• New feature you may want to turn off

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    #2686737

    The new update FF 128.0 introduces “the experimental Privacy Preserving Attribution API, which provides an alternative to user tracking for ad attribution. This experiment is only enabled via origin trial and can be disabled in the new Website Advertising Preferences section in the Privacy and Security settings.”
    Note that this is annoyingly enabled by default and you need to disable it for each user if you don’t want it.
    What is wrong with these software companies that they think it is OK to add a new feature that nobody asked for and then force users to opt-out rather than opt-in ?

    Windows 10 Home 22H2, Acer Aspire TC-1660 desktop + LibreOffice, non-techie

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    • #2686748

      Don’t have Website Advertising Preferences in Firefox 115.13.0 ESR

    • #2686751

      Defaulting to opt-out serves the interests of the software publisher. As long as they disclose the existence of new “feature” they have the handy excuse that users failed to exercise their available options if they don’t opt-out. Of course one must carefully read release notes to become aware of the new “feature” and determine if it is undesirable.

      Its annoying that every Firefox update must be followed by a settings review to ensure that existing preferences have not been changed and new items are not set to undesirable defaults. The review needs to be performed whether or not new “features” have been disclosed in release notes. Shame on you, Mozilla!

      2 users thanked author for this post.
      • #2687583

        Its annoying that every Firefox update must be followed by a settings review to ensure that existing preferences have not been changed and new items are not set to undesirable defaults

        Is there some mechanized way to review settings on a new version of FF and to compare it with settings of the previous version? Or is “manually” the only way to do this?

    • #2686758

      The new update FF 128.0 introduces “the experimental Privacy Preserving Attribution API, which provides an alternative to user tracking for ad attribution. This experiment is only enabled via origin trial and can be disabled in the new Website Advertising Preferences section in the Privacy and Security settings.”

      This is Not Applicable to Most of us right now so don’t waste a lot of time looking ….”PPA is enabled in Firefox starting in version 128. A small number of sites are going to test this and provide feedback to inform our standardization plans, and help us understand if this is likely to gain traction.

      W10 Pro 22H2 / Hm-Stdnt Ofce '16 C2R / Macrium Pd vX / GP=2 + FtrU=Semi-Annual + Feature Defer = 1 + QU = 0

    • #2686766

      Thanks, found it!  shows it checked but I unchecked it.

      Windows 11 Pro
      Version 23H2
      OS build 22631.5335

    • #2686786

      I found it, read the literature, found that it still doesn’t allow tracking (my main goal), so I’ve left it enabled.

      Always create a fresh drive image before making system changes/Windows updates; you may need to start over!
      We all have our own reasons for doing the things that we do with our systems; we don't need anyone's approval, and we don't all have to do the same things.
      We were all once "Average Users".

      3 users thanked author for this post.
    • #2686797

      Websites that show you ads can ask Firefox to remember these ads. When this happens, Firefox stores an “impression” which contains a little bit of information about the ad, including a destination website.

      On the plus side: Does this have the potential of a database for adblocking tags? might not be that bad after all..

      My cynical side:
      When I test/evaluate 128esr, it’ll still be on my todo list to disable via about:config/ interface, thanks for the heads up @Samak.
      I’m not one for leaving things to chance when it comes to browser features, especially when a gate can be opened upon the next update without my consent or knowledge and the horse bolts..

      My teeth just grew longer../s

      Windows - commercial by definition and now function...
    • #2686808

      Enabled or disabled, I don’t think this setting would have any effect for me as I use a blocking hosts file (Steven Black unified: adware+malware) so I never see ads. Note: to use such a large hosts file on Windows requires compressing the file since Windows does not handle a large hosts file well and will cause DNS resolution issues making your network connection unresponsive (Linux does not have this problem so does not require compressing the hosts file).

      I also use the hosts file to block Firefox from connecting back to Mozilla (the connections can be seen by entering: about:networking#dns in the address bar after launching Firefox for the first time). I do the same after each Firefox update to check for any new connections that may need to be added to the hosts file.

      1 user thanked author for this post.
      • #2686820

        I’ve used hosts file that grew to over 34Mb on W7 and the DNS Client disabled without any big issues.

        Currently (W11 24H2 OSBuild 26120.961) at 12.68MB but the DNS Client is running.

        Not used any file compression since the ~9x/W2K/XP Gold era.

        HostsMan FTW.

    • #2686822

      The main, if only reason I let the FF updates install is to get the security updates.  Most of the other mumbo jumbo they put in there I usually don’t need or use.  I’m still on FF 127 and things are just fine. It might be a while before I go to 128, but that’s usually the case with me.

      Even astrophysicist Carl Sagan when speaking astronomically used Billions, not Trillions.
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