4 ms·

Version 93 back in October added sponsored search suggestions on by default, [1] without even explicitly mentioning it in the release notes. [2] Is there going

by 4cao 5y ago

Version 93 back in October added sponsored search suggestions on by default, [1] without even explicitly mentioning it in the release notes. [2] Is there going to be a similar surprise this time? I still use Firefox as the lesser evil, and I believe there are lots of great people working on it (to whom I am thankful) but to see how the project has been run by the Mozilla Corpo-Foundation in the recent years is really disillusioning. I would love to see a change that would put a stop to the incessant stream of anti-features, while instead focusing on staying true to the original goals of the project. 1. https://support.mozilla.org/en-US/kb/firefox-suggest https://support.mozilla.org/en-US/kb/firefox-suggest 2. https://www.mozilla.org/en-US/firefox/93.0/releasenotes https://www.mozilla.org/en-US/firefox/93.0/releasenotes

deleted 5y ago
[deleted]
iqanq 5y ago
If you don't like nasty surprises, I recommend that you use Firefox ESR instead: https://www.mozilla.org/en-US/firefox/enterprise/ https://www.mozilla.org/en-US/firefox/enterprise/ (In the same vein, if you use Windows, I recommend Windows LTSC)
- 2143 5y ago
  Whoa, I didn't even know there was a Windows LTSC.
  - zeagle 5y ago
    I run Windows 10 LTSC 1809 which has extended support until 2029-01-09 (security and bug fixes). Licensed via my academic institution. It is stripped of the store, edge and a few other features which may be a draw for some.
    - activitypea 5y ago
      How do you browse the web without using Edge or MS Store to download another browser?
      - zeagle 5y ago
        I used Internet Explorer to download Firefox ESR and went from there when setting up the machine.
      - 4cao 5y ago
        curl has been included in Windows for some time (in %SystemRoot%\System32, so even in the %PATH%). If you have a direct download URL, it can be used as a last resort.
- 4cao 5y ago
  Thank you for your suggestions. I've been considering what to do about my Firefox setup for some time (switching to ESR vs one of the forks, which I have to research first). Thing is, I'm using a heavily-customized profile with lots of extensions, Violentmonkey [1] userscripts, containers (including Containerise [2], and Temporary Containers [3]), and a custom user.js (based on [4]), so I should also revisit the settings for all of these at the same time as it's been a while since I last did so. It's all on my to-do list but as the current setup works well, there's always something more urgent to do instead. 1. https://violentmonkey.github.io/ https://violentmonkey.github.io/ 2. https://github.com/kintesh/containerise https://github.com/kintesh/containerise 3. https://github.com/stoically/temporary-containers https://github.com/stoically/temporary-containers 4. https://github.com/pyllyukko/user.js https://github.com/pyllyukko/user.js The LTSC suggestion is also good. I'm already using a heavily-debloated LTSC with lots of unnecessary packages removed (including the hidden ones, which are not supposed to be officially removable), and all kinds of customizations for privacy, security, performance, and convenience. While I'm satisfied with my setup (automated with custom scripts I've been maintaining since Windows 8), the number of hoops one has to go through to have their computer do what the user wants and nothing else, or a "User-Agent" that gives actual agency to the user these days is truly astonishing, and makes the goal unattainable for most people.
bdcravens 5y ago
The only reason Mozilla exists is due to the money they take from Google, so making compromises is built into the company's DNA.
- jgtrosh 5y ago
  Google, Yahoo, Yandex, and Baidu
  - bdcravens 5y ago
    Google isn't the only source, but the largest, and by far. Unless the company is just stacking serious cash reserves, I assume the company wouldn't exist in its current form without that money. (Though perhaps another big spender would fill that gap)
computershit 5y ago
Librefox is a drop in replacement without the antifeatures. https://github.com/intika/Librefox https://github.com/intika/Librefox Edit: I meant Librewolf, not fox.
- 3np 5y ago
  There's also Librewolf. Would be curious to hear on takes if anyone has looked closer on both. Main difference is that Librefox doesn't really patch or fork Firefox itself - it's "just" config and extensions, whereas Librewolf is a more classic fork (though very close to upstream). The default browser of Garuda Linux is a rebranded Librewolf build. https://librewolf.net/ https://librewolf.net/
  - computershit 5y ago
    Oh man, Librewolf was the one I meant to link.
- faeyanpiraat 5y ago
  It seems like it comes with 3 years worth of CVEs aswell.
  - darkwater 5y ago
    It's a patchset over firefox removing so called "antifeatures". Anyway being the last commit 34 years old I wonder how do they actually remove the Mozilla VPN ads.
- lordofgibbons 5y ago
  I'm always hesitant to use such patched versions because you have to trust your security to some 1 random anonymous stranger on the internet. Also because they tend to be someone's hobby project and when they get bored of it (as we all do) you'll be left with an unpatched security nightmare. Which is exactly what happened with Librefox. Looks like it was last updated 3 years ago and is abandoned. https://librewolf.net/ https://librewolf.net/ seems to be a fork, but I have the same reservations..

