Firefox brings its tracking-resistant private browsing to everyone

Firefox brings its tracking-resistant private browsing to everyone

Psst: the private browsing mode in your current web browser probably isn't that private. It'll (usually) get rid of your history and cookies, but it won't prevent cross-site trackers from getting a feel for what you're doing. However, you now have an easy way to deal with that -- Mozilla has released a finished version of Firefox with its promised stricter Private Browsing mode. Switch it on and you'll get tracking protection that blocks code from those ads and social services that follow you from site to site. There's also a central control panel on the desktop for managing privacy and security, including the option to turn tracking protection off if it's breaking an important page.

Anomalism said:

Firefox brings its tracking-resistant private browsing to everyone

Psst: the private browsing mode in your current web browser probably isn't that private. It'll (usually) get rid of your history and cookies, but it won't prevent cross-site trackers from getting a feel for what you're doing. However, you now have an easy way to deal with that -- Mozilla has released a finished version of Firefox with its promised stricter Private Browsing mode. Switch it on and you'll get tracking protection that blocks code from those ads and social services that follow you from site to site. There's also a central control panel on the desktop for managing privacy and security, including the option to turn tracking protection off if it's breaking an important page.

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Out of curiosity, how would this increased privacy differ from the Ghostery and Noscript I already use?

Cardinal said:

Out of curiosity, how would this increased privacy differ from the Ghostery and Noscript I already use?

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Not much.. Not tried Firefox with this yet, but shutting off that amount of stuff for "privacy" could make the internet unusable basically. Plus your ISP and anyone else with the tech, could easily track you if they wanted too.. they dont need the browser. So who exactly are we trying to be "private" for? That Google/Apple/Amazon/random company does not get to know that you been surfing for buttplugs for some sexy fun time with the wife/boyfriend?

The problem with all this privacy stuff, is that it is actually damaging the internet experience. Plus the companies are fighting back. I am meeting more and more websites that do the following if you have an adblocker. A pop up comes and tells you, either disable the ad-blocker or pay X amount a month to see the site ad free.

PeteEU said:

Not much.. Not tried Firefox with this yet, but shutting off that amount of stuff for "privacy" could make the internet unusable basically. Plus your ISP and anyone else with the tech, could easily track you if they wanted too.. they dont need the browser.

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That's why God made vpn's.

So who exactly are we trying to be "private" for? That Google/Apple/Amazon/random company does not get to know that you been surfing for buttplugs for some sexy fun time with the wife/boyfriend?

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So your response to people who like privacy is essentially "If you're doing nothing wrong then you've got nothing to hide." If you don't value your privacy, or mock people who value theirs, that's on you.

PeteEU said:

The problem with all this privacy stuff, is that it is actually damaging the internet experience. Plus the companies are fighting back. I am meeting more and more websites that do the following if you have an adblocker. A pop up comes and tells you, either disable the ad-blocker or pay X amount a month to see the site ad free.

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I never assumed that this was ever going to be anything but spy vs. spy.

Cardinal said:

That's why God made vpn's.

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Well lots of VPNs have logs. Have to choose the right one. Most of the big VPNs turn over logs and information on court orders. BUT saying that, websites are starting to actively block VPNs now days. Netflix, BBC and others.. only the beginning.

So your response to people who like privacy is essentially "If you're doing nothing wrong then you've got nothing to hide." If you don't value your privacy, or mock people who value theirs, that's on you.

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Again, if you want privacy.. dont use the internet. Like it or not, everything you do on the internet is logged somewhere by someone and can be accessed some how. Blocking your browser so that you cant be tracked there, does not mean that you are more "private" than before. It most likely just means you have to put in your password every freaking time, and that you dont get targeted ads on websites. You are not really more "private" than before as long as your searches can be traced back to you via your IP.

So I guess it depends on what you think "privacy" is... is it that Google dont know what you are searching for.. or is it not allowing the NSA and FBI to know what you are doing. If it is the later, then all the amount of blockers and stuff in your browsers are pretty much irrelevant. Just saying.

