4 ms·

I use Linux for many of the same reasons I use Firefox. But at least with Linux you can avoid Ubuntu's weird privacy violations (like Amazon affiliate links in

by staunch 11y ago

I use Linux for many of the same reasons I use Firefox. But at least with Linux you can avoid Ubuntu's weird privacy violations (like Amazon affiliate links in desktop search) by using other (equally good) distributions. And you can always remove the bad parts (`apt-get remove unity-lens-shopping`). Firefox is still really the only fully modern web browser that isn't the proprietary Safari or privacy eviscerating Chrome. It's a shame that it can't be a pure and neutral operating system for the web. It seems like Mozilla could use its resources more wisely if this was the goal. They seem too much like a competitive startup looking to grow and not enough like a non-profit with a specific mission.

symlinkk 11y ago
How is Chrome "privacy eviscerating"? Do you have any evidence or are you just paranoid because it's made by Google?
- staunch 11y ago
  Chrome calls home with all kinds of private data and it doesn't ask permission. https://www.google.com/chrome/browser/privacy/ https://www.google.com/chrome/browser/privacy/
  - symlinkk 11y ago
    Which point on there specifically bothers you? All of those seem obvious to me - if you use Translate, it goes to Google. Also, a lot of that is disabled when you go to incognito mode; e.g. the search engine prediction in the omnibar. Plus, you can encrypt the data Chrome uses to sync -- see: https://support.google.com/chrome/answer/1181035?hl=en https://support.google.com/chrome/answer/1181035?hl=en
    - heroh 11y ago
      >a lot of that is disabled when you go to incognito mode ಠ_ಠ
      - witty_username 11y ago
        You can disable these things in the settings and they get automatically disabled in incognito mode.
  - andrepd 11y ago
    Does this apply to Chromium as well? Because if not, there you have it.
    - XzetaU8 11y ago
      "Chromium calls home even in incognito mode with safe browsing turned off" https://bugs.debian.org/cgi-bin/bugreport.cgi?bug=792580 https://bugs.debian.org/cgi-bin/bugreport.cgi?bug=792580
      - joonoro 11y ago
        There's more discussion if you follow the link to the relevant Chromium issue at the bottom of the page. In particular it doesn't seem malicious and actually it's only started on demand. https://code.google.com/p/chromium/issues/detail?id=498272 https://code.google.com/p/chromium/issues/detail?id=498272
- meesterdude 11y ago
  why do you think they pay for ads for people to install it? google makes money directly/indirectly from people using chrome, and they do it by collecting data from chrome.
  - deleted 11y ago
    [deleted]
  - rgbrenner 11y ago
    They do collect data from chrome (see their privacy policy), but the point you're making isn't too convincing. Having people use Chrome has a number of benefits for google.. from saving money paying browsers to make google the default; to protecting Google from any anti-google moves Microsoft might make in the future using IE. Without Chrome, Google's business is very dependent on a third-party (the browser developer) who has no loyalty to Google. Long term, it's in google's interest to eliminate such variables in their business.
    - Senji 11y ago
      Vertical integration seems to be the name of the game.
  - wutbrodo 11y ago
    > why do you think they pay for ads for people to install it? google makes money directly/indirectly from people using chrome, and they do it by collecting data from chrome. Products don't need to explicitly produce revenue to be worth developing (and advertising). It's shocking to me how this incredibly basic concept is so far beyond the understanding of so many, particularly on HN. Chrome is a particularly easy case, given that, from its inception, it's pushed people towards Google searches. I've lost count of how many times people have pointed out that Android is a failure for Google because they don't make any money off of it (yes really), completely ignoring the fact that a world in which iOS controlled ~100% of the mobile market would be an uncomfortable position for Google (given that internet activity was moving so heavily towards mobile).
    - 11y ago
- dang 11y ago
  Please avoid personal invective when commenting on HN, especially on controversial topics. This comment would be fine if shortened to simply the first question.
cdiddy2 11y ago
Iron! Its a version of chrome with google removed from it. http://www.srware.net/en/software_srware_iron.php http://www.srware.net/en/software_srware_iron.php
- Zarel 11y ago
  SRWare Iron is a scam: http://www.insanitybit.com/2012/06/23/srware-iron-browser-a-real-private-alternative-to-chrome-21/ http://www.insanitybit.com/2012/06/23/srware-iron-browser-a-...
  - frik 11y ago
    (2012)! I analysed Iron's code base (based on little modified Chromium), if you remove a few default bookmarks and change the default startpage it is fine.
    - joonoro 11y ago
      > (2012)! Which only makes it sadder that it hasn't faded into complete obscurity by now. I always see it recommended by at least one person in any discussion about privacy in Chrome/ium.

