@Xylight Firefox v2.0.20 in 2008 was the last “good” version. Since then it has been awesome bar, pocket, forced VPN ads, ftp support, PAC support, XUL bombing, and phone calls home. I use Librewolf, and while it is tolerable it is still tired to a garbage browser. :-(
In previous versions you could search your about:config on the “value” field, this is no longer possible. Searching for https:// and http:// would give you a list of numerous URLs, most of which are under Mozilla’s own domains. Some might argue that things like updates are necessary to ensure a secure browser. Others might argue that they have run very outdated browsers without problems for years, and that combined with forced updates and the Maintenance Service, the log files generated produce a not-insignificant amount of information about users.
Suggesting using an decades old and known exploitable browser because “well I never got hacked” is like saying vaccines are unnecessary because “well I never got sick”
For the sake of being complete, I downloaded Firefox v2.0.20, which of course does not come in x64 flavour. So after installing assorted i386 libs, it did in fact run. The first-start popped up the image below, after which it showed a clearly broken and distorted mozilla.org page. It was also essentially unusable, since it doesn’t meet the minimum TLS requirements to view most sites. Disroot SearX, ddg.gg, StartPage, ecosia.org, and even the client test page at ssllabs.com all failed to load. google.com did load, but searching for “alternative search engines” was a failure because none of the sites in the results could be opened. Now did you really think that me saying v2.0.20 is the last “good version”, meant that anyone should rush off to download it and try to use it today?
I tried to open the wired link and got a 404, then tried again and got a 504, then tried again and got a 503.
I then opened the lifehacker link, and it opened fine. The content of that link gives me the impression Ghostery may have had ties to ad companies. At the bottom of the article they link to Mashable as their source here:
Since the Wired article seems to be the only one I can’t open, I guess it is unable to defend itself beyond the title of the article, which says that (1) Ghostery is now open source and (2) Ghostery has a new business model. Based on what I can see, it would appear to me as though Ghostery was actually owned/managed by Evidon. My interpretation of that would have to be that their OLD business model included selling information to advertisers. I tried to go to evidon.com but it was blocked by my intentional DNS poisoning (a sign that it is a scummy domain). After temporarily changing my DNS resolver to one of the servers hosted by
Which is clearly a business that is designed to help businesses monetize web services while staying just barely legal and maximize the amount of data a marketer can pull from people without getting in shit for not actually getting consent from them.
So, when you say
“It is not, and never has been, in league with ad companies.”
Do you mean I have imagined all of the above? Because it sounds pretty shady to me that a company affiliated with Evidon and Crownpeak would be making a product line like the ones at Ghostery.
stop using Chrome immediately, and use a privacy respecting browser. that’s the only way google keeps getting away with this horse shit.
@aeternum there are no good browsers. :-(
Firefox/librewolf is a good choice. Very similar speeds to Chrome.
@Xylight Firefox v2.0.20 in 2008 was the last “good” version. Since then it has been awesome bar, pocket, forced VPN ads, ftp support, PAC support, XUL bombing, and phone calls home. I use Librewolf, and while it is tolerable it is still tired to a garbage browser. :-(
deleted by creator
I have never seen those services shoved down my throat. The only issue I have is the opt out telemetry, but even then it’s anonymous.
“Phone calls home” ? O_o
@Bogasse
“Phone calls home”
In previous versions you could search your about:config on the “value” field, this is no longer possible. Searching for https:// and http:// would give you a list of numerous URLs, most of which are under Mozilla’s own domains. Some might argue that things like updates are necessary to ensure a secure browser. Others might argue that they have run very outdated browsers without problems for years, and that combined with forced updates and the Maintenance Service, the log files generated produce a not-insignificant amount of information about users.
Suggesting using an decades old and known exploitable browser because “well I never got hacked” is like saying vaccines are unnecessary because “well I never got sick”
@bamboo
Feel free to point out where anyone suggested that anyone else should use “an decades old and known exploitable browser”.
@bamboo
For the sake of being complete, I downloaded Firefox v2.0.20, which of course does not come in x64 flavour. So after installing assorted i386 libs, it did in fact run. The first-start popped up the image below, after which it showed a clearly broken and distorted mozilla.org page. It was also essentially unusable, since it doesn’t meet the minimum TLS requirements to view most sites. Disroot SearX, ddg.gg, StartPage, ecosia.org, and even the client test page at ssllabs.com all failed to load. google.com did load, but searching for “alternative search engines” was a failure because none of the sites in the results could be opened. Now did you really think that me saying v2.0.20 is the last “good version”, meant that anyone should rush off to download it and try to use it today?
Warning: Do not stop blade with hand.
Awesomebar was the reason I left Firefox in the first place. Chrome’s location bar is almost as bad now - or maybe just as bad? It’s been a while.
And tabs replaced with fugly buttons.
there are some that are less shit than others. Chrome is the worst of the worst
@aeternum I dunno… Dillo is pretty bad!
I just had a look. Chrome is still worse.
@aeternum @jmhorner
Firefox with uBlock Origin extension is good, as is Ghostery.
don’t use ghostery. they have ties to ad companies.
@aeternum @jmhorner
Ghostery went open source in 2018 when it posted its code on GitHub. It is not, and never has been, in league with ad companies.
https://www.wired.com/story/ghostery-open-source-new-business-model/
@girlfreddy @aeternum
I tried to open the wired link and got a 404, then tried again and got a 504, then tried again and got a 503.
I then opened the lifehacker link, and it opened fine. The content of that link gives me the impression Ghostery may have had ties to ad companies. At the bottom of the article they link to Mashable as their source here:
https://mashable.com/2013/06/17/ad-blocker-helps-ad-industry/
At the top of that article it says the source is MIT Technology Review which just links to a description of the “author” here:
https://mashable.com/author/technologyreview
A StartPage search turned up
https://www.technologyreview.com/
And another StartPage search turned up:
https://www.technologyreview.com/2013/06/17/177933/a-popular-ad-blocker-also-helps-the-ad-industry/
Which was apparently written by Tom Simonite who is described as “MIT Technology Review’s San Francisco bureau chief” (whatever that means) here:
https://www.technologyreview.com/author/tom-simonite/
Since the Wired article seems to be the only one I can’t open, I guess it is unable to defend itself beyond the title of the article, which says that (1) Ghostery is now open source and (2) Ghostery has a new business model. Based on what I can see, it would appear to me as though Ghostery was actually owned/managed by Evidon. My interpretation of that would have to be that their OLD business model included selling information to advertisers. I tried to go to evidon.com but it was blocked by my intentional DNS poisoning (a sign that it is a scummy domain). After temporarily changing my DNS resolver to one of the servers hosted by
https://dns.watch/
I was able to resolve evidon.com, but it just redirected me to
https://www.crownpeak.com/products/privacy-and-consent-management/
Which is clearly a business that is designed to help businesses monetize web services while staying just barely legal and maximize the amount of data a marketer can pull from people without getting in shit for not actually getting consent from them.
So, when you say
“It is not, and never has been, in league with ad companies.”
Do you mean I have imagined all of the above? Because it sounds pretty shady to me that a company affiliated with Evidon and Crownpeak would be making a product line like the ones at Ghostery.
you sure about that? yes, i realise it is 10 years old.
Dude. I’m using Firefox on Windows, Linux and MacOS, it is the best browser out there. Fast as Chromium and extremely stable.
Firefox is out last line of defense (Notwithstanding Safari as it only runs on Apple devices).
Firefox on Android (with full support for ublock Origin) is a great addition to your list too.
Safari already implemented attestation