The browser wars are back, but it’s different this time

Agreed on Chrome. I don't get why it is so popular. I'll take Firefox any time. I tried Vivaldi once. It was extremely buggy. It was a release version too so the fact that I found multiple broken things has kept me from giving it a go.

 

I so wanted Vivaldi to work. Unfortunately on Linux it's a bugfest. Brave is now my default on Ubuntu, although I use Firefox almost as much.

 

It used to be bundled with other programs once. You had to opt out of installing it. I don't know if that is still the case these days.

 

True, and I understand how it is common for that reason. I just don't know why anyone likes it.

 

Same here. I periodically use Brave but Firefox is my go-to browser and has been for years.

 

I've been using Edge for awhile now. It is faster than Firefox. Now that Firefox has some kind of deal upcoming with Meta, I will likely stick with using Edge. Brave sometimes is my default. That browser is pretty fast as well.

 

Whaat?!

Well, I read one article on this, there don't seem to be too many more about this travesty...yet.

Dang, I get all comfy with one browser and it ups and befouls itself. Edge is--and has been--out too. Opera has always been an also-ran. Time to go shopping again. Sometime. When I feel like it. Next year.

 

I dunno man. I read an article about it within the past week or two. Not surprised to be honest.

I am ready to go back to a text-based browser at this point.

EDIT: I think this is what I saw. https://analyticsindiamag.com/despi...th-meta-on-interoperable-private-attribution/

 

I like Firefox. It a personal preference. I have tried others, not for me. I have been using Firefox since it was called Phoenix. I have weathered all the changes, adapted and overcame. Still prefer Firefox, on mobile and PC. I also use quite a few add-ons. Chrome in android does not accept add-ons, that is a show stopper for me. I gave edge a look (Liunx version), yikes that was an adventure. Does that mean I am totally satisfied with Firefox, no. My single big annoyance with Firefox is they changed master password to primary password. I created patches to fix that annoyance.

 

Yeah, I was not aware of this either. I may have to rethink some things...

 

I would not worry about this. I use Google, Whatsapp, Instagram and a bunch of other social and messaging platforms. If you are like me, your data is already resold and used unimaginable times by those companies and others. What damage would a little more sharing of data would do if it can help Firefox survive some more years?

 

I think you have a fair point. If this 'deal with the devil' turns out to be true at least it will help Firefox to survive. Of course, deals with the devil always tend to go south ...

 

I have mixed feelings about it. I get your point and agree... somewhat. I do not and will never have a Facebook/Meta account. Any info they get from me they are stealing. Google and Microsoft, yeah, I use those and they have info. It's an unfortunate side effect of doing business with them. But companies I don't do business with? No thanks, they should have nothing of mine. Helping Firefox survive for more years? I'm not sure if they deserve to depending on where this situation goes. If they're not giving me something better than the others, I see no point. But that said I have not yet had time to research this in detail so I have yet to make that personal judgement. I will try to keep an open mind until doing so.

 

The key feature I look for in a desktop browser is security (especially in a Windows OS).
Then also the possibility of blocking trackers.
After there is the speed, and usability.
Other minor features are the speed to update critical bugs.....etc....etc....
Edge is superior to Firefox for these 4 features.
Probably with the release of Manifest V.3 I will change my opinion but until then these are the facts.

On my Android smartphone I use Opera.
Its usability is unbeatable.
It has an integrated trackers blocker + ads blocker.
An unbeatable speed-dial.
A free VPN functionality.
With Chrome's upcoming abandonment of Lite functionality, it will be one of the few browsers with data-saving features.
And it's fast.

 

I have vivaldi as my main browser on fossapup linux and it runs great...Not encountered any bugs so far.

 

You are right, they should not. But I am afraid that is exactly how the business works. Google, MS and other service you use or companies you deal with do not keep your data to themselves. They sell that to other companies that you may never want to do business with. You might want to buy a water bottle from your local store and out of curiosity Googled and looked up on Amazon but you are going to see online ads of water bottles from online stores you never heard of right in your phone's video player or pop up when visiting a website about orange recipes. Whether we want it or not, our data are hopping from one company to another. Only way is not to connect to the internet. But then again if you use your credit card at a physical store, your data is kept and sold. How much you bought, your age, etc. And with spywares like Pegasus that even authorities use to spy on ordinary people, is there any reason to worry so much about privacy and security? Just relax and focus on functionality, aesthetics, convenience and personal preference. One thing I would be disappointed about, Mozilla has been banging their heads about privacy and security and tried to push Firefox as a white knight who cares about users against the likes of Chrome which openly embraces anti privacy. It would be really disappointing if Mozilla takes a u-turn and would be a serious blow to the brand image. But I believe we can forgive Mozilla because they would be doing that to survive against the behemoth Chrome and soon Edge is going to take 2nd place in all desktop browsers by replacing Safari.

Really? Are browsers not windows to a world of anti-security and anti-privacy? The second you use a search engine, shop on Amazon or any online store, use social platforms, bank online and basically connect to the internet, you leave your privacy and security locked up in a trunk at home. Data are sold and used, servers of password managers, banks get hacked. It is like saying I must wear a very clean shirt to get into the mud.

A VPN that feel like a noose around the neck of a goose. It is so slow and so data restricted that it feels like using the dial-up internet with limited data.

 

This is exactly my point though. If they change to become what they compete with they have eliminated their reason to exist. I don't need multiple things that do the same thing.

 

Exactly how I feel about it. Mozilla has been on a downward slide for awhile now. I personally do not have the love for them that I once did. If they were to go the way of the dinosaur, I would not be upset at this point in time. Years ago yes.

 

You are right. But we need to be more understanding. The rule of the jungle is always survival of the fittest. Firefox will go up in smoke if something is not done quickly. How can you stubbornly hold on to principles when going against mammoth players and new players bringing fresh offerings to the customer? As Daveski17 said, sometimes you have to deal with the devil. We must wait and watch if Mozilla only deals with the devil or sells their soul. I still want to use Firefox until something better appears with smoother functionality and aesthetics.

 

But hey, at least they are bringing vertical tabs lol.

https://www.ghacks.net/2022/02/23/mozilla-is-looking-into-bringing-vertical-tabs-for-firefox/

 

I don't use Opera's VPN, I don't need it, but it is available for those who want to use it.

Regarding the answer of the browser you are confusing privacy with security.
Anyway for privacy and to answer your questions.
My search engine has no trackers, I have chosen my online bank among the others that uses only 1 Twitter tracker that is blocked by my browser.
I don't use any social networks.
The blocking lists in my UBO are specifically designed to block trackers from companies like Amazon if they are not blocked by the browser's anti-trackers feature.

Security in Edge is much more than that.
For example the IL Appcontainer or the Super Duper Secure Mode,Code Integrity Guard.........................

 

In that case I concede. You have made good points.

 

A deal with the devil leaves you serving the devil. I'll be watching the situation but if they sell out then I really won't be needing anything but Edge at that point. Keeping anything else is just another data leak and security hazard for no gain.

 

what do you think of brave?