by 4cao 5y ago

deleted 5y ago

[deleted]

iqanq 5y ago

If you don't like nasty surprises, I recommend that you use Firefox ESR instead: https://www.mozilla.org/en-US/firefox/enterprise/ https://www.mozilla.org/en-US/firefox/enterprise/ (In the same vein, if you use Windows, I recommend Windows LTSC)

2143 5y ago
Whoa, I didn't even know there was a Windows LTSC.
- zeagle 5y ago
  I run Windows 10 LTSC 1809 which has extended support until 2029-01-09 (security and bug fixes). Licensed via my academic institution. It is stripped of the store, edge and a few other features which may be a draw for some.
  - activitypea 5y ago
    How do you browse the web without using Edge or MS Store to download another browser?
    - zeagle 5y ago
      I used Internet Explorer to download Firefox ESR and went from there when setting up the machine.
    - 4cao 5y ago
      curl has been included in Windows for some time (in %SystemRoot%\System32, so even in the %PATH%). If you have a direct download URL, it can be used as a last resort.
4cao 5y ago
Thank you for your suggestions. I've been considering what to do about my Firefox setup for some time (switching to ESR vs one of the forks, which I have to research first). Thing is, I'm using a heavily-customized profile with lots of extensions, Violentmonkey [1] userscripts, containers (including Containerise [2], and Temporary Containers [3]), and a custom user.js (based on [4]), so I should also revisit the settings for all of these at the same time as it's been a while since I last did so. It's all on my to-do list but as the current setup works well, there's always something more urgent to do instead. 1. https://violentmonkey.github.io/ https://violentmonkey.github.io/ 2. https://github.com/kintesh/containerise https://github.com/kintesh/containerise 3. https://github.com/stoically/temporary-containers https://github.com/stoically/temporary-containers 4. https://github.com/pyllyukko/user.js https://github.com/pyllyukko/user.js The LTSC suggestion is also good. I'm already using a heavily-debloated LTSC with lots of unnecessary packages removed (including the hidden ones, which are not supposed to be officially removable), and all kinds of customizations for privacy, security, performance, and convenience. While I'm satisfied with my setup (automated with custom scripts I've been maintaining since Windows 8), the number of hoops one has to go through to have their computer do what the user wants and nothing else, or a "User-Agent" that gives actual agency to the user these days is truly astonishing, and makes the goal unattainable for most people.

bdcravens 5y ago

The only reason Mozilla exists is due to the money they take from Google, so making compromises is built into the company's DNA.

jgtrosh 5y ago
Google, Yahoo, Yandex, and Baidu
- bdcravens 5y ago
  Google isn't the only source, but the largest, and by far. Unless the company is just stacking serious cash reserves, I assume the company wouldn't exist in its current form without that money. (Though perhaps another big spender would fill that gap)

computershit 5y ago

Librefox is a drop in replacement without the antifeatures. https://github.com/intika/Librefox https://github.com/intika/Librefox Edit: I meant Librewolf, not fox.

3np 5y ago
There's also Librewolf. Would be curious to hear on takes if anyone has looked closer on both. Main difference is that Librefox doesn't really patch or fork Firefox itself - it's "just" config and extensions, whereas Librewolf is a more classic fork (though very close to upstream). The default browser of Garuda Linux is a rebranded Librewolf build. https://librewolf.net/ https://librewolf.net/
- computershit 5y ago
  Oh man, Librewolf was the one I meant to link.
faeyanpiraat 5y ago
It seems like it comes with 3 years worth of CVEs aswell.
- darkwater 5y ago
  It's a patchset over firefox removing so called "antifeatures". Anyway being the last commit 34 years old I wonder how do they actually remove the Mozilla VPN ads.
lordofgibbons 5y ago
I'm always hesitant to use such patched versions because you have to trust your security to some 1 random anonymous stranger on the internet. Also because they tend to be someone's hobby project and when they get bored of it (as we all do) you'll be left with an unpatched security nightmare. Which is exactly what happened with Librefox. Looks like it was last updated 3 years ago and is abandoned. https://librewolf.net/ https://librewolf.net/ seems to be a fork, but I have the same reservations..