Quote from: IainB on February 13, 2017, 07:21 AM

Warning on Ghacks: Firefox Focus privacy scandal

First of all: Maybe you missed the update which says their source was full of errors.
Secondly: I've started using Brave quite a bit lately to improve privacy.

If you don't mind not being able to install extensions, a portable browser based on WebKit/Qt, built-in adblocking, built-in user data encryption, HTTPS anywhere, etc, etc you could give Dooble a try ... if nothing else it's another browser to add to the mix 

By default, nothing is kept from a session unless a passphrase has been set:

@Deozaan: I updated my comment above with some feedback on Brave. Thanks for the pointer anyway.

@4wd: I updated my comment above with some feedback on dooble. Thanks for the pointer anyway.

Further discussion about Brave (or other browsers) probably ought to be in a new/different thread to prevent this one from being derailed/hijacked.

There are so many browsers out there that you'll need at least another forum for that, let alone another thread.

And the top extension are... going bye bye!
See why at Ghacks.
________________________

Thanks for posting that @dantheman. Depressing reading, really. I used to read everything ghacks wrote about FF (Firefox), but since embarking on a migration (exit) away from FF and towards Slimjet (after trialling it), I've tended to not spend much time on FF and had just let it languish.
After reading that ghacks post though, I did some thinking about it and reviewed my exit-and-migration-strategy - which really is more of a trial-and-error path away from FF --> Slimjet than a real "strategy" per se.

I had been on the FF beta channel, which had become unbearable for me, as every new update seemed to break a load of stuff - more than it introduced new/good functionality - so FF had become of incrementally reducing usefulness to me. So, yesterday I did a FF "refresh", but that didn't seem to help matters, so I expunged FF beta and went backwards, installing the latest current "stable" version. - v52.0.1 (32-bit). I restored all the FF add-ons from Sync (which seems to work quite well nowadays, though, from experience, the corresponding Slimjet Sync seems better - more reliable). Surprisingly, that version of FF seems to start up quite nicely - not that I'm actually able to use it very much. In fact, it's not really usable, as the "awesome bar" doesn't seem to work very well. That bar used to live up to its name, but now when one enters a URL and clicks on the "go to" button, presses enter or Ctrl-R (Refresh), nothing happens. Can't get it to work. Doing a FF "Refresh" evidently makes no difference. Can't even go to about:config to see what might be the problem!   
No useful help in the discussion forums either. This is what I mean about FF - it increasingly seems to be the case that it is simply nothing but trouble, a time bandit. Life's too short. I don't want to spend my cognitive surplus worrying about trying to fix such perpetually breaking stuff, nor do I want to have to drag around a mechanic to fix FF for me, wherever I go, for the rest of FF's product life.

There were several FF add-ons and functionality that were my main reasons for sticking with FF. Now I am in a "replacement mode" where I am finding effective substitutes in Slimjet - substitutes for those FF add-ons and functionality. A key FF add-on for me was Scrapbook and I now have a good/better and non-proprietary substitute for Scrapbook in Slimjet. The migration of the old Scrapbook legacy database (which contains a few thousand records) is still a data management problem to be solved elegantly though, but I can meanwhile use FF to manage that database (though it's a kludgy approach as I had already gone beyond the boundaries of the Scrapbook data management functionality, which is rather kludgy in that regard).   

There's one bit of intrinsically useful FF functionality (not an add-on, I think) that I am currently trying to find a substitute for in Slimjet.
It is this: When the FF user right-clicks on a page, a menu pops up, which includes two entries somewhere in the middle of the menu list of entries:

• View page source.
• View page info.

Clicking the "View page info." item gives something like this (see image below) - which offers a seriously useful piece of functionality that I cannot yet see how to get replicated in Slimjet:



I apologise in advance and acknowledge that, now that I have stated it as being a "...a seriously useful piece of functionality...", this could well risk drawing unwanted attention to said functionality and be taken as a signal for Mozilla to break said functionality as they strive to maintain their seemingly remorseless dive to the bottom with FF.

EDIT 2017-04-09 1628hrs: Page Info window - View technical details about the page you are on

Another one bites the dust.
(Copied below sans embedded hyperlinks/images.)

Sunset of Googlebar Lite
April 6, 2017.
As of today, I am officially withdrawing my development support for the Googlebar Lite Firefox extension. I’m aware that the extension no longer works well in the latest builds of Firefox, and I have absolutely no desire to fix them. Mozilla’s development environment has gotten pretty irritating as of late, and I just don’t have the cycles (or the drive) to fix the issues that exist.
The future of Firefox add-ons lies in WebExtensions, and toolbar support in that arena is pretty bare-bones (last I looked). The default Firefox search box meets most needs, which has motivated me to drop this extension.
For those that are so-inclined, I will accept pull requests at the official googlebarlite repo. Or, you can fork the project and roll your own.

