Linux, I work in a Microsoft world. I can turn off the keylogger, and virtually anything else I don't want/like. I cannot (assuming I used their products) stop Google from storing my (MY!!) data on their infrastructure and having their way with it.
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