Fed up of these big and classical names with their pitfalls!

[sevener]

Fed up of these "big" and classical names!

Hello,

I just would make a cry against these "big names" and their software:
Chrome & Google!
IE & Microsoft!
Apple & Safari!
Firefox & Mozilla
Maybe except firefox, I feel they are a little bit unscrupulous!

I like the speed and interface of chrome and google but the privacy is deeply compromised!
I have already noticed that whatever you search in google, the place in which you live will appear also on the left of research result page!
Firefox starts to be slow, very slow compared to chrome!
Safari from Apple is old-fashioned for me! It is slow, like most Apple programs that I tested so far on PC.

I hope that one day we will see more scrupulous people who make good and free software without privacy concerns.

This is just a cry, not complaint!

 

[Imperfect1]

I have already noticed that whatever you search in Google, the place in which you live will appear also on the left of research result page!

I totally agree with you concerns, but I think the 1st step starts with us taking all means possible to heighten our own security levels in every way that we can. For example, you can eliminate the problem of Google having your home location displayed on its Search pages by going to the Preferences page of Google (Preferences) and in the Location section, deleting all information written in that section.

In all of these browsers, search engines, etc. you mentioned, some of your other privacy and security concerns can be eliminated by changing all of the preferences/options related to privacy and/or security.

You also, of course, have quite a few security settings built into your system that you can change.

 

[marsmimar]

I'd much prefer that I have to opt-in rather than try to figure out how to opt-out.

 

[sevener]

I have already noticed that whatever you search in Google, the place in which you live will appear also on the left of research result page!

I totally agree with you concerns, but I think the 1st step starts with us taking all means possible to heighten our own security levels in every way that we can. For example, you can eliminate the problem of Google having your home location displayed on its Search pages by going to the Preferences page of Google (Preferences) and in the Location section, deleting all information written in that section.

In all of these browsers, search engines, etc. you mentioned, some of your other privacy and security concerns can be eliminated by changing all of the preferences/options related to privacy and/or security.

You also, of course, have quite a few security settings built into your system that you can change.

Look at what google says regarding for example location:

Can I turn off location-based customization?

The customization of search results based on location is an important component of a consistent, high-quality search experience. Therefore, we haven't provided a way to turn off location customization, although we've made it easy for you to set your own location or to customize using a general location as broad as the country that matches your local domain.

If you find that your results for a particular search are more local than what you're looking for, you can set your location to a broader geographical area (such as a country instead of a city, zip code, or street address). Please note that this will greatly reduce the amount of locally relevant results that you’ll see.
source:
Location : Customize your experience - Web Search Help

 

[sevener]

For example, you can eliminate the problem of Google having your home location displayed on its Search pages by going to the Preferences page of Google (Preferences) and in the Location section, deleting all information written in that section.

Can we delete them? How?

 

[Imperfect1]

I just did it. Went into my Google Preferences, to the Location section and deleted the information I had in there, which was my zip code. The information was successfully deleted. No problem.

 

[sevener]

Check back, I think they should be there again!
Each time I change google settings they come back to default!
For example, if I change the language, location, no autocomplete, no instant resulat,...etc., they don't stick, they come back to default settings!

 

[sevener]

I'd much prefer that I have to opt-in rather than try to figure out how to opt-out.

Yes, agree but how to opt-in rather than to opt-out, especially with gooooooooooogle ?

 

[Imperfect1]

Interesting. My "Location" settings change (deletion of zip code) resulted in it sticking just temporarily, but when I closed Google and searched something else, the state where I reside was listed there. So, you're right, on that one. However, you CAN set the country as the location, so at least it's quite a bit broader --- and more importantly, my other security settings DID stick.

 

[sevener]

Interesting. My "Location" settings change (deletion of zip code) resulted in it sticking just temporarily, but when I closed Google and searched something else, the state where I reside was listed there. So, you're right, on that one. However, you CAN set the country as the location, so at least it's quite a bit broader --- and more importantly, my other security settings DID stick.

Haha! You see!

I think, even if you change the country, the location will switch to the default one. I tried to modify it to see what changes this may do, but the default setting come back as quick as you restart chrome!
Well, I don't care much about that but the question is the credibility and functionality of browser which is questionable in this case; if the settings don't keep, why propose them, so?

 

[Dellius]

Hello,

I just would make a cry against these "big names" and their software:
Chrome & Google!
IE & Microsoft!
Apple & Safari!
Firefox & Mozilla
Maybe except firefox, I feel they are a little bit unscrupulous!

I like the speed and interface of chrome and google but the privacy is deeply compromised!
I have already noticed that whatever you search in google, the place in which you live will appear also on the left of research result page!
Firefox starts to be slow, very slow compared to chrome!
Safari from Apple is old-fashioned for me! It is slow, like most Apple programs that I tested so far on PC.

I hope that one day we will see more scrupulous people who make good and free software without privacy concerns.

This is just a cry, not complaint!

What's the problem with G's privacy ? You can safely opt out of Google's data collection program and Big G won't collect anything anymore, not even your search queries, not your address, no nothing.

