Manifest V3, Google Chrome’s soon-to-be definitive basket of changes to the world of web browser extensions, has been framed by its authors as “a step in the direction of privacy, security, and performance.” But we think these changes are a raw deal for users. We’ve said that since Manifest V3 was...
        • Zerush
          1·
          1 year ago

          If you read my comments you will see that I have not said that Firefox passes your data to Google (at least not if you rule out Google, which is the default search engine). But if you need to synchronize your data and also if you download to Firefox from Mozilla, this data does go straight to Google. Firefox is a good and private browser, I myself use it as a second one, but not so much if you need to sync your data, then it is necessary to use your own host and not Mozilla if you want to avoid Google, this is the problem. I am not misleading, because I know that this putting all Chromium in the same drawer is deeply false, it is true that Vivaldi uses Chromium (Blink) as its base, but it is largely de-googled, leaving the rest of the Google APIs as an option for the user in the security and privacy settings. If I disable everything, I can’t even download extensions from the Chrome Store, since it’s not recognized as Chromium Browser, so it’s the only API I have active. It is not a simple Chromium fork with a logo, like others, no data is sent to Google apart from queries about Chromium updates that goes through Vivaldi, where the devs gut it and then make it available in the Vivaldi update itself, neither by the browser nor by the Vivaldi sync server in Iceland, encrypted data where not even the Vivaldi team itself has access (if you lose your password, you lose your data , no recovery possible), no ads and no tracking, surveillance advertising, , like US Browser companies do, isn’t the business model of Vivaldi

          Vivaldi is owned by its employees. And we plan to keep it that way. Having no external investors gives us the freedom to listen to our users and, together with them, build the browser they deserve. Every idea counts and is taken seriously.

                • Zerush
                  1·
                  1 year ago

                  Certainly you are tracked if you use the default Google search, but even if you change to another search ther are remaining the Google APIs in FF, which you can desactivate in Vivaldi, but not in FF

                  I think you have read more than only the first lines of the links

                  Fact: In addition to the Google cash flowing to Mozilla, a number of Google engineers spend significant amounts of time working on Firefox. This includes Ben Goodger, the former lead developer, and still a major contributor for the browser. Yes, other companies pay developers to work on Firefox, but none throw as many overall corporate resources at the browser.

                  Fact: Two key features of the Google Toolbar for Firefox were rolled into the Firefox 2.0 browser and are turned on by default: Google Browse By Name and Google Safe Browsing for Firefox (now the Phishing Protection feature in Firefox 2.0). These two features, while useful, are more than just the application of a useful patch. They result in millions of Firefox browsers regularly polling Google servers for core information.

                  Fact: The Google Anti-Phishing relationship will be expanded in Firefox 3.0. While Google currently is the default provider of a blacklist of known phishing sites to the browser, this will be enhanced to include a blacklist of sites that serve up malicious software.

                  Mozilla and FF are great in the past and FF is a good browser, but currently is a Google pet. Things which happens dealing with the devil, loosing independence. BS if you believe any other thing.