#safer internet

[izicodes]

Switching to Firefox

This post is to answer @leaveblackkbrosalone’s question on my post about me switching to Firefox!

I recently had an eye opener moment when researching about Google and how they collect data to alter the things they recommend you and other things. And it was astonishing how much data they collect on you and how they track you every movement whilst on Google/Chrome/Other Google services e.g. Google PlayStore.

I truly believe there are better alternatives out there than the default Google Chrome people tend to use. We now live in world of constant data breaches and online tracking, therefore protecting your online privacy and security has never been more important.

I’ve recently deleted Chrome from my phone and computer and switched to FireFox and I’ll explain why~!

What is Firefox?

Firefox is the famous fox web browser! It is a free and open-source that is developed by the Mozilla Foundation. It's designed to be fast, secure, and customizable, and is available for multiple operating systems, including Windows, Mac, and Linux.

Firefox includes a suite of built-in features, such as enhanced tracking protection, custom themes (so important obviously) and add-ons, and a flexible interface that can be tailored to the user's needs.

Why Firefox and not Google Chrome?

There are a bunch of reasons why I chose to delete Google Chrome and why I prefer FireFox now, let me list some:

Privacy

Firefox has a strong focus on privacy and security, with features like built-in tracking protection and a strict anti-tracking policy.

In contrast, Chrome is owned by Google, a company that relies heavily on data collection and advertising for its business model.

Customisation

Firefox has a much more flexible and customizable interface than Chrome, with a wide range of add-ons (equivalent to Chrome’s ‘extensions’ I believe) and themes available to personalize your browsing experience.

Open-source

Firefox is an open-source project, meaning that anyone can contribute to its development and review the code for security issues.

Chrome, on the other hand, is based on the Chromium project, which is also open-source but is controlled by Google.

Cross-platform compatibility

Firefox works on a wide range of devices and operating systems, including Windows, Mac, Linux, and mobile devices.

Chrome is also available on multiple platforms, but it's more heavily integrated with Google's services and ecosystem.

Performance

Firefox has made significant improvements in recent years and is now a competitive browser in terms of speed and efficiency.

Still, Chrome is known for its fast performance

Community-driven

Firefox is developed by the non-profit Mozilla Foundation, which has a strong focus on user empowerment and community involvement. This means that Firefox users have a voice in the development process and can contribute to the browser's future direction.

With all of that being said, there is one particular area that caught my eye that I mentioned briefly: the Privacy and Security.

Firefox’s Privacy and Security Advantages

Firefox definitely has advantages in these areas than Google Chrome surprisingly!

Enhanced Tracking Protection

Firefox includes built-in tracking protection that blocks many common types of trackers by default, including

third-party cookies, cryptominers, and fingerprinters

This helps to protect your online privacy and reduce the amount of data that's collected about you. Below are the options for the 'Enhance Tracking Protection' in the settings:

No Google Tracking

Oh boy, I like this one. So unlike Chrome, which is owned by Google and ties into its advertising and data collection ecosystem, Firefox is developed by the non-profit Mozilla Foundation and has no affiliation with Google or any other major tech company. This means that Firefox is less likely to collect and share your data with third parties.

No Sign-In Required

While Chrome requires you to sign in with a Google account to access certain features, Firefox does not require any sign-in at all. This means that you can still use Firefox without creating a user profile or linking your browsing activity to any personal information -

Don’t get me wrong, if you want to use the Google search engine WITHIN FireFox, it might still prompt you to sign in but you still don’t have to! Also, the choice is there to create an account just to sync bookmarks and tab from one device to another e.g. phone to laptop.

Private Browsing Mode

(Another very important part!) Firefox offers a Private Browsing mode that doesn't save your browsing history, cookies, or temporary files. This can be useful for browsing sensitive content or preventing others from seeing what you've been looking at.

Firefox's Private Browsing mode offers a more robust set of features for privacy and security than Google’s Incognito mode. Within the ‘Settings’, you can customise your privacy settings more extensively than Google Chrome. You can choose to block all third-party cookies, prevent websites from accessing your location data, and clear your browsing history and data automatically when you close the browser.

Google's Incognito mode does not block all cookies or prevent all forms of tracking.

Open-Source Security

Like I mentioned before, Firefox is an open-source project, meaning that anyone can review the code and contribute to its development. This helps to ensure that security vulnerabilities are identified and addressed quickly, and that the browser remains as secure as possible. You too can find something and report it to the repository via creating an issue!

To Conclude

Of course, these are just some general reasons why you might prefer Firefox over Chrome, and the choice ultimately comes down to personal preference and priorities. I know with developers, they would prefer Chrome for the dev tools and I think it’s almost a standard to use Chrome (though at my workplace we use Microsoft Edge), anyhoo Google is just a default for web browsing and search engine. I also know it’s hard if you have a whole Google ecosystem set up like Google docs to Sheet to Slides, emails, calendar etc, you can still use them but on a safer browser.

