Firefox Focus privacy scandal | Hacker News Reader

Firefox Focus privacy scandal

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14 pointsNitishshah70015 comments

Firefox Focus does not and will never leak or send browsing behavior details.

The article is factually incorrect. I am not sure how the researcher came to the conclusion that Focus reports 'server connections' or 'visited websites'. It does not and it never will.

Firefox Focus is an Open Source product. Its code can be found for verification at https://github.com/mozilla-mobile/focus and the Adjust usage is documented at https://github.com/mozilla-mobile/focus/wiki/Install-and-eve...

The fact that a Mozilla product sends my data, even if it is only my IP address, to a third party, is a disgrace. I don't really care what the data is.

I understand they need analytics and telemetry. They have the money, they have the power to build all of those in house. They should not be sending my data to a third party, whatever that data might be. That's all. I expected better from Mozilla. Pocket integration was a letdown, this is even worse.

You can disable data collection in the settings, or directly install Firefox Klar, a special version of Firefox Focus without telemetry made for Germany, Austria and Switzerland.

Klar is only available in those stores, but not worldwide.

Then disable telemetry, it's exactly the same thing.

Klar is available worldwide on F-Droid.

I don't use Android. I don't understand why did Mozilla add Klar to the stores of those countries only.

As others have said, the option to disable telemetry is in the other stores.

Read the article, it says it too:

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You can turn off the anonymous data collecting of Firefox Focus by tapping on the settings icon, and flipping the switch next to "send anonymous usage data" to off.

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> special version of Firefox Focus without telemetry made for Germany, Austria and Switzerland.

only 3 country care about privacy?

Yes, unfortunately. In these countries, the IP address is considered private information. For Android, the app is available in F-Droid.

You should stop using the internet if you're concerned about other people knowing your IP address.

The correct link to Adjust usage page is:

https://github.com/mozilla-mobile/focus-ios/wiki/Install-Tra...

The article appears to me to be overly harsh. However, trust is probably Mozillas primary asset. I think they could've made the telemetry a question at first use or something comparable.

Everyone knows that most people never change (or even realize) the default.

Is it overly harsh to be pissed at a company that claims to herald privacy but then sends your data to a third party?

Scandal is probably a bit sensationalist. It's doing what every other bit of modern software does and sending off telemetry - is that really scandalous? It even has a fairly easy to find "don't analyse me" button.

Besides, installing this browser on a smartphone for the purpose of regaining some privacy is like ordering the biggest meal McDonalds sells, but with a Diet Coke because you're "watching your weight" - pretty pointless.

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