Privacy concers in License Agreement

Hi All,

As retiredlearner said:

And as Bill said:

I mentally included "Custom Install" in the statement about reading the EULA, as I do both of them automatically out of habit. It's been over a decade since I blindly clicked "next" when installing anything. You're all correct about this, that's for sure!

I'm also in agreement with the exceptional help from WOT. It's very helpful & it's nice to be able to read other member's comments about a site and to contribute to the ratings. I also use Webutation; it has a similar color-coded rating system & it's always nice when both of them are in agreement about a site.

As far as using Chrome, I know I'll never use it due to the poor reputation that Google has & their penchant for privacy intrusion. I'll stick with Firefox, (with the proper settings), & continue to use Duck DuckGo & StartPage for searches. I don't go to any site that I'd be ashamed to tell my parish priest about, but I still value my privacy above most other things, except for God, country & family.

Well, back to the Olympics & Westminster Dog Show...this is what I call "must-see-TV "!!!

Nuts4Mutts

 

Here’s Why Firefox is Still Years Behind Google Chrome​

Quote from article...

Firefox has a problem. It has fallen behind, with development stalled on the most crucial, most difficult problems. Many of the most significant improvements in Firefox over the past few years have simply been copying changes made in Chrome.

We wish Firefox was better, but the reality is that it’s still not as good as Chrome. With so many former Firefox developers now working on Chrome at Google, perhaps it makes sense that the innovation has been happening in Chrome, not Firefox.
​

After reading that article, it compels me to install Chrome, but I won't because of the privacy reasons you mentioned above.

 

James, would using duckduckgo on Chrome get around the Chrome invasion of privacy, or would Firefox still be a better choice?

Also, you suggested Win Patrol. I'd love to know of a program that prevents people from unintentionally installing programs. My mother has a tendency to impatiently push buttons, resulting in problem programs being installed on her computer. Any suggestions of what I could install on her computer to protect herself from herself?

One last curiosity... All other OS forums show new activity daily, while Win 8 forum isn't as busy. I don't see problems posted here, primarily just complaints or clarifications. I find Win 8 to be very stable, but is it truly problem free (not annoyance free)?

 

It seems to me if Chrome's alleged extreme privacy issues are a concern (they should only a little since your ISP knows everything about you regardless your browser), and since FF falling behind in security is a known issue (though with extra care and due diligence by the user, that can be mitigated) I would suggest giving IE a sincere go again. Not 10 minutes but a couple days.

The reality is, like most things in life, once you get used to it, it will seem "normal ".

I never migrated to Vista so I was very familiar and comfortable with XP. But I am so used to W7 and W8 now that whenever I see an XP machine, it seems archaic, foreign and clumsy and stand there looking at until I remember how something works.

As for DuckDuckGo, it has a very limited scope of privacy protection. For example, it has nothing to do with data collected when you follow links in your browser in ways other than through DDG search results.

I've been using WinPatrol for years and highly recommend it - and the pro version is worth consideration too. WinPatrol has many features I never user but it does yell (or bark, actually) whenever something wants to add (or remove) a "startup" entry. And I like that. But understand WinPatrol will NOT stop you from unintentionally installing a program - it only stops (or alerts you to) programs wanting to start with Windows.

Of course not. W8 has problems - but most are "aesthetic" - that is they deal with the "look and feel" and it is the "look and feel" (new user interface) that has most people upset - and W8 sales way down.

 

I don't use duckduckgo, but I feel that any browser built by Google must have some way of tracking your movements regardless of privacy settings. Anyone that wants to rebut that, then feel free to do so.


I use Firefox, and even though I use StartPage for all of my search options, Google will insert a tracking cookie in Firefox unless I disable 3rd party cookies. Another thing I like about StartPage is the option to search in HTTPS mode.

 

What if you use Open DNS servers?

EDIT: According to Startpage's settings page, if you enable secure socket layer (SSL) / HTTPS, you will always establish a secure connection between browser and Startpage's servers. It prevents ISP's from snooping, but results in a slightly longer processing time.

 

If people are so concerned about privacy. Do not buy a house. Turn off all computers and do not use any kind of phone. Do not register a vehicle, or get a drivers license. Do not see a doctor or go into the hospital. Doctors offices are the worst when it comes to securing your privacy. The Waldbaums pharmacy by me when you pick up a prescription and you sign for it they leave the signing sheet right on the counter so anyone can look at it.

 

Hi All!

I don't know if anyone else uses it, but I use the free browser add-on 'Ghostery'

https://www.ghostery.com/

Ghostery blocks over 1800 trackers, & depending on your settings, you can decide who/what you want to block. It provides a little drop-down window, (if you choose to have it), that shows a list of who's tracking you, & they update the tracker list all the time, too. You can also decide if you want to bypass a tracker so you can go to the site just one time, or if you want to allow it to track you permanently. They also have GREAT support.

I find that using Firefox, (with the strictest settings) & using DuckDuckGo or StartPage AND using Ghostery is just what I need to feel comfortable when browsing.

My niece's husband, who thinks it's OK for anyone/everyone to track him, (yeah, he's quite naive), always says, "If you don't want to be followed on the Internet you should become Amish ".

When he grows up I'm sure he'll become an asset to something...I hope!! LOL

Anyway, all we can do is our best, and right now we're ALL searching for what's best for ourselves & each other. Until this "snooping disease" gets controlled we're all in a fight for our Privacy. With so many good people working on it, I don't think it'll be too long before things get better, OR someone will develop better ways to protect us. While we're waiting, we'll have to use whatever means we can to make us feel safe while we're online. We have good people to ask for advice or suggestions about this, and in my experience, these 'good people' are found on these Forums.

Hope the Ghostery link is helpful!

Nuts4Mutts

 

Your nephew-in-law is pretty much right. He is not as naïve as he appears.

I say again, your ISP knows everything about your habits and logs it all - regardless the tracking blocking you got going on your local machine.

 

Hi!

Yes, Bill, we all know that, too; however with an add-on like Ghostery the logging and tracking stops with your ISP.

It's nice to go to a site & see all the trackers that can't follow you all over the internet!

I was just trying to be helpful when I added the link for Ghostery.

Nuts4Mutts

 

Unfortunately, the *user* is the weak-link in computer security. A good antivirus, or real-time anti-malware program, can sometimes block an inadvertent installation if the program installer has *detectable* malware embedded with it.

Other than that, I know of no program that can replace a non-savvy user.

WinPatrol keeps a watch for system changes made behind your back, and, as Bill said, alerts you with a bark and a choice to allow (or disallow) these changes. (like changes to your home page, starting or stopping services, programs that want to start with Windows, etc.)

The link below explains WinPatrol in more detail...

To Bark and Protect​