💾 Archived View for gemini.ctrl-c.club › ~stack › gemlog › 2022-06-24.waterfox.gmi captured on 2022-07-16 at 15:28:17. Gemini links have been rewritten to link to archived content
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I try not to go onto the mainweb, and Gemini has been helpful there, but occasionally, there is no choice. I've been using the Waterfox browser for many years, as it seemed to be more privacy-oriented.
In 2019, it was bought by an Internet advertising company System1. ****. System1 also bought Startpage, the search engine I was using, also for privacy reasons. ****ing ****.
https://www.waterfox.net/blog/waterfox-has-joined-system1/
In the press blurb above, the founder, after complaints about being harrassed for years, explains that System1 "has been to waterfox a search syndication partner". Because you know, it's not enough to code a browser, you need a 'search syndication partner'.
"Essentially a way to have a search engine partnership (such as Bing) is through them, because companies such as Microsoft are too big and too busy to talk to small players such as Waterfox. Before them, it was Ecosia, Startpage etc. It’s probably the one easy way a browser can make money without doing anything dodgy..."
Without doing anything dodgy? What a shitbag.
From System1 site: "Generally we do not rely on consent as a legal basis for processing your personal data although we will get your consent before sending you direct marketing communication."
Thanks.
For the lack of anything better, I've reluctantly continued using Waterfox. Today a popup appeared, claiming that an update is available but I need to download it myself.
So I did download the .tar.gz file, which, when unzipped, seems to contain the browser (in about 75MBytes), and no instructions of any sort. No installer. No scripts that make common sense. Now what the **** am I supposed to do with that?
Going to the Waterfox web site offered no help, and searching the web with Startpage provides no clues about how to install the browser.
I think I will just use the Tor browser from now on. At least it updates cleanly.