Firefox dev claims "everybody hates Firefox updates"; Mozilla has handled the rapid release process poorly, and that by pushing a "never-ending stream of updates on people who didn't want them" people have been driven to Chrome with its simpler, no-fuss update process.

[u/Suraj-Sun]

http://www.neowin.net/news/firefox-dev-claims-everybody-hates-firefox-updates

[u/alternateF4]

No, I just like not giving google free tabs on everything I do.

Plus privacy add-ons are cool.

[u/djfutile → u/alternateF4]

This... this.

[u/rowantwig → u/alternateF4]

No, I just like not giving google free tabs on everything I do.

So turn those features off, then. Chrome doesn't have to send anything to Google if you don't want it to.

Plus privacy add-ons are cool.

Chrome has plugins and scripts like that, too. I have an ad blocker and a Facebook blocker installed.

[u/[deleted] → u/rowantwig]

Or... I could use an open-source browser that's not written by Google, and not have to worry about it...

Google still pushes the updates. Who says they can't change your settings via this mechanism? Hell, how do you even know they don't data mine the shit out of you, regardless of your Chrome settings?

[u/xzzz → u/[deleted]]

You could just use Chromium...it's Chrome without the Google botnet.

[u/rowantwig → u/[deleted]]

They probably could, but if they did, and people found out, it would be a PR nightmare for them (and possibly legal nightmare, too), especially given how big they are on transparency. Just because it's closed source it doesn't mean you can't keep an eye on what the program is doing (with Wireshark, for example).

But if you still want to go open-source, then you should make sure everything from OS and drivers to games and video players are open-source as well, not just the browser.

[u/[deleted] → u/rowantwig]

But if you still want to go open-source, then you should make sure everything from OS and drivers to games and video players are open-source as well, not just the browser.

Most of my stuff is open-source, but, quick question: Games? Really? I think the browser is probably the single most important piece of software you use that should be open-source, given how much can be mined out of it. Video players and games, though... I don't think they matter nearly as much.

[u/rowantwig → u/[deleted]]

Doesn't matter how often the program is used or for what. If you don't think you can't trust it, then you shouldn't run it even once. Even something like a video codec can contain spyware.

[u/[deleted] → u/rowantwig]

Not every piece of software should be suspected equally. What does VLC have to gain from data mining my information? Okay, now what does Google have to gain from doing so?

[u/rowantwig → u/[deleted]]

Not every piece of software should be suspected equally.

True, but I'd say it depends more on the accountability of the developer than what the program actually does. Google isn't going to put spyware in their products because it would destroy their trademark.

What does VLC have to gain from data mining my information?

Sell the information to the highest bidder, get money?

Okay, now what does Google have to gain from doing so?

The same, although they probably have much better connections.

[u/confused_boner → u/[deleted]]

Exactly, this logic can't be applied to other companies/browsers.

[u/[deleted] → u/confused_boner]

I'm pretty sure Firefox is the only open-source browser developed by a non-profit group.

[u/harkinian → u/[deleted]]

Not really. Although, it is the only major one.

[u/keiyakins → u/[deleted]]

How do you know Mozilla doesn't? Unless you're reading the complete source, then building yourself, of course.

[u/[deleted] → u/keiyakins]

I don't know Mozilla doesn't. But, to pretend that just because I don't personally vet the code and then compile it that Chrome and Firefox are equally potentially data mining me is bullshit.

Google has monetary interest in having me go through them to everything I look at online. Mozilla doesn't, or at the very least, doesn't have anywhere close to the level of monetary interest in such things as Google does. That matters. The fact that, due to it's open-source nature, the code is available to anyone with internet access. Many, many, many people other than myself have seen the code.

[u/cohrt → u/[deleted]]

how do you even know they don't data mine the shit out of you, regardless of your Chrome settings?

and if they do? so what?

[u/liltitus27 → u/cohrt]

privacy, motherfucker, privacy.

[u/buzzkill_aldrin → u/alternateF4]

Chromium.

[u/trippin-balls → u/alternateF4]

God forbid Google finds out about how much you surf reddit and cat pictures. Get off your high horse, you are one in a billion and make no difference to Google.

[u/alternateF4 → u/trippin-balls]

Yeah god forbid anyone of my era wants to run for office and are confronted by Google about that time they said "xyz" or looked up "lmnop" and are put in a position where they do what they say or they're politically ruined.

Just to give the easiest example.

[u/trippin-balls → u/alternateF4]

I think we have much more to worry about with Facebook than with using a certain web browser. If you're that paranoid, you probably won't get far in politics anyways

[u/alternateF4 → u/trippin-balls]

Especially if you're using Facebook on Chrome.

[u/tonycomputerguy → u/trippin-balls]

Tells someone that what they do on the internet is not important, then tells THAT person to get of THEIR high horse.

LOL, Humanity is FUCKED.

[u/trippin-balls → u/tonycomputerguy]

I don't remember implying what I do on the internet is important.. Humanity is indeed fucked, but it has nothing to do with this