by staunch 11y ago

symlinkk 11y ago

How is Chrome "privacy eviscerating"? Do you have any evidence or are you just paranoid because it's made by Google?

staunch 11y ago
Chrome calls home with all kinds of private data and it doesn't ask permission. https://www.google.com/chrome/browser/privacy/ https://www.google.com/chrome/browser/privacy/
- symlinkk 11y ago
  Which point on there specifically bothers you? All of those seem obvious to me - if you use Translate, it goes to Google. Also, a lot of that is disabled when you go to incognito mode; e.g. the search engine prediction in the omnibar. Plus, you can encrypt the data Chrome uses to sync -- see: https://support.google.com/chrome/answer/1181035?hl=en https://support.google.com/chrome/answer/1181035?hl=en
  - heroh 11y ago
    >a lot of that is disabled when you go to incognito mode ಠ_ಠ
    - witty_username 11y ago
      You can disable these things in the settings and they get automatically disabled in incognito mode.
- andrepd 11y ago
  Does this apply to Chromium as well? Because if not, there you have it.
  - XzetaU8 11y ago
    "Chromium calls home even in incognito mode with safe browsing turned off" https://bugs.debian.org/cgi-bin/bugreport.cgi?bug=792580 https://bugs.debian.org/cgi-bin/bugreport.cgi?bug=792580
    - joonoro 11y ago
      There's more discussion if you follow the link to the relevant Chromium issue at the bottom of the page. In particular it doesn't seem malicious and actually it's only started on demand. https://code.google.com/p/chromium/issues/detail?id=498272 https://code.google.com/p/chromium/issues/detail?id=498272
meesterdude 11y ago
why do you think they pay for ads for people to install it? google makes money directly/indirectly from people using chrome, and they do it by collecting data from chrome.
- deleted 11y ago
  [deleted]
- rgbrenner 11y ago
  They do collect data from chrome (see their privacy policy), but the point you're making isn't too convincing. Having people use Chrome has a number of benefits for google.. from saving money paying browsers to make google the default; to protecting Google from any anti-google moves Microsoft might make in the future using IE. Without Chrome, Google's business is very dependent on a third-party (the browser developer) who has no loyalty to Google. Long term, it's in google's interest to eliminate such variables in their business.
  - Senji 11y ago
    Vertical integration seems to be the name of the game.
- wutbrodo 11y ago
  > why do you think they pay for ads for people to install it? google makes money directly/indirectly from people using chrome, and they do it by collecting data from chrome. Products don't need to explicitly produce revenue to be worth developing (and advertising). It's shocking to me how this incredibly basic concept is so far beyond the understanding of so many, particularly on HN. Chrome is a particularly easy case, given that, from its inception, it's pushed people towards Google searches. I've lost count of how many times people have pointed out that Android is a failure for Google because they don't make any money off of it (yes really), completely ignoring the fact that a world in which iOS controlled ~100% of the mobile market would be an uncomfortable position for Google (given that internet activity was moving so heavily towards mobile).
  - 11y ago
dang 11y ago
Please avoid personal invective when commenting on HN, especially on controversial topics. This comment would be fine if shortened to simply the first question.

cdiddy2 11y ago

Iron! Its a version of chrome with google removed from it. http://www.srware.net/en/software_srware_iron.php http://www.srware.net/en/software_srware_iron.php

Zarel 11y ago
SRWare Iron is a scam: http://www.insanitybit.com/2012/06/23/srware-iron-browser-a-real-private-alternative-to-chrome-21/ http://www.insanitybit.com/2012/06/23/srware-iron-browser-a-...
- frik 11y ago
  (2012)! I analysed Iron's code base (based on little modified Chromium), if you remove a few default bookmarks and change the default startpage it is fine.
  - joonoro 11y ago
    > (2012)! Which only makes it sadder that it hasn't faded into complete obscurity by now. I always see it recommended by at least one person in any discussion about privacy in Chrome/ium.