I have just moved from an old laptop to an old but stronger and faster x64 PC. I also moved my Firefox settings, but was disappointed that all the favicons now were missing from the bookmark manager.

Favicon
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

A favicon /ˈfæv.ɪˌkɒn/ (short for favorite icon), also known as a shortcut icon, website icon, tab icon, URL icon, or bookmark icon, is a file containing one or more small icons, associated with a particular website or web page. A web designer can create such an icon and upload it to a website (or web page) by several means, and graphical web browsers will then make use of it. Browsers that provide favicon support typically display a page's favicon in the browser's address bar (sometimes in the history as well) and next to the page's name in a list of bookmarks. Browsers that support a tabbed document interface typically show a page's favicon next to the page's title on the tab, and site-specific browsers use the favicon as a desktop icon.

[attachthumb=#]

Favicons can also be used to have a textless favourite site, saving space.

It turned out that the usual trick, FavIcon Reloader, is out of date and therefore has a new name: FavIcon Reloader up to FF 48 only!

Taking a new PC into use, easily becomes a period full of disappointments - and I was annoyed and disappointed for a couple of days, because I could not find anything that would do the trick. But suddenly I looked at the words in a new way: Ehh... How hard can it be, Curt? I removed Firefox 52 and re-installed Firefox 48 and 'FavIcon Reloader up to FF 48 only' - and ran it. Yes, of course it is working with version 48, hence its name! I then upgraded to version 52 and was delighted to see all the small pictures smiling at me again :-)

https://addons.mozilla.org/en-US/firefox/addon/faviconreloader 
https://ftp.mozilla.org/pub/firefox/releases/

Because this 'new' PC of mine has more brute power, than what I have been used to, ever before, I didn't try to ease its burden, but simply have installed ALL my favourite add-ons:

My favourite add-ons

Application: Firefox 53.0,
Operating System: WINNT (x86_64-msvc)

• Adblock Plus 2.8.2
  
  • http://adblockplus.org/en/
  • Ads were yesterday!
• Adblock Plus for YouTube™ 2.0.3
  
  • Free Adblock that blocks all annoying ads from YouTube. Completely redesigned to enjoy YouTube without ads and at maximum speed.
• Add to Search Bar 2.9
  
  • http://firefox.maltekraus.de/extensions/add-to-search-bar
  • Add any search on any page to the Search Bar.
• Add-ons Manager Context Menu 0.4.2.1-signed.1-signed
  
  • http://loucypher.github.com/AM_contextmenu/
  • Add more items to Add-ons Manager context menu.
• betterFox - Make your browsing experience 15% faster. 6.1.1
  
  • https://addons.mozilla.org/en-US/firefox/addon/betterfox/?src=api
  • betterFox - Make your browsing experience 15% faster. Auto next Page Quick delete button in search form Floating panel Website Favicons Shopping suggestions
• Bookmark Toolbar Menu Button 1.1.2.1-signed
  
  • https://addons.mozilla.org/en-US/firefox/addon/toolbar-buttons/
  • Show the contents of the Bookmarks Toolbar in a drop down menu. This compresses the bookmark menu into one button that you can put on any toolbar you want to.
• Bulk Image Downloader 4.91.0.0
  
  • http://BulkImageDownloader.com
  • Easily download images from image host sites. The Bulk Image Downloader application must be installed on the PC for this to work.
• Classic Theme Restorer 1.6.5
  
  • https://addons.mozilla.org/addon/classicthemerestorer/
  • 'Classic Theme Restorer' restores many customization features Firefox lost over time like old 'Firefox'-button, squared tabs, add-ons bar, small navigation bar buttons, old search, old preference window, old location bar menu, eye-friendly add-ons manager, old buttons and many more.
• Clean Uninstall 0.1.8
  
  • http://firefox.add0n.com/clean-uninstall.html
  • Uninstall an extension and clean its fingerprints (stored preference values for instance)
• CoLT 2.6.7
  
  • http://www.borngeek.com/firefox/colt/
  • Makes it easy to copy link text and locations.
• Context Search 0.6.4
  
  • http://www.basson.at/firefox-addons/contextsearch
  • Expands the context menu's 'Search for' item into a list of search engines.
• Copy Plain Text 2 1.6
  
  • https://addons.mozilla.org/en-US/firefox/addon/copy-plain-text-2/?src=api
  • Copies text without formatting.
• Download Manager (S3) 4.10
  