I would also recommend using ‘DuckDuckGo’ for a search engine as they too are really good with security and privacy but as a search engine (plus on their phone app they have a cool animation when you want to delete you browsing data from the tabs hehe)!

Links to interesting pages for more information on this topic:

YouTube videos: video 1 | video 2 | video 3 | video 4

Articles: article 1 | article 2 | article 3

I’d say give it a go, if you don’t like it I still recommend anything but Google Chrome! Well, that’s all and thank you for reading! 🥰👍🏾💗

[anik211]

Say Hello to Personhood Credentials: Your Digital ID for a Safer Internet! 🔑🌐

Ever wondered if the person you’re chatting with online is actually human? 🤔 With AI getting smarter every day, it’s harder to tell! But don’t worry—personhood credentials are here to save the day! 🚀✨ What Are Personhood Credentials? 🤖 Think of personhood credentials as a digital badge that proves you’re a real person without giving away your personal info. It’s like showing your ID, but…

[goodmorningevildoers]

You're welcome.

[bloggingforu]

Safer Internet Day 2023: Know Theme, History, Significance.

What is Safer Internet Day 2023

safer Internet Day (SID) is an annual international celebration that takes place on the second Tuesday of February in order to encourage more secure and responsible use of technology and devices specifically for mobiles for young people and children.

It is organized by ENISA which is the European Union Agency for Network and Information Security (ENISA) and is celebrated in over 100 countries across the globe.

The theme of Safe Internet Day changes each year, but the aim remains the same in educating people about the risks of using online and promote safe usage of technology, and encourage everyone to take the appropriate steps to protect their own safety and that of others online.

The aim of the day is to promote safe and secure internet usage which includes protecting your privacy, preventing cyberbullying and harassment online and also providing information and resources to help you keep your safety online in your mind.

blogforuProvides you with informational and knowledgeable Content.

History of Safer Internet Day 2023

Safer Internet Day (SID) was first introduced in 2004 under the Commission’s Safer Internet Program. It was the first time Safer Internet Day was celebrated on the 11th of February 2004 and, since then, has grown into an international holiday which is observed in over 100 countries.

The celebration is to raise awareness of the risks of internet browsing, and to urge everyone who connects to the internet to take responsibility for their online actions.

Every the year Safer Internet Day has distinct themes that are focused on particular issues related to online security such as privacy, cyberbullying and responsible use of digital technology.

It is observed through a myriad of events and activities , including online safety education as well as public presentations. Social media-related initiatives. The goal is to celebrate and provide a secure and safe online experience for all, regardless of age, gender or ethnicity.

It’s a way to remind everyone all that they play an obligation to participate of making internet an safer environment and encourage positive and responsible online conduct.

Safer Internet Day Theme 2023

2023’s theme (SID) 2023 hasn’t been officially announced as of yet.

Here are some previous themes from Safer Internet Day:

2022 “Together for a better internet”

2021 “An internet we trust: exploring reliability in the online world”

2020: “Together for a better internet”

2019 “Safe and responsible use of technology”

2018 “Create, Connect and Share Respect: A better internet starts with you”

2017 “Be the change: unite for a better internet”

2016 “Play your part for a better internet”

2015 “Let’s create a better internet together”

These themes highlight the evolving nature of the online security challenges and the need to continue efforts to ensure an internet that is safer and more secure for everyone.

The themes urge everyone to participate in promoting safety online and creating a safe online environment.

[letsplaythermalnuclearwar]

hey you know what would be like. the WORST possible thing? if no time had passed for mortals during God Games. if the entire time, Odysseus had just been frozen on that ledge. and at the start of the Vengeance Saga, Ody's still on the ledge. he looks to the skies, to the trees, out over the ocean. he looks for an owl with knowing eyes and strains to hear her voice over the waves, because surely, surely she'd come for him. the haven't spoken in nine years and he ruined whatever relationship they had when he stupidly, foolishly let the cyclops live, but she has to still care, right? she was his mentor. she was his patron. he meant something to her. he's sure of it

but she's not there. he waits, but she's not there. he closes his eyes, sparing himself the view, and steps off the ledge

and is saved by Hermes. and Odysseus briefly thinks that he has died, since Hermes escorts souls to the underworld. but Hermes assures him that, no, he's alive, Athena heard him, she bargained with Zeus, he can go home now. he can finally go home

his friend came through

[fisheito]

at last....yakumo with CHIKEN

[shalomniscient]

i am begging on my KNEES for my pinned post to be read… i do not derive any sort of joy from blocking people but,

if you are an ageless blog and you come into my inbox to interact in any way, much less ask me about the honest to god porn i’ve written, you are getting a block.

once more, i am not doing this out of malice. please respect my boundaries to not want to discuss nsft content, or any kind of content, with someone that could be a minor.

