4 ms·

Firefox Focus privacy scandal

14 points by Nitishshah700 9y ago

digitalshankar 9y ago
Firefox Focus does not and will never leak or send browsing behavior details. The article is factually incorrect. I am not sure how the researcher came to the conclusion that Focus reports 'server connections' or 'visited websites'. It does not and it never will. Firefox Focus is an Open Source product. Its code can be found for verification at https://github.com/mozilla-mobile/focus https://github.com/mozilla-mobile/focus and the Adjust usage is documented at https://github.com/mozilla-mobile/focus/wiki/Install-and-event-tracking-with-the-Adjust-SDK https://github.com/mozilla-mobile/focus/wiki/Install-and-eve...
- marindez 9y ago
  The fact that a Mozilla product sends my data, even if it is only my IP address, to a third party, is a disgrace. I don't really care what the data is. I understand they need analytics and telemetry. They have the money, they have the power to build all of those in house. They should not be sending my data to a third party, whatever that data might be. That's all. I expected better from Mozilla. Pocket integration was a letdown, this is even worse.
  - hadrien01 9y ago
    You can disable data collection in the settings, or directly install Firefox Klar, a special version of Firefox Focus without telemetry made for Germany, Austria and Switzerland.
    - marindez 9y ago
      Klar is only available in those stores, but not worldwide.
      - hadrien01 9y ago
        Then disable telemetry, it's exactly the same thing.
      - pritambaral 9y ago
        Klar is available worldwide on F-Droid.
        marindez 9y ago
        I don't use Android. I don't understand why did Mozilla add Klar to the stores of those countries only.
        provost 9y ago
        As others have said, the option to disable telemetry is in the other stores. Read the article, it says it too: ================== You can turn off the anonymous data collecting of Firefox Focus by tapping on the settings icon, and flipping the switch next to "send anonymous usage data" to off. ==================
    - c8g 9y ago
      > special version of Firefox Focus without telemetry made for Germany, Austria and Switzerland. only 3 country care about privacy?
      - hadrien01 9y ago
        Yes, unfortunately. In these countries, the IP address is considered private information. For Android, the app is available in F-Droid.
  - jbob2000 9y ago
    You should stop using the internet if you're concerned about other people knowing your IP address.
- bjpbakker 9y ago
  The correct link to Adjust usage page is: https://github.com/mozilla-mobile/focus-ios/wiki/Install-Tracking-in-Firefox-Focus-with-the-Adjust-SDK https://github.com/mozilla-mobile/focus-ios/wiki/Install-Tra...
fwn 9y ago
The article appears to me to be overly harsh. However, trust is probably Mozillas primary asset. I think they could've made the telemetry a question at first use or something comparable. Everyone knows that most people never change (or even realize) the default.
- marindez 9y ago
  Is it overly harsh to be pissed at a company that claims to herald privacy but then sends your data to a third party?
  - boards2x 9y ago
    No but it makes sense to see how or if he’s somehow related to Brenden Eich’s product, who’s raison d’etre is mining data while promising false sense of privacy. We know what Mozilla is and what it’s doing, something you can’t say about for profit companies in the same market.
synicalx 9y ago
Scandal is probably a bit sensationalist. It's doing what every other bit of modern software does and sending off telemetry - is that really scandalous? It even has a fairly easy to find "don't analyse me" button. Besides, installing this browser on a smartphone for the purpose of regaining some privacy is like ordering the biggest meal McDonalds sells, but with a Diet Coke because you're "watching your weight" - pretty pointless.

14 points by Nitishshah700 9y ago

Firefox Focus does not and will never leak or send browsing behavior details. The article is factually incorrect. I am not sure how the researcher came to the conclusion that Focus reports 'server connections' or 'visited websites'. It does not and it never will. Firefox Focus is an Open Source product. Its code can be found for verification at https://github.com/mozilla-mobile/focus https://github.com/mozilla-mobile/focus and the Adjust usage is documented at https://github.com/mozilla-mobile/focus/wiki/Install-and-event-tracking-with-the-Adjust-SDK https://github.com/mozilla-mobile/focus/wiki/Install-and-eve...

marindez 9y ago
The fact that a Mozilla product sends my data, even if it is only my IP address, to a third party, is a disgrace. I don't really care what the data is. I understand they need analytics and telemetry. They have the money, they have the power to build all of those in house. They should not be sending my data to a third party, whatever that data might be. That's all. I expected better from Mozilla. Pocket integration was a letdown, this is even worse.
- hadrien01 9y ago
  You can disable data collection in the settings, or directly install Firefox Klar, a special version of Firefox Focus without telemetry made for Germany, Austria and Switzerland.
  - marindez 9y ago
    Klar is only available in those stores, but not worldwide.
    - hadrien01 9y ago
      Then disable telemetry, it's exactly the same thing.
    - pritambaral 9y ago
      Klar is available worldwide on F-Droid.
      - marindez 9y ago
        I don't use Android. I don't understand why did Mozilla add Klar to the stores of those countries only.
        provost 9y ago
        As others have said, the option to disable telemetry is in the other stores. Read the article, it says it too: ================== You can turn off the anonymous data collecting of Firefox Focus by tapping on the settings icon, and flipping the switch next to "send anonymous usage data" to off. ==================
  - c8g 9y ago
    > special version of Firefox Focus without telemetry made for Germany, Austria and Switzerland. only 3 country care about privacy?
    - hadrien01 9y ago
      Yes, unfortunately. In these countries, the IP address is considered private information. For Android, the app is available in F-Droid.
- jbob2000 9y ago
  You should stop using the internet if you're concerned about other people knowing your IP address.
bjpbakker 9y ago
The correct link to Adjust usage page is: https://github.com/mozilla-mobile/focus-ios/wiki/Install-Tracking-in-Firefox-Focus-with-the-Adjust-SDK https://github.com/mozilla-mobile/focus-ios/wiki/Install-Tra...

fwn 9y ago

The article appears to me to be overly harsh. However, trust is probably Mozillas primary asset. I think they could've made the telemetry a question at first use or something comparable. Everyone knows that most people never change (or even realize) the default.

marindez 9y ago
Is it overly harsh to be pissed at a company that claims to herald privacy but then sends your data to a third party?
- boards2x 9y ago
  No but it makes sense to see how or if he’s somehow related to Brenden Eich’s product, who’s raison d’etre is mining data while promising false sense of privacy. We know what Mozilla is and what it’s doing, something you can’t say about for profit companies in the same market.

synicalx 9y ago

Scandal is probably a bit sensationalist. It's doing what every other bit of modern software does and sending off telemetry - is that really scandalous? It even has a fairly easy to find "don't analyse me" button. Besides, installing this browser on a smartphone for the purpose of regaining some privacy is like ordering the biggest meal McDonalds sells, but with a Diet Coke because you're "watching your weight" - pretty pointless.