If you want to be private.. use one of the Linux distros that is designed for it, and then use the Tor network browser and one of the search engines that dont log stuff. Granted your search results will be crap, since it aint google, but hey that is the price. Oh and while you at it, get a VPN that does not do logs... then you will be someone "private" on the internet... but that is a hell of a lot of work just to be private.

PeteEU said:

Well lots of VPNs have logs. Have to choose the right one. Most of the big VPNs turn over logs and information on court orders. BUT saying that, websites are starting to actively block VPNs now days. Netflix, BBC and others.. only the beginning.

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Not Netflix yet. Hulu did, but screw them sideways anyway because they play a hundred commercials per episode now. But as the great and wise Princess Leia said, "The more you tighten your grip, Tarkin, the more star systems will slip through your fingers." If Netflix ever decides that movies and shows should be torrented instead of paid for, then they'll start blocking vpn's too. HBO finally came to the conclusion that they liked money and decided to allow people to buy a per month subscription. It all really comes down to whether a business prefers control or money.

As for logging, true. The one I use claims not to, and if it turns out they're full of crap too I'll just have to teach myself how to create my own vpn.

Again, if you want privacy.. dont use the internet. Like it or not, everything you do on the internet is logged somewhere by someone and can be accessed some how. Blocking your browser so that you cant be tracked there, does not mean that you are more "private" than before. It most likely just means you have to put in your password every freaking time, and that you dont get targeted ads on websites. You are not really more "private" than before as long as your searches can be traced back to you via your IP.

So I guess it depends on what you think "privacy" is... is it that Google dont know what you are searching for.. or is it not allowing the NSA and FBI to know what you are doing. If it is the later, then all the amount of blockers and stuff in your browsers are pretty much irrelevant. Just saying.

If you want to be private.. use one of the Linux distros that is designed for it, and then use the Tor network browser and one of the search engines that dont log stuff. Granted your search results will be crap, since it aint google, but hey that is the price. Oh and while you at it, get a VPN that does not do logs... then you will be someone "private" on the internet... but that is a hell of a lot of work just to be private.

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Hopefully DuckDuckGo catches up to the functionality of Google soon. As for Tor, they're slower than death. I have Tor and I think I've opened it maybe twice since I downloaded it.

PeteEU said:

Not much.. Not tried Firefox with this yet, but shutting off that amount of stuff for "privacy" could make the internet unusable basically. Plus your ISP and anyone else with the tech, could easily track you if they wanted too.. they dont need the browser. So who exactly are we trying to be "private" for? That Google/Apple/Amazon/random company does not get to know that you been surfing for buttplugs for some sexy fun time with the wife/boyfriend?

The problem with all this privacy stuff, is that it is actually damaging the internet experience. Plus the companies are fighting back. I am meeting more and more websites that do the following if you have an adblocker. A pop up comes and tells you, either disable the ad-blocker or pay X amount a month to see the site ad free.

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I just delete those overlay nodes and enjoy the site anyway, seems to normally work. Besides you have to use scripts to detect the adblocker and if the site isn't allowed scripts then it can't know I have the ad blocker on. Granted sometimes to enjoy the content on a site you have to allow some scripts though.

Occasionally I use other folks' computers, usually I'm just trying to show them something I found interesting... anyway, I'm amazed at the number and annoyance of the ads most people allow themselves to be subject to. Mind boggling.

Cardinal said:

Not Netflix yet.

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They did a test run not long ago.. it is coming. Hollywood will force it.

Hulu did, but screw them sideways anyway because they play a hundred commercials per episode now.

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Hulu did it most likely because it is owned by the very people who make stuff.

As for logging, true. The one I use claims not to, and if it turns out they're full of crap too I'll just have to teach myself how to create my own vpn.

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Hehe creating a VPN requires you buy IP addresses.. and then you are not exactly anonymous

Hopefully DuckDuckGo catches up to the functionality of Google soon.

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DuckDuckGo logs your searches.. it aint "private". Disconnectme is much more private.. of course search results in both blows.. but hey!

