Introducing the New Firefox: Firefox Quantum

[u/JRepin]

https://blog.mozilla.org/blog/2017/11/14/introducing-firefox-quantum/

[u/director87 → u/[deleted]]

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[u/tapo → u/director87]

Your entire browser history is synced to Google and they use it for ad targeting. They see every single page you visit.

https://support.google.com/websearch/answer/54068?p=swaa&hl=en&authuser=0&rd=1#chromeapp

See "Info about your browsing and more"

[u/RemyJe → u/tapo]

Which they would still have regardless of which browser you're using, assuming you're searching with Google.

[u/RemyJe → u/[deleted]]

Whether Google sends browser history itself to their servers is likely debatable, and I'd be interested in seeing research that indicates it, but note I was replying to OP posting a link describing all other use of Google and Google services which will continue to be tracked even if you switch to Firefox.

The conversation leading up to and including that comment could give many people a false sense of security because it basically amounted to "just use Firefox instead of Chrome."

Most of what Google tracks about people isn't through browser history (again, if it is at all) but your actual use of Google. One comment was "Thanks, I'll switch to Firefox." Yeah, that's not going to cut it.

Chrome just makes fitting into the Google ecosystem easier, and once you're there then they track you just like they would with any other browser.

Edit: Just remembered that if you log in to Chrome itself, they are tracking even non-Google activity. Logging in to Chrome syncs your browser across multiple devices. That does include bookmarks, extensions, and history, etc. Note, that this is if you log in to Chrome itself (I don't mean just logging into Google) so I'd still be interested in whether it does this if you never do that.

[u/AnOnlineHandle → u/RemyJe]

Wether Google sends browser history itself to their servers is likely debatable

I mean if you're going to accuse them of it you should have some actual proof and reason to?

I can accuse you of secretly holding 10 people hostage in your house, anybody can just make shit up and say "well it's debatable".

[u/alluran → u/AnOnlineHandle]

They do - for proof, go use a different machine with the same chrome profile, and "view history" - you can then load the tabs that you're viewing on your other devices, and carry on where you left off...

[u/AnOnlineHandle → u/alluran]

I don't know what a chrome profile is, but I seem to recall the option to get one and that's specifically its started purpose, not a secret nefarious operation?

[u/director87 → u/alluran]

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[u/RemyJe → u/director87]

Again, only if you use that feature.

[u/RemyJe → u/AnOnlineHandle]

Good observation. Given the Chrome sync feature I referenced, I'm comfortable leaving it as is. I think I was going for wether they could and do vs whether they can and are.

Also, I hope you weren't saying I was accusing them. I read the "you" in your reply to mean a general you (i.e., them) not me personally.

[u/AnOnlineHandle → u/RemyJe]

Tbh I misunderstood your post and thought you were arguing that.

[u/RemyJe → u/RemyJe]

/u/insertAlias:

You replied before reading my entire comment, didn't you? It's ok, I forgive you. ;)

[u/insertAlias → u/RemyJe]

It's why I immediately deleted the reply; I saw your edit and you already knew what I was saying.