Watchman Privacy 165 - Firefox: Goodbye, Old Friend
Mar 17, 2025
The hosts dive into Firefox's troubling decline, citing a recent terms of service change that jeopardizes user data privacy. They discuss rising competitors like LibreWolf and Brave, emphasizing the need for awareness in online security. The impact of digital rights management on browser development is critiqued, revealing how corporate interests hinder innovation. The conversation also touches on Mozilla's financial struggles and introduces Gemini, a new privacy-focused browsing option, hinting at a nostalgic return to a less commercialized internet.
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Urban's Firefox Journey
- Urban started using Firefox in 2006 after seeing its logo in a newspaper.
- He has been a reluctant user as Firefox declined from its original promise.
Firefox's Decline and Terms Shift
- Firefox has declined to about 2% market share compared to Chrome's 60%.
- A recent terms of service update allows Mozilla broad rights over user data, alarming privacy advocates.
Browser Choice Isn't Enough
- Browsers alone don't guarantee privacy or security.
- User behaviors like VPN use and visiting risky sites have bigger privacy impacts.