[taldigi]

I wanna post more fanart but I always end up getting anxious about it, especially since people aren’t my strong suit. Any advice? You make some of the coolest and funniest fanart I’ve seen haha

Post your art and put tags on stuff. People who see it and want engage with it, will. People who are mean are blockable. People who love it will say so. Everyone else aren't people you want to please.

So my advice is that in general, people don't matter unless you want them to matter. It may seem kind of grim, but it's honestly just... when it comes to the online ecosystem it's unwise to put your mental health on the line for strangers who will move on won't care either way.

Also remember that you have distance and anonymity on your side. They areant going to show up at your school or workplace and hurt you about it. Have fun about it.

if it helps, i have severe social anxiety and struggle with people too. So you're not alone in that aspect.

[silent-sentinels]

dont mind the username change btw we're just separating blogs into a personal talky blog and a more plural oriented (ploriented...) blog, we'll keep you updated [fingerguns]

[hitokshellart]

HII!! IM INLOVE WITH YOUR AU AND I JUST WANTED TO ASK WHEN DO YOU THINK THE NEXT PART WILL BE OUT???

SORRY IF ITS ANNOYING THAT I ASKED BUT I JUST LOVE IT SO MUCH JUST TAKE YOUR TIME THOUGH :))

Not annoying at all dw!! And the update is later today :]

[oifaaa]

So a genuine question. I'm somewhat new to DC comics (was on the edge looking into the fandom for most of my life but only recently started reading the comics) and I thought the "Tim stalked Batman and Robin with a camera" was a canon thing? I can't remember the first time I saw it, but I feel like it was mid 2010s, so earlier then what I thought was the start of the Tim Angst Era of fanfic. Like I know I've seen fanart of it from people who said they don't really read fanfiction, so I assumed it was a canon thing. Do you have any idea what might have started it? In my experience fanon stuff starts with a grain of truth somewhere, even if by the end it's lost that grain.

Yes I do it actually did start in canon basically Tim does take pictures of Batman but its after jason dies since it's bc batman is killing himself and he needs evidence to prove to Dick that Bruce is killing himself so that dick will want to become robin again (it doesn't work but he tried) and he does stalk dick and the titans a bit since after the titans come back from space dick decides to leave them for a wee while so tim has to stalk them to figure out where dick is

[an-albino-pinetree]

A reminder to please have your age in your bio if you are interacting with any of my spicy art, that includes likes, reblogs, and commenting, thank you! -v-

[screamingay]

someone on here will literally say "encouraging plastic surgery for the sole purpose of conforming to eurocentric beauty standards isn't actually feminism" and 200 other people will come out of the woodworks and chant in harmony LET WOMEN BE HAPPY and WHAT ABOUT TRANS PEOPLE AND BURN VICTIMS as if the post wasn't clearly 1. about womens' self image & insecurities being strongly influenced by the richest and whitest of society and 2. not about trans people or burn victims at all

[theaologies]

Godddd if I ever went back to school for a historical subject that wasn’t Irish or space exploration history it would be for internet history. I would looooooove to write papers on the growth of the internet as a media to spread and share information at rates and in ways so unfathomable there was no way to prevent things governments didn’t want the masses knowing about from getting out. When I was little most people didn’t even have internet in their homes. And then dial up came on discs. Just old enough to have had unrestricted internet access as a child because nobody in my family could figure out how to work computers like I could and only I knew about how to delete the search history

[arrgh-whatever]

hhhhhhfff my personal comic baceme a "hit tweet" on twitter and that does NOT feel good

[theheadlessgroom]

@beatingheart-bride

At Emily's earnest praise of his handiwork, Randall blushed and shyly averted his gaze with a shy, humbled smile, while the Gracey's exchanged smiles of their own at this: Given his skill with a needle and thread, and his eye for color and details, Randall ensured that he and his wife were a formidable duo when it came to style, and both Dorian and Elizabeth were delighted to have their oldest and dearest friends as their fashion rivals. All in good fun, of course-especially when it came to holidays like All Hallows Eve.

"Y'know, I'm thinking those are fighting words," Dorian chuckled playfully, as Randall grinned back at him a little, "They just might be! You want to accept that challenge, Dori?"

"Challenge accepted!" the master of the house mirrored the look as he shook his best friend's hand vigorously: While Randall was working hard on his quartet of Addams Family costumes for himself, Emily, and the children (his parents politely declined to join in the theme, instead planning on their own separate costumes), Dorian and Elizabeth had put their heads together and planned on a lavish Egyptian theme for their costumes, a pair of romantic royals entombed together-Dorian wondered if anyone would appreciate their wordplay on the word "mummy"...

But he kept that to himself-it had been a struggle, keeping all of this under wraps (oh dear, it sounded like he'd been spending too much time with Beau again...), but it wouldn't be long before the truth would come out, and both he and Lizzie sincerely looked forward to it. He liked to imagine it would be a much-welcomed surprise when they decided to announce it-he wasn't sure who'd be more excited to hear it, Randall and Emily, or Lon and Erika...