Comment by godelski
2 months ago
> Why not use Brave browser
Why not use a non-chromium browser and help prevent Google from having larger control over the Internet?
We still need competition in the browser space or Google gets to have a disproportionate say in how the Internet is structured. I promise you, Firefox and Safari aren't that bad. Maybe Firefox is a little different but I doubt it's meaningfully different for most people [0]. So at least get your non techie family and friends onto them and install an ad blocker while you're at it.
[0] the fact that you're an individual may mean you're not like most people. You being different doesn't invalidate the claim.
Firefox is in decline and Brave will soon overtake it. Brave blocks ads natively. There is a lot of advantage in that but we also may eventually have a new model that funds the internet. And I don't see Firefox or Safari disrupting advertising.
https://data.firefox.com/dashboard/user-activity
https://brave.com/transparency/
I'll just throw out there that zen-browser.app is a gentle fork of Firefox to make it look like the (abandoned, chromium) arc browser, it's great.
That Brave link shows growth has flatlined
The line isn't of MAU growth.
I think you've missed the point entirely.
The point is that if everyone is using a single browser (not just Chrome/Chromium) then that actor gets disproportionate control over the internet. That's not good for anyone.
The specific gripe to Chromium is that _Google_ gets that say, and I think they are less trustworthy than other actors. I'm not asking anyone to trust Mozilla, but anyone suggesting Mozilla is less trustworthy than Google probably has a bridge to sell you. Remember that being Chromium still means that Brave is reliant upon Google. That leads to things like this[0,1]. Remember, the chromium source code is quite large, which is why things like [0] aren't so easily found. I also want to quote a quote from [0.1]
That wouldn't be the first time people have found Google preferencing their browser and it is pretty known this happens with YouTube. Do we really want ANY company having such control over the internet? Do we really want Google to?
I'm not sure what you're trying to tell me here. That Brave has 64% of the number of users as Firefox? That Brave users really like Gemini, Coinbase, and Uphold? That Brave users are linking their Brave account to sites like Twitter, YouTube, Reddit, GitHub, Vimeo, and Twitch? That Brave Ads is tracking via the state level? Honestly I have more questions looking at the Brave "transparency" report, as it seems to have more information about users than Firefox...
If you're extra concerned about privacy and that's your reason for Brave, then may I suggest the Mullvad browser[2]? It is a fork of Firefox and they work with Tor to minimize tracking and fingerprinting. You get your security, privacy, and out from under the boot of Google.
[0] https://github.com/brave/brave-browser/issues/39660
[0.1] https://simonwillison.net/2024/Jul/9/hangout_servicesthunkjs...
[1] https://www.bleepingcomputer.com/news/google/google-to-kill-...
[2] https://mullvad.net/en/browser
> I'm not sure what you're trying to tell me here.
I'm telling you that Firefox is going to be out of business soon because users favor ad blocking and blocking trackers. That is the trend. Firefox isn't growing anymore.
> Honestly I have more questions looking at the Brave "transparency" report, as it seems to have more information about users than Firefox...
Metrics can be transmitted without revealing the user. This is well known.
You can't suggest anything. I am done with this conversation.
2 replies →
I'm a loyal Brave user and I feel my loyalties being swayed right now...
2 replies →