Mozilla Firefox (aka just another Big Brother)

[Don't care]

Tomorrow Mozilla will launch a new geotagging project called Geode into Mozilla Labs that promises to leverage your physical location to enhance your overall browsing experience.

For the rest of the story, go to:
http://www.techcrunch.com/2008/10/06/geode-the-new-geo-tagging-project-from-mozilla-labs/

Tracking software to determine one's location for ease of you finding things easier, countered with the ability of others to locate you as well. Be careful with this one.

[Regolith]

You realize that this is already done, yes?  Your IP can easily trace your location to within a few hundred miles, even to the same city if you live in the same city that your ISP's servers are located in. 

I've seen many ads that were targeted specifically to the city my ISP's server is located in (which is Beaverton, OR).  So, they're already doing it.

[Manedwolf]

You realize that this is already done, yes?  Your IP can easily trace your location to within a few hundred miles, even to the same city if you live in the same city that your ISP's servers are located in. 

I've seen many ads that were targeted specifically to the city my ISP's server is located in (which is Beaverton, OR).  So, they're already doing it.

Yeah, except they screw up with mine and tag the Comcast node over in Goffstown. Nice try, guys.

[K Frame]

"Mozilla plans to let the user determine how they want to reveal their location (via GPS, WiFi, manual entry, or other methods) and how specific they want that information to be (exact location, neighborhood, city, etc)."


This is something you choose to add to your Mozilla yourself, not something that will be required.

[freedom lover]

Edit: Should have read more carefully.

[joebogey]

Hey Guys,
I've been considering changing to Firefox. Is there that much difference in FF and Explorer? What are the problems with FF if any?
Thanks

[Thor]

Since 3.0, I've been finding that Firefox is more susceptible to malware, spyware and CRASHES now.  It pissing me off so much making me consider other browsers.

[RadioFreeSeaLab]

Try Opera.  www.opera.com

[Ron]

Since 3.0, I've been finding that Firefox is more susceptible to malware, spyware and CRASHES now.  It pissing me off so much making me consider other browsers.

hmmm, that's odd.

Even with the recent upgrade to v3 I've never had a problem with malware, spyware and crashes.

[280plus]

When I had firefox a while back it used to load the snot out of my computer with all kinds of spyware, I went back to Yahoo and a lot of that junk stopped.

[mtnbkr]

hmmm, that's odd.

Even with the recent upgrade to v3 I've never had a problem with malware, spyware and crashes.

I never had a problem with IE either.

Chris

[Don't care]

I do know that Mozilla Firefox corrects vulnerabilities and other problems a lot faster than Microsoft's Internet Explorer.

[Boomhauer]

V3 wasn't an improvement.

I went back to Firefox 2.0.0.11 after trying V3 and Google Chrome.

[ArfinGreebly]

I'm staying with Firefox 2.x (currently 2.0.0.17 I think) until Firefox 3.x has been through several fixes.

The transition from 1.x to 2.x was pretty much the same.  I waited several months to switch.

I have certain extensions that I use, and whenever an upgrade breaks my extensions, I stay right where I am.

Oh, and +1 on Opera.  I've been using it forever, since 3.x on in Win3.11 and Win95.  It laughs at malicious scripting.  It lets you capture pictures that sites don't want captured.  It rocks.

[Thor]

Seems it was my AVG Safe Search that was crashing the browser.

[Gowen]

I have been using FF for years and have never had a crash that I can remember.  All the sites with ads check your location.  Do a google or yahoo search and you will notice ads for your area showing up on the sides.

[K Frame]

I've been running FF 3.0.3 for over a month now and I love it. It's been absolutely perfect for me.

I run Spy Sweeper and Symantec (required by my employer) so viruses and malware haven't been a problem.

I'm fine with IE, as well, but it is slower for me than FF.

[qdemn7]

Tracking software to determine one's location for ease of you finding things easier, countered with the ability of others to locate you as well. Be careful with this one.

This is FUD. Have never bought anything online? Most places state quite clearly that before you check out that "your IP address will be recorded for purposes of combating fraud." Unless your browsing from something like an Ironkey Personal Secure Flash drive, you browsing can be tracked.

And I love FF 3.0.3, Tried Opera for while, won't use Safari, and I only use IE7 if a site won't work with FF.

[Fitz]

Spyware, Malware, and crashes  eh?


Should get a mac.

[41magsnub]

Spyware, Malware, and crashes  eh?


Should get a mac.

That's helpful, thanks

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/technology/4609968.stm

http://www.pcmech.com/article/its-official-mac-users-have-a-stick-up-their-ass/

I use FF 3 and the only problems I have had are with Adobe Reader which was quickly replaced with Foxit.  For viruses and spyware it is all about what the user does.  If you don't do stupid things on a computer and take basic precautions such as a firewall and AV software life will be good.  If the kids get on the machine and go looking for MP3 downloads on dodgy web sites and start installing the applets the websites ask bad things will happen.

[doczinn]

I went back to 2.x on my older, slower, home desktop. 3.0 was gumming it up BAD. Works fine on the work laptop.

[Gewehr98]

I was just waiting for somebody to throw in the obligatory "Get a Mac" bit. 

How very quaint, in the I'm naming my firstborn son Steve Jobs kind of way.

I've been running FF 2.0.0.17 here with nary a hiccup.  Couldn't say that for FF 3.0, so I reverted back to the earlier version. 

I'd wager that's a common theme amongst new versions of software, regardless of who authored them.

I'm also not terribly keen on how anything related to Microsoft IE reports back to the mothership on a regular basis.   

[freedom lover]

Well I know that Firefox version 2 works fine for me. I kinda like it.

[MicroBalrog]

  If the kids get on the machine and go looking for MP3 downloads on dodgy web sites and start installing the applets the websites ask bad things will happen.

If the kids insist on stealing music, perhaps they need to do it off Forumw.

[2swap]

Oh, this is a big browsersecurity thread?

My 2 eurocents on the issue:

The safest browser: Elinks in the newest version. No features, no problems.

The best browser for those, who are chronically low on RAM but not desperate enough for a textbrowser: dillo. The little browser runs fine on my ancient craptop.

The best browser for those, who want features: Konqueror. It is very well integrated with everything in KDE. much better than IE in Windows.

Opera might be okay, but it is... strange to use, I never got to like the interface.

If you want FF, better get Kazehakase. It renders pages as well, but has not such a clumsy interface.