  • http://www.s3blog.org/
  • View and manage downloads from a tidy statusbar
• Easy Youtube Video Downloader Express 9.12
  
  • https://yourvideofile.org/
  • #1 Rated 'Youtube Video Downloader' offers instant, single-click, superfast Youtube video download links in MP3 (256Kbps/128Kbps), Full-HD, 480p MP4, 720p HD, 360p, 3GP and FLV qualities on Youtube pages. Proud to be the top reviewed Youtube Video Downloader out there with 'One-Click' 1080p full-hd and 'youtube to mp3' downloading features utilizing a clean, fast and clutter-free user interface.
• EPUBReader 1.5.0.12
  
  • http://www.epubread.com/
  • Read EPUB files just in the browser. No installation of additional software needed.
• Exit Button Firefox 0.4.2.1-signed.1-signed
  
  • http://www.linnhe.net/firefox/extensions.html
  • Adds a toolbar button to exit Firefox.
• Extension List Dumper 2 1.0.2
  
  • https://addons.mozilla.org/en-US/firefox/addon/extension-list-dumper-2/?src=api
  • Dumps a list of the installed extensions.
• Facebook Videos Downloader 1.2.1
  
  • http://fbdown.miinosoft.com/
  • This extension adds a button to download every Facebook Video.
• Flagfox 5.1.22
  
  • https://flagfox.wordpress.com/
  • Displays a flag depicting the location of the current server
• Flickr Size Pickr 1.0.1.1-signed
  
  • https://addons.mozilla.org/en-US/firefox/addon/flickr-size-pickr/?src=api
  • Adds a context menu to view or download any Flickr photo
• Google Reverse Image Search 52.0
  
  • http://barisderin.com/
  • Google Reverse Image Search is a simple tool that lets you search the images reversely on Google Images.
• Google Translator for Firefox 2.1.0.5.3
  
  • http://translatorforfirefox.blogspot.com/
  • Translate the selected text and the full page with Google Translate.
• Google Yandex Reverse 0.0.3
  
  • https://addons.mozilla.org/en-US/firefox/addon/google-yandex-reverse/
  • Reverse Image Search / Search with images / Google and Yandex. Right click any image to perform search using new tabs.
• I don't care about cookies 2.6.6
  
  • https://addons.mozilla.org/en-US/firefox/addon/i-dont-care-about-cookies/?src=api
  • Get rid of annoying cookie warnings from almost all 'infected' websites
• Image Toolbar 0.6.18
  
  • http://www.basson.at/firefox-addons/imagetoolbar
  • Provides easy access to common image functions.
• InstaDown: Instagram Image & Video Downloader 1.0.3
  
  • https://addons.mozilla.org/en-US/firefox/addon/instadown-instagram-image-vide/?src=api
  • The extension adds a direct download button for images found on instagram user pages, and also for videos on single item popups.
• Interclue 1.6.3.1-signed.1-signed
  
  • http://interclue.com/
  • The ultimate link augmentation multitool
• MyBookmarks 0.6.23
  
  • http://www.catsyawn.net/ma2ten/soft/mybookmarks_en.html
  • Creates a formatted page from bookmarks.
• Open RegEdit Key 1-0-0
  
  • https://addons.mozilla.org/firefox/addon/open-regedit-key/
  • [WINDOWS ONLY] Open selected registry key directly in the registry editor from context menu.
• Open With 6.8.1
  
  • https://github.com/darktrojan/openwith
  • Quickly test out your web pages in Internet Explorer, Chrome, Safari, or Opera. Open With opens the current page in your other browsers with just one click.
• OpenDownload² 4.1.2
  
  • https://addons.mozilla.org/en-US/firefox/addon/opendownload-10902/
  • Extends the "Save" dialog by a button to open the file directly.
• Pocket 1.0.5
  
  • When you find something you want to view later, put it in Pocket.
• Restart 3.0.2
  
  • http://www.schuzak.jp/
  • Adds "Restart" menu and button.
• RightToClick 2.9.6
  
  • https://addons.mozilla.org/en-US/firefox/addon/righttoclick/
  • Allows right clicks, highlighting and more where forbidden by javascript
• Save Session 1.3.1.6.1-signed.1-signed
  
  • https://addons.mozilla.org/en-US/firefox/addon/save-session/
  • Save Session can save the session only once.
• Saved Password Editor 2.10.3
  
  • https://addons.mozilla.org/addon/saved-password-editor/
  • Adds the ability to create and edit entries in the password manager.
• savetexttofile 2.7.3
  
  • https://github.com/bobbyrne01/save-text-to-file-firefox
  • Saves highlighted text to a file in a specified directory
• SCDL SoundCloud Downloader 2.21
  
