I just updated (I use arch btw) and had to reboot WaterFox. The default search engine got changed to 1.org and StartPage no longer shows up as a default option even. Has this happened to anybody else?
I just updated (I use arch btw) and had to reboot WaterFox. The default search engine got changed to 1.org and StartPage no longer shows up as a default option even. Has this happened to anybody else?
33 Comments
A_norny_mousse@piefed.zip · 30 pts · 83d
Never heard of it. Nice domain. Claims to donate to charity every time you search. Makes 3rd party requests to
Compared to DDG-noAI: zero 3rd party requests.
Waterfox believe in charity so much, they made some sort of deal with a company that is making money with the idea of helping by making internet searches?
BTW, I use Librewolf.
gopher@programming.dev · 10 pts · 82d
1.org:
Seems like they would many more 3rd party requests than those four.
A_norny_mousse@piefed.zip · 6 pts · 82d
These are cookies. dropping cookies for 1011 partners does not require accessing their domains at that moment.
A 3rd-party request means that when a client (browser) loads a page, that page wants to load content from other domains. Strictly speaking, DDG does that too (see screenshot below): it loads extra content from one of its _sub_domains.
Still, good catch. Where'd you find that?
And btw it's of course perfectly possible that DDG does that too; I never meant to claim absolute superiority for it. Just for comparison. It's my default search engine right now but I should try something better I guess.
gopher@programming.dev · 3 pts · 82d
The number of partners is in the cookie banner from onetrust when opening the site (maybe location dependent?). I'm aware it doesn't mean they necessarily are making 3rd party http requests (feels likely though?), but when a site has such a ridiculous amount of partners, it is a huge red flag.
But it's not surprising, if they donate to charity, for each search request, they have to generate income somehow...
far_university1990@reddthat.com · 1 pts · 82d
Some ublock origin list probably block all cookie banner.
teawrecks@sopuli.xyz · 5 pts · 82d
Do you mean Librewolf? Librefox looks dead.
A_norny_mousse@piefed.zip · 3 pts · 82d
oops, fixed
refalo@programming.dev · 0 pts · 83d
No need when they're already selling your search habits from the backend.
eskealler@mastodon.social · 1 pts · 82d
@refalo @A_norny_mousse Speculation? Dokumentation?
A_norny_mousse@piefed.zip · 0 pts · 82d
In my case, no speculation. That's what one of my addons shows me.
eskealler@mastodon.social · 0 pts · 82d
@A_norny_mousse what addons? Privacy badger flags nothing for me on on DuckDuckGo.com
albbi@piefed.ca · 16 pts · 83d
Found a Reddit post with a bit more information. With the new built in ad-blocker (which I disabled in favour of uBlock Origin) the default search engine was changed to 1.org and the built in ad-blocked configured to not block ads for searches on 1.org.
lime@feddit.nu · 1 pts · 83d
i think the built-in blocker is based on uBo, no?
UnpledgedCatnapTipper@piefed.blahaj.zone · 10 pts · 83d
It's based on Brave's adblocker.
lime@feddit.nu · 2 pts · 82d
yeah but isn't that the uBo architecture ported to rust?
albbi@piefed.ca · 5 pts · 83d
From what I've heard, the built in blocker is based on Brave browser's ad blocker. But as it is built in, it is supposed to be faster and more efficient than an extension. I don't think that part matters very much on desktop, but I might be interested in using it in the mobile version.
BaroqueInMind@piefed.social · 15 pts · 83d
Someone please justify to me why I should use Waterfox over Librewolf?
albbi@piefed.ca · 6 pts · 83d
When I was choosing bet them, I heard that librewolf might be too locked down and some websites might not work right without some work. I was just looking for a drop in replacement for Firefox soninchose Waterfox.
akunohana@piefed.blahaj.zone · 9 pts · 83d
FYI it is possible to unlock quite a lot of functionality on Librewolf if you're still interested. :) There are two checkboxes that to this in settings.
A_norny_mousse@piefed.zip · 6 pts · 82d
Not my experience at all. With one exception: every now and then I have to manually enable WebGL context/canvas.
Quite the opposite; I have it locked down even further with restrictive uBlock Origin settings.
Know_not_Scotty_does@lemmy.world · 4 pts · 83d
Does Librewolf have an android version? Last time I looked it didn't but that was months ago.
swab148@lemmy.dbzer0.com · 9 pts · 83d
Ironfox is recommended for Android
BaroqueInMind@piefed.social · 7 pts · 82d
I use IronFox for Android and it's great
samus12345@sh.itjust.works · 6 pts · 83d
It does not currently.
sbeak@sopuli.xyz · 1 pts · 81d
The TLDR is that, among the Firefox forks, Waterfox is pretty bland, which can be both good or bad depending on how you look at it. It's not as private as LibreWolf or Mullvad Browser, it doesn't have a unique aesthetic like Zen Browser, and it is not as customisable as Floorp. But all of those addition bits can come with some tradeoffs.
In my opinion, Firefox is suitable for most people, LibreWolf for additional privacy, Zen if you like the look, and Floorp for extra customisability OOTB. Waterfox is really only if you don't need those additional bits, you dislike Mozilla, and you don't want a Chromium browser.
Note that Waterfox was purchased by System1, an advertising company at one point, then ties were cut off recently. The fact that they could be acquired by an unfriendly corporation could be a concern for you, and might push you towards more community-oriented options like LibreWolf.
kuerdy@piefed.social · 6 pts · 83d
A_norny_mousse@piefed.zip · 3 pts · 82d
Temporary?
Also, I wonder why they removed Startpage.
EbAbDbGbBbEb@piefed.social · 5 pts · 82d
Startpage asked Waterfox to remove them as the default search because Waterfox users were costing them more than the revenue they were generating for them. There was a revenue sharing agreement between the two companies, but with no profit, the partnership was dissolved.
It's in the changelog notes: https://www.waterfox.com/releases/6.6.13/
Steve@communick.news · 5 pts · 83d
Don't know.
I've had a little extension to make home and new tab be an arbitrary URI of my choosing.
albbi@piefed.ca · 3 pts · 83d
I'm too used to just searching right from the address bar I guess.
Steve@communick.news · 7 pts · 83d
I also change the default search immediately with any new browser.
I switch browsers a lot, and there are close to a dozen defaults I change right away.
A_norny_mousse@piefed.zip · 1 pts · 82d
Can't that be changed from the Settings, no need for an addon?
Steve@communick.news · 1 pts · 82d
Sometimes.
Usually it's just the "homepage" or the "Startup page", not the "New Tab page".
I think Vivaldi is the only one right now, that lets you set an arbitrary New Tab page.