this post was submitted on 22 Aug 2024
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Firefox

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A place to discuss the news and latest developments on the open-source browser Firefox

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  • Firefox is a privacy-friendly alternative to Chrome, using its own browser engine (Gecko) and offering strong privacy protections compared to Chromium-based browsers.
  • Despite its benefits, Firefox relies on Google for funding, raising concerns about its future, and some recent privacy decisions have drawn criticism.
  • Switching from Chrome to Firefox is simple, and alternatives like Mullvad Browser offer even stronger privacy for those seeking more protection.
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[–] Libb@jlai.lu 40 points 3 months ago (4 children)

Sorry, I can't switch to Firefox, as I've never not used Firefox.
I used it already when it was called Netscape. Before that I used Mosaic, which itself is not entirely stranger to Netscape creation.

Also, FF is not "a great alternative to Google Chrome". FF is a great browser in its own right. (Almost) always has been. And how could it be considered an alternative to anything when it was there first (or second, right after Mosaic)?

[–] Lorindol@sopuli.xyz 6 points 3 months ago

This is the way.

I solely used Netscape Navigator since it came out and after it fell I chose Firefox. My interface has always been modded to look permanently like Firefox 3.6.

Everything is where I want it to be and everything works perfectly.

Many moons ago my employer tried to force us to use only Internet Explorer / Edge for reasons they were unable to explain - since there were none, technically or otherwise. I rebelled and remotely installed Firefox with Adblock / uBlock Origin to every personal computer (I was the unofficial IT guy) and told my co-workers to try it out.

At the next meeting we were told that the use of Firefox is not only approved but recommended. The magic of an "ad free browser" had taken hold, people found it vastly superior and had been vocal about their newfound dislike of MS browsers.

To my surprise I wasn't even reprimanded in any way.

[–] Dymonika@beehaw.org 3 points 3 months ago (3 children)

Wait... Firefox was Netscape?!

[–] morbidcactus@lemmy.ca 8 points 3 months ago

Not just was Netscape, Mozilla was straight up founded by Netscape people https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mozilla

On January 23, 1998, Netscape announced that its Netscape Communicator browser software would be free, and that its source code would also be free.[4] One day later, Jamie Zawinski of Netscape registered mozilla.org.[5] The project took its name, "Mozilla", from the original code name of the Netscape Navigator browser—a portmanteau of "Mosaic and Godzilla",[6] and used to coordinate the development of the Mozilla Application Suite, the free software version of Netscape's internet software, Netscape Communicator.[7][8] Zawinski said he arrived at the name "Mozilla" at a Netscape staff meeting.[9] A small group of Netscape employees were tasked with coordinating the new community.

[–] dave@feddit.uk 4 points 3 months ago* (last edited 3 months ago)

I remember using Mosaic on Silicon Graohics machines back in the early ‘90s. It’s was fab for the time.

And yes, Mosaic became Netscape, became Firefox. From the wiki page at https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Netscape_Navigator

The business demise of Netscape was a central premise of Microsoft's antitrust trial, wherein the Court ruled that Microsoft's bundling of Internet Explorer with the Windows operating system was a monopolistic and illegal business practice. The decision came too late for Netscape, however, as Internet Explorer had by then become the dominant web browser in Windows. The Netscape Navigator web browser was succeeded by the Netscape Communicator suite in 1997. Netscape Communicator's 4.x source code was the base for the Netscape-developed Mozilla Application Suite, which was later renamed SeaMonkey.[4] Netscape's Mozilla Suite also served as the base for a browser-only spinoff called Mozilla Firefox.

[–] thingsiplay@beehaw.org 2 points 3 months ago (1 children)

Sorry, I can’t switch to Firefox, as I’ve never not used Firefox.

You still can! Just uninstall Firefox, switch to an alternative browser. Now you are in a position where you can switch to Firefox. To make it more believable, open your favorite website with the new browser, close it and uninstall it. Install Firefox, so you can switch to it. All of this takes only a few minutes and can be done by virtually anyone.

Modern problems require modern solution. Thank me later, alligator.

[–] Libb@jlai.lu 2 points 3 months ago

Clever 8^)

But I still have to install FF from time to time, like I did today — best way to spend one's Sunday, reinstalling the Mac :/

Speaking installation, whenever I do an installation Firefox is always the second app I install on fresh machine. The first one being my password manager.