Ive been a Firefox power user since it launched 20 years ago heres why it still beats Chrome and Safari

Date:
Sat, 09 Nov 2024 11:30:00 +0000

Description:
Mozilla Firefox has just turned 20, and there are many reasons why its far better than Chrome and Safari.

FULL STORY ======================================================================

It was my birthday a few weeks ago, and as if that didnt make me feel old enough, the Firefox browser has just turned exactly 20 years old today. Yes, Firefox version 1.0 launched on November 9, 2004 and I've been using it for almost as long as it's been alive, picking it up in the mid-noughties and loading it onto every computer Ive used in the years since.

Over all that time, Ive stuck with Firefox through thick and thin (and Chrome's increasing dominance). Its clear to me that Firefox has always done
a few things far better than rivals like Chrome and Safari things that those web browsers are unlikely to ever match.

Right from when I started using Firefox, what drew me to it was its strong stance on privacy. Its always been important to me that my data stays my own and is not sold to anyone else for profit. Its not always possible to stop that happening, but with Firefox, its a whole lot easier.

Thats because Firefox blocks all sorts of trackers that can invade your privacy and follow you around the web. Cookies are isolated to stop them building a detailed picture of you, and Firefox limits access to data that
can be used to create a digital fingerprint of your browsing habits by less conscientious websites and services.

Thats just scratching the surface of its privacy-protecting features , and Im still glad to have them at my disposal whenever I use the web. Chromes
privacy problem (Image credit: Growtika / Unsplash)

Take a look at Google Chrome and the contrast is stark. Chrome doesnt block trackers by default, nor does it offer fingerprint blocking. It monitors the websites you visit and uses this data to send you targeted ads. While you can block some of the topics it identifies, you cant stop it finding other ad topics to share with websites. Its going to sell your private data, whether you want it to or not.

While Google has considered implementing pro-privacy features, its often backtracked when it became apparent how much that could impact third-party advertisers and data brokers. Just look at the Privacy Sandbox, which Google has watered down significantly , or the way Google often uses so-called dark patterns to lure you into sharing as much of your data as possible.

Ultimately, we shouldnt be surprised at Chromes behavior. Google runs the worlds largest advertising network and has a built-in incentive to violate your privacy (and limit what you can do to stop it). Googles privacy efforts will always be half-hearted as long as implementing policies that keep your info safe hurt its bottom line. Money talks, after all.

Things are different for Firefox because its developed by Mozilla, a group that puts privacy at the forefront of its work. Firefox is open source, too, so you know exactly what youre getting without having to worry about hidden nasties making it into your browsing experience. In other words, its the antithesis of Chrome.

Actions speak louder than words, and Mozilla doesnt just talk the talk it follows through on what it promises, even when its features might hurt its ability to make money from its users.

In contrast, its clear that this is absolutely not the case with Chrome, and nor will it ever be. I know which browser Id rather trust. Why dont I just
use Safari? (Image credit: Photo Illustration by Omar Marques/SOPA Images/LightRocket via Getty Images)

If privacy is a priority for me, why havent I switched to Apples Safari browser ? Theres an argument for me doing so: like Mozilla, Apple is well-known for its pro-privacy stances . Safari is generally faster than Firefox, too, helping it offer the best of both Firefox and Chrome.

But theres a problem: Safari is limited to Apples own devices. I use both Windows and macOS in my day-to-day life, so I need something that will function on every device I own. Safari cant do that, and given how disappointing Safari for Windows was back when it existed, I doubt Apple is too fussed about expanding the browser beyond its own products.

In contrast, I can get Firefox on any of my devices and it will be set up
just as I expect it to be, with all the extensions, bookmarks and tabs right where they should be. I can send a tab from Firefox on my Windows PC to Firefox on my Mac or on my iPhone and itll arrive instantly, letting me pick up where I left off whatever device Im using.

Its that combination of cross-platform compatibility and rock-solid privacy credentials that have me still using Firefox 20 years later.

Throw in a huge library of excellent extensions and I get everything I need from Mozillas browser theres no alternative that quite matches what it can do. With 20 years in the bag, I imagine Ill still be using Firefox in another two decades time. You might also like I've started using Mozilla Firefox and now I can never go back to Google Chrome Your privacy on Chrome is at risk, heres what you can do The goodbye that never was: Chrome to hold on to 3rd-party cookies, why?



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Link to news story: https://www.techradar.com/computing/ive-been-a-firefox-power-user-since-it-lau nched-20-years-ago-heres-why-it-still-beats-chrome-and-safari


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