Questions about Firefox Data Collection

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This is Cybersecurity Awareness Week and I’ve been reviewing some information about this. One of the recommendations is to use a privacy-focused browser such as Firefox. However, I ran across a remark that Mozilla has recently added some data collection features to Firefox that have privacy advocates concerned.

No details were given. Does anyone have any idea of what these data collection features are and what the privacy concerns are?

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Alex’s recent thread – Firefox Tracks You with Privacy Preserving Feature – includes my post #4 after Alex with FF’s synopsis of WHAT this is about. A link in my post gives the entire FF page on the topic.

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Alex5723, WCHS

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Some discussion triggered by that complaint, brings in some alternative browsers too, might be of some interest: https://forum.palemoon.org/viewtopic.php?f=65&t=31624

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WCHS

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satrow wrote:

brings in some alternative browsers too,

I read in the Bleeping Computer reference a quote from Mozilla that says “”While the initial code for PPA was included in Firefox 128, it has not been activated and no end-user data has been recorded or sent.” We’re on 131.03 now. Is that still true? Or was it ever true?

I’ve used Firefox for a very long time with the help of uBlock Origin, but maybe it’s time to change browsers.

Or is unchecking the FF Settings>Privacy & Security>Firefox Data Collection and Use features enough to thwart advertisers knowing about my browsing activity, even in an aggregated form?

What about the switch for “Allow Firefox to send backlogged crash reports on your behalf”? Does the info in those crash reports go beyond Mozilla?

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I think Mozilla back-tracked the setting on their latest update, it’s now (supposed to be) off by default (but I’ve not checked, I’m an ESR ‘older’ build user).

Used correctly, uBlockO will help a lot. The link I gave above touches on many of the alt. ‘Firefoxes’ and their differences, they’re not all as privacy conscious as they could be, nothing is – it’s about finding what works for you.

Crash Reports can be accessed and checked by anyone – it’s a self-help ‘feature’ to allow individuals to compare crash data and hopefully share ‘fixes’/workarounds. I’ve used it many times, for my own machines and for others. Left sent but unchecked, Mozilla might bump you a ‘fix’ (or maybe they don’t anymore).

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Hi,

I think what you might be looking for that was talked about of recent is

Under Setting – Privacy & security –

Untick the box next to “Website Advertising Preferences”

Firefox is still a great browser, but if you are looking for something else.

“Brave” is an excellent choice…

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WCHS

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