  • https://mrvv.net/scdl
  • SoundCloud Download Helper. Adds ARTWORK, ARTIST, GENRE, TRACKNAME !!
• Self-Destructing Cookies 0.4.12
  
  • https://addons.mozilla.org/en-US/firefox/addon/self-destructing-cookies/?src=api
  • Fix the web. Gets rid of a site's cookies and LocalStorage as soon as you close its tabs. Protects against trackers and zombie-cookies. Trustworthy services can be whitelisted.
• Show my Password 2.0.1-signed.1-signed
  
  • http://netcat.ath.cx/extensions.html
  • Shows your password in readable letters
• Simple Form Fill 1.5.0
  
  • https://addons.mozilla.org/firefox/addon/simple-form-fill/
  • Enter text into input fields by choosing items from the context menu or choosing from a list of matches while typing. New items can be added by selecting text and choosing 'Add to Simple Form Fill' or by changing the add-ons' preferences.
• Smart HTTPS 0.2.0
  
  • http://mybrowseraddon.com/smart-https.html
  • Automatically changes HTTP addresses to the secure HTTPS, and if loading encounters error, reverts it back to HTTP.
• Status-4-Evar 2016.10.11.01
  
  • http://forums.mozillazine.org/viewtopic.php?f=48&t=2001965
  • Status widgets and progress indicators for Firefox 4+
• Stylish 2.0.7
  
  • https://userstyles.org/
  • Restyle the web with Stylish, a user styles manager.
  &
• • Cursor Indicator On Link Hover - with large icons - userstyles.org
• Textarea Cache 0.9.3.4
  
  • https://addons.mozilla.org/en-US/firefox/addon/textarea-cache/
  • Allows to save automatically the content in a text input field.
• uBlock Origin 1.12.1
  
  • https://github.com/gorhill/uBlock
  • Finally, an efficient blocker. Easy on CPU and memory.
• Video DownloadHelper 6.2.0
  
  • http://www.downloadhelper.net/
  • Download Videos from the Web
• WikiLook 2.7.0.1-signed.1-signed
  
  • https://addons.mozilla.org/en-US/firefox/addon/7675
  • WikiLook is a Wikipedia and Wiktionary look up. Fast, light, open source tool that define words for you without need to open new tabs or extra windows.
• WiktionaryMultiLanguageDictionary 0.2.1.1-signed.1-signed
  
  • https://addons.mozilla.org/en-US/firefox/addon/wiktionarymultilanguagedict/?src=api
  • Look up any definitions for words in your own language
• Youtube's Annotations No More 0.3
  
  • http://www.kiboke-studio.hr/browser-extensions/
  • Disable Youtube's annotations.
• VTzilla 1.5.1-signed.1-signed
  
  • (Disabled)
  • https://www.virustotal.com/documentation/browser-extensions/mozilla-firefox/
  • Right-click on any link and scan the target with VirusTotal, scan your downloads with VirusTotal before storing them in your PC, free and easy. More information at: https://www.virustotal.com/documentation/browser-extensions/mozilla-firefox/

Also, the bookmarklet Print Friendly & PDF https://www.printfriendly.com/ must be mentioned 

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post modified:

it saddens me to now realize that most addons (in my spoiler) are not including the proper link to Mozilla. I am not sure I will take the time to correct that many :-(

I am using these extension:-

Del.icio.us
Adblock 0.5.2.039
FlashBlock
FlashGot 0.5.9.98
Tab Preview 0.3
Translate 0.6.0.8
NoScript
Web Developer 0.9.4
PDF Download
ListZilla 0.7
NoScript
Screen grab! 0.6

Nice screenshot from Dirhael for sure!
Your Arizona cave shot was pretty cool as well! 
FT Deep Dark, better than all other dark themes I've tried.
Don't usually like dark black, but this one has its niche.

FEBE has always been a default for me.
Mozilla muffs up on syncing at times so it's always nice to have a plan b.

Half a year to hope for the best.
Yup.
Just wished Mozilla could do something better than adding an extra theme or two with a promise of better security with extensions.

Quote from: dantheman on April 20, 2017, 12:33 AM

"Your Arizona cave shot was pretty cool as well!"

Well, with someone whose avatar was a caveman, one would expect them to say that...

[attachthumb=#]


yabba dabba do!

a lot more addons were ruined by the last Firefox update. I have removed it and moved to "ESR" (Firefox Extended Support Release ESR):
https://www.mozilla.org/en-US/firefox/52.3.0/releasenotes/

This way one can keep all the extensions and still have a browser accepted/made by Mozilla.