Microsoft, by law must also maintain such a program and even if it's not immediately obvious, you can give them a call and ask for direction on how to opt out.

Now, who cares about Safari, seriously. Sure, it is hands down the greatest Mac browser, but it's simply not made for the PC marketplace, why would you want to use it on a PC except for testing purposes of webpages ? Hell, even for that you'd be better off with a virtual machine with Mac OS X on it, because results will never be the same between the two engines.

Firefox ? Well, I don't feel a noticeable difference in speed, so it's probably the add-ons you have loaded it with, check for updates, uninstall out-of-date add-ons, or update whatever you can, remove the ones you haven't used in a long time and it will work like a charm.

I only use Chrome for the Omnibar and Instant, it's so much easier than everything else. I would revert to Firefox the moment it gets an Omnibar because it's hands down so much more customizeable and versatile and I really miss that in Chrome, but easier Search is something I care about too much to give it up.

TL;DR - all of these browsers are great if you know what you are doing.

 

[Dellius]

I'd much prefer that I have to opt-in rather than try to figure out how to opt-out.

Well, there is this problem, that most people won't be bothered to actually opt into any special program they don't understand nor will they be bothered to learn more about things they can live just fine without.

Thus, corporations automatically opt you into their programs with an opt out clause they are required by law to respect.

Really, do we have to complain about it ? What difference does it make to the population of a forum which user base is way above the average level ?

 

[sevener]

There are many Omnibar extensions for Firefox. There is also a Chrome skin for FF!
So, we can transform FF to Chrome-like browser but with a little bit slowness.

 

[sevener]

Interesting. My "Location" settings change (deletion of zip code) resulted in it sticking just temporarily, but when I closed Google and searched something else, the state where I reside was listed there. So, you're right, on that one. However, you CAN set the country as the location, so at least it's quite a bit broader --- and more importantly, my other security settings DID stick.

A curious feature I just noticed right now in Chrome:
When you search something using the Ombibar, your location will appear!
But if you search using the Google page (Google), the location will not appear!
hihi!
Strange, no?

 

[marsmimar]

I'd much prefer that I have to opt-in rather than try to figure out how to opt-out.

Well, there is this problem, that most people won't be bothered to actually opt into any special program they don't understand nor will they be bothered to learn more about things they can live just fine without.

Thus, corporations automatically opt you into their programs with an opt out clause they are required by law to respect.

Really, do we have to complain about it ? What difference does it make to the population of a forum which user base is way above the average level ?

My comment wasn't so much a complaint as a simple observation. I believe you are absolutely correct when you said, "...most people won't be bothered to actually opt into any special program they don't understand nor will they be bothered to learn more about things they can live just fine without."

And that's one of many reasons why so many people fall prey to unscrupulous tactics by either the big name companies themselves or by other people who find ways to exploit those big name companies' products. To put it another way, I was taught at a very early age to lock my doors and windows when I leave my home. I didn't have to wait until someone broke in before learning about locking things down.

If big (and small) companies are truly interested in protecting users' privacy, how hard would it be for them to say something like: "Here's what we have, here's why we think you should use it, and here's how to opt-in to access it. And by the way, if you do decide to use it, we will make all of your supplied information public to everyone else who uses this product. If you don't want your information to be made public you can remain private by clicking on the CHANGE PRIVACY SETTINGS button located on every page of the product. And after using our product for a while, if you decide you no longer want to remain a member you can cancel your membership by clicking on the CANCEL MEMBERSHIP button located on every page of the product."

I think such transparency would foster a greater respect by the very people the companies are trying to woo over. But I've never claimed to be the sharpest tool in the shed so my thoughts could very well be old fashioned or just plain wrong.

 

[sevener]

My comment wasn't so much a complaint as a simple observation. I believe you are absolutely correct when you said, "...most people won't be bothered to actually opt into any special program they don't understand nor will they be bothered to learn more about things they can live just fine without."

And that's one of many reasons why so many people fall prey to unscrupulous tactics by either the big name companies themselves or by other people who find ways to exploit those big name companies' products. To put it another way, I was taught at a very early age to lock my doors and windows when I leave my home. I didn't have to wait until someone broke in before learning about locking things down.

If big (and small) companies are truly interested in protecting users' privacy, how hard would it be for them to say something like: "Here's what we have, here's why we think you should use it, and here's how to opt-in to access it. And by the way, if you do decide to use it, we will make all of your supplied information public to everyone else who uses this product. If you don't want your information to be made public you can remain private by clicking on the CHANGE PRIVACY SETTINGS button located on every page of the product. And after using our product for a while, if you decide you no longer want to remain a member you can cancel your membership by clicking on the CANCEL MEMBERSHIP button located on every page of the product."

I think such transparency would foster a greater respect by the very people the companies are trying to woo over. But I've never claimed to be the sharpest tool in the shed so my thoughts could very well be old fashioned or just plain wrong.

I agree. You said my thought better than me! Thanks