As for Tor, they're slower than death. I have Tor and I think I've opened it maybe twice since I downloaded it.

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Tor is slow yes, because of how it runs. But it is about as anonymous as you can get.

Summerwind said:

I just delete those overlay nodes and enjoy the site anyway, seems to normally work. Besides you have to use scripts to detect the adblocker and if the site isn't allowed scripts then it can't know I have the ad blocker on. Granted sometimes to enjoy the content on a site you have to allow some scripts though.

Occasionally I use other folks' computers, usually I'm just trying to show them something I found interesting... anyway, I'm amazed at the number and annoyance of the ads most people allow themselves to be subject to. Mind boggling.

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Problem is simple.. you need specialized knowledge to do it effectively... and time. Most people have neither.

And yes, there are a lot of ads out there, but most are not that intrusive.. depends on the site of course.

There ARE ways to keep your internet activity from being tracked. Even from the NSA. But you give up speed and convenience and it just isn't that big of a deal to most people.

PeteEU said:

Hehe creating a VPN requires you buy IP addressest

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There are two ways I can think of to purchase a VPN anonymously. First, some VPNs accept cash in the mail. You identify yourself by username instead of a real name. Drop the cash with the note stating which account to apply it to in a mail box.

Second, more and more places, including VPNs, accept bitcoin as payment. If you know what you are doing bitcoin can be procured anonymously. You then use that to pay for the VPN. Of course then it comes down to whether or not you trust the VPN. They may SAY they don't keep logs but you never know. But when a VPN DOES cooperate with the government it gets talked about on the net. You can be reasonably sure if they have cooperated before. But that is no guarantee that you won't be the first to be offered up as the sacrificial lamb.

Of course, you can also tunnel one VPN through another with each VPN being in different countries that don't cooperate with the US. You can then run TOR through those so even your VPNs don't know what you are doing. And all of that can be done from a public wi-fi spot for the extra paranoid.

But who has time for all of that?

BrewerBob said:

There are two ways I can think of to purchase a VPN anonymously. First, some VPNs accept cash in the mail. You identify yourself by username instead of a real name. Drop the cash with the note stating which account to apply it to in a mail box.

Second, more and more places, including VPNs, accept bitcoin as payment. If you know what you are doing bitcoin can be procured anonymously. You then use that to pay for the VPN. Of course then it comes down to whether or not you trust the VPN. They may SAY they don't keep logs but you never know. But when a VPN DOES cooperate with the government it gets talked about on the net. You can be reasonably sure if they have cooperated before. But that is no guarantee that you won't be the first to be offered up as the sacrificial lamb.

Of course, you can also tunnel one VPN through another with each VPN being in different countries that don't cooperate with the US. You can then run TOR through those so even your VPNs don't know what you are doing. And all of that can be done from a public wi-fi spot for the extra paranoid.

But who has time for all of that?

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Black market buyers/sellers or political activists in countries with particularly nasty regimes.

PeteEU said:

They did a test run not long ago.. it is coming. Hollywood will force it.

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Then commercials are probably not far behind, and Netflix will decide that movies should be torrented rather than paid for.

Hehe creating a VPN requires you buy IP addresses.. and then you are not exactly anonymous

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It's fair to say I would have learned that fairly quickly in my efforts.

DuckDuckGo logs your searches.. it aint "private". Disconnectme is much more private.. of course search results in both blows.. but hey!

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Duckduckgo doesn't log your personal information, so if it doesn't have that to match with your searches, they are personal. Hmm...Disconnectme appears to be a suite. I don't like that when I clicked to get it (to see the price) it immediately attempted to install software, which Firefox subsequently blocked.

Tor is slow yes, because of how it runs. But it is about as anonymous as you can get.

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One thing I don't like about it is it's so high profile. People see you're using Tor and it's like waving your arms and shouting, "Look at me look at me, pay attention! I'm doing something nefarious!" So sure, you then tunnel Tor through your vpn of choice that doesn't keep logs, and now your download speed is roughly .05k/s.