IceCat 52 Updates The GNU Firefox Experience

[phoronix]

Phoronix: IceCat 52 Updates The GNU Firefox Experience

GNU IceCat 52.0.2 was released today as the first new release of this GNU version of Mozilla Firefox since version 45...

http://www.phoronix.com/scan.php?page=news_item&px=IceCat-52-Released

[bug77]

And this is what's wrong with GNU.
Keeping code free is ok and a legit goal. But when you take free software and pimp it with "HTTPS-Everywhere, SpyBlock, fingerprinting countermeasures", despite the supposedly good intentions, you're just shaping user behaviour. That's taking it too far, imho.

[Filiprino]

A web browser to protect your privacy is not user behaviour shaping. The shaping is done by the original developers themselves.

You are always free to choose your web browser, until web pages and companies start to support a limited selection.

[starshipeleven]

And this is what's wrong with GNU.
Keeping code free is ok and a legit goal. But when you take free software and pimp it with "HTTPS-Everywhere, SpyBlock, fingerprinting countermeasures", despite the supposedly good intentions, you're just shaping user behaviour. That's taking it too far, imho.

WAT?
Shaping user behaviour happens when you are forced to use that browser.


They are free to fork firefox and ship it preconfigured in whatever the fuck way they like, also, it's not like everyone and their dog aren't doing the same with Chromium anyway.

[Licaon]

But when you take free software and pimp it with "HTTPS-Everywhere, SpyBlock, fingerprinting countermeasures"

Aren't all browsers converging towards HTTPS anyway? Isn't Firefox implementing countermeasures anyway ( see privacy.resistFingerprinting and TorUplift ) ?

Do search about Snowden and Vault7 please.

[bug77]

WAT?
Shaping user behaviour happens when you are forced to use that browser.


They are free to fork firefox and ship it preconfigured in whatever the fuck way they like, also, it's not like everyone and their dog aren't doing the same with Chromium anyway.

Of course they're free to do that, that's not what I meant. The problem is it sends mixed goals about GNU's goals. If they want to go into the business of preconfiguring stuff for users, they should create a new branch/brand and let it handle it.

On top of that, this particular product is pretty useless: everyone remotely interested in security already knows how to configure Firefox/Chrome/whatever while everyone not interested will not hear about this browser anyway.

And again: of course GNU's free to do whatever they want. But imho, they'd be better off not engaging in this.

[starshipeleven]

Of course they're free to do that, that's not what I meant. The problem is it sends mixed goals about GNU's goals.

Dunno, it seems to me that their browser is preconfigured to protect the user's freedoms.

[mulenmar]

If they want to go into the business of preconfiguring stuff for users, they should create a new branch/brand and let it handle it.

...that is exactly what they did -- branched and re-branded Mozilla Firefox.

A browser is a critical part of a usable operating system, so it belongs under the GNU banner (if that is what you meant).

[bug77]

...that is exactly what they did -- branched and re-branded Mozilla Firefox.

A browser is a critical part of a usable operating system, so it belongs under the GNU banner (if that is what you meant).

No, I meant they should create a branch/brand under the GNU umbrella, specifically tasked with branching/bundling free software in the name if preservation. And thus keeping a clean separation from their vocal, legal branch.

[mulenmar]

No, I meant they should create a branch/brand under the GNU umbrella, specifically tasked with branching/bundling free software in the name if preservation. And thus keeping a clean separation from their vocal, legal branch.

GNU is the operating system -- GNU is Not Unix. It's programmers programming. The legal and societal/political stuff are shuffled off under the Free Software Foundation (FSF) and Electronic Frontier Foundation (EFF).