 Periodic reminder to not use Google Chrome (they’re moderating bookmarks now) https://strangeobject.space/@silvermoon82/110969122337810598 Use Firefox or Safari, they have proper end-to-end encryption (browser maker can’t read the data) of bookmarks and other private and personal browsing information (like your passwords!). I can’t stress enough just how ridiculous it is that most of you just hand Google your passwords to everything from your bank accounts to porn sites. 45 comments
 @rotopenguin @data0 you can end-to-end encrypt Chrom’se sync with a passphrase, but 1. that’s entirely optional and 2. obviously you have to trust Google that there’s no backdoor. That they’re scanning other data stored on their servers for links they deem bad tells you everything you need to know if they’re also scanning your synced bookmarks and other data. @rotopenguin @data0 Anyway, what’s this thing about being a fucking white knight for evil corporations? I’ll never get that ¯\_(ツ)_/¯ There is a difference between misinformation and mistaking two similar products for each other. I made the exact same mistake until I read your comment. Thanks for letting us know. 🙏 @liminoid_space I tried to acknowledge that by saying "whether you know you're actually using it is another story" and by calling it "*borderline* fake news". Nonetheless he should've taken more care.  @liminoid_space @data0 @thomasfuchs making them so easily confusable and leading people to make stuff public, where it can and will be analysed and moderated, without making absolutely clear what they are doing, is a dark pattern in itself, and still 100% google being evil @thomasfuchs @rotopenguin @data0 That's the chance you take when you synch your data in the cloud. Caveat emptor.  @data0 @thomasfuchs It's a bit unfortunate seeing a bunch of misinformation, especially tech related, being spread all over Mastodon from well known accounts too no less. I'm a Firefox user btw before anyone thinks I'm coming to Google's aid, I'm not, but the record needs to be straight, so thanks for spreading the word out Mr. Data @scottytrees absolutely! Firefox is not my preferred browser, but I always have it with me and I fight hard to support it in all of my projects as best as possible. @thomasfuchs@hachyderm.io I started using Chromium on my desktop after reading that, and posts about the newest Chrome update including tracking for benefit of advertisers. Glad I didn't update Chrome before switching. @thomasfuchs Did you read the reply that it isn't a bookmark? Its a collection stored in a public space so having potentially illicit links is something google should limit. His actual bookmarks were never touched. @thomasfuchs Does this apply to browsers that run on Chromium (i.e. Brave)? I never know what to think when yet another reason that Chrome sucks comes to the surface. @andersamer @thomasfuchs same, brave is mint and I'd hate for it to go down the same rabbit hole @KantexArt @thomasfuchs From what I've heard in the past, all of Google's bad data practices don't ever translate over to browsers like Brave, but I never know for sure. I also fear that since Google owns Chromium, they may one day force companies that build browsers on Chromium to collect certain data/breach the privacy of their users. @andersamer @KantexArt @thomasfuchs They already pushed the intrusive "Web Environment Integrity" API (DRM) to chromium. As soon as I heard that I switched to Firefox @Mattstamatic @KantexArt @thomasfuchs Wait fr?? I read a tweet that said that they weren't planning on doing that. Where can I read more about this? @andersamer @KantexArt @thomasfuchs Here's the GitHub changes: https://github.com/chromium/chromium/commit/6f47a22906b2899412e79a2727355efa9cc8f5bd Looks to be for Android @Mattstamatic @KantexArt @thomasfuchs Wow. I did not know about this. Thanks so much for sharing. I can only assume that they plan to eventually roll out these changes to desktop. I guess the main reason I have wanted to stick with Brave is because of its anti-tracking features. However, I'm probably underestimating Firefox's capabilities in that regard (uBlock origin can probably do the bulk of the work anyways). Highly considering switching now. @andersamer @thomasfuchs I think it's best to stay away from all chromium based browsers simply to take away market share from the chromium backend. lots of web developers do their job with no concern for compatibility/accessibility except for how it affects safari and chrome/chromium users. @andersamer @thomasfuchs Using Brave means using a browser from a company owned and managed by a homophobic bigot (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brendan_Eich, https://slate.com/human-interest/2014/04/brendan-eich-homophobic-past-should-we-forgive-him.html).  @thomasfuchs There's a difference between bookmarks and Favorite Pages, but it's real unclear at a glance what that difference is. That, by itself, is a problem.  @thomasfuchs @thomasfuchs I don't use Google, GMail, Chrome, Google Drive, etc. The only thing I use from Google is YooToob. I even block Google tracking scripts from Google Analytics.   @thomasfuchs Sorry if this is in the thread you linked to, but doesn't Chrome allow you to use E2EE when syncing? I know it's not on by default, but doesn't turning it on prevent Google from seeing bookmarks and other synced content? (For the record, I use Firefox. I'm just looking for confirmation my understanding is correct.) @thomasfuchs Does this apply to the locally saved bookmarks also or only if you sync them with a Google Account? @thomasfuchs The Google Authenticator app does NOT do end-to-end encryption of your 2FA keys, so if you are using the sync option (which was shoved in your face as soon as you upgraded the app), then not only does Google have your passwords, but your 2FA codes as well. @thomasfuchs @BlackAzizAnansi that’s super lame. i use chrome for work and Firefox at home. I figure, if the Corp is ok with chrome, that’s their call but I’ll keep the Fox clean off all but my stuff  @thomasfuchs the regular bookmarks aren't just stored in a local SQLite file? Like maybe you mean pocket or something? @thomasfuchs I have to use Chrome on my work laptop, but I never use that for personal info because I assume the company looks at it.  @thomasfuchs Judging by the fact in addition to using my Vivaldi account login, I'm also required to enter a secondary encryption password (or use a key file generated by a currently logged in session), it seems synced settings are also encrypted when using the Vivaldi browser...? Would you say that's another reasonable choice?  @thomasfuchs @asymco @dangoodin If we start with the idea that a significant number of Google search users are on outdated, unpatched, and unprotected versions of Microsoft Windows, and we introduced the idea that a self-professed "torrent site" might in fact be a vector for malware .. What would you actually want Google to do? Help you bookmark that? @thomasfuchs Good to know Safari is okay to use as well. Unfortunately, my employer requires us to use Chrome.  @thomasfuchs @lisamelton to me it looks like it is google collections, not google chrome bookmarks. |
Gregory's Server
@thomasfuchs This is NOT about Chrome bookmark sync. It's about Google Collections (e.g. where you save and share your saved Search items and Maps places). The same happens when you're using these services with Firefox or Safari. Now, whether you should use these services (or know you're actually using it), is another story… but please do your research before sharing such things to your huge audience. This is borderline fake news.