this post was submitted on 23 Mar 2024
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Even LibreWolf, which is just a Firefox with different configuration by default, I think should be just config files.
I really want to see browsers saving configurations and data in a simple file formats, like QuteBrowser do.
You cant remove pocket and telemetry without recompiling. That's why its not just a config file.
There are admin overrides for those, I use them.
You may be looking for Betterfox.
In Firefox, you can use the user.js file to create any overrides you want.
Librewolf, their devs seem hella inactive but their builds are automated. Tbh I would prefer a working arkenfox more. Made my own softening and install script but its pre-alpha and I will likely rewrite it again in some time.
Personally I use Waterfox because of its built-in theme preferences, e.g. auto-hiding the tab bar and sidebar headers.
Is Waterfox still owned by the advertising company?
No, (Captain Obvious,) and I never really got the fuss around that in the first place.
You don’t understand why an ad company owning a “privacy focused” browser is a problem?
I can check the commits.
Do you? Genuinely, not trying to snark. I see this point lots, but Im skeptical that people actually do.
As a dev, I read plenty of commits, and the idea of voluntarily prodding through commits on a FOSS project is just not happening. I'd rather just trust the dev, and the community to pick through the code in my place. The obvious issue being, what if everyone also does that.
In fact, sometimes! Sometimes I check GitHub's difference between tags and open commits with commit summaries too vague on the first page. Yeah, it's pretty much just a basic scan, but since it's open source I don't think they'll be brave enough to do things too nefarious and hidden, which like the bystander effect you've said, I feel like will come to light anyway. Hell, someone somehow managed to find furry porn in Thorium.
Huh, TIL.
https://www.waterfox.net/blog/a-new-chapter-for-waterfox/
The relevant, 2023-07-03:
Check out Mullvad Browser. It’s created in partnership with the Tor Browser, but optimized to be used for the Clearnet. You don’t need to use Mullvad’s VPN with it either.
Icecat, a Firefox fork without Firefox's privacy issues (telemetry).
By default Firefox collects data and sends it to their server, which Icecat doesn't. I don't want having to use another service like NextDNS to protect me against the application that I want to be able to trust because I'm using it for a lot of personal data.
From the mozilla website itself:
Identification:
And then the data that I don't want to share with other entities:
There's certainly a trade-off by not having Telemetry, and I prefer privacy over some "slightly better development". It is not necessary for good development.
Websites collect information, but I expect that in a public space, and also aggregating information across websites isn't so easy. However, I have higher expectations for my web browser. When something is installed on my laptop, it's like my house, and I don't want anything to access my private space without permission.
Even worse, Firefox has it implemented as Opt-Out. Telemetry by default and without asking the user isn't good practice. At the very least, they should give users a choice before enabling it. Yet, they collect everyone's IP address and other information at least once when you start up Firefox for the first time. This doesn't deserve my trust.
I don't want to play a game of 'what do I need to opt-out for privacy' with an entity that I need to trust. Why would I use Firefox if Icecat gives me the level of trust that I need. It's a personal choice.
Privacy always comes at a cost. We are all different and have varying preferences based on our experiences and perspectives. Deciding how much privacy one wants to give up for convenience or other benefits is a personal choice. There's no need to judge others for that decision. To each their own.
I appreciate your detailed description of the probable benefits of telemetry. While I acknowledge there are benefits, however, before accepting a given set of telemetry, I would like to know with sources and in exact terms (not just 'improved UI') what enhancements were made to Firefox that couldn't be achieved without telemetry. I want to decide for myself if those features are truly important enough to justify sending my personal data to the developers. Only then can I make an informed decision, and it still wouldn't necessarily mean agreement. It's not paranoia; it's simply refusing telemetry for any reason given.
Curious, do you have some extension that makes Firefox support #:~:text?
The link always works but doesn't navigate to the text fragment. Not until October's Firefox 131, at least.