What to do about Junk Firefox Ad-Ons??

[J-Mac]

In all fairness, I don't know if that's so unreasonable. At a glance, I didn't see much problem with what they wrote. The problem is that they don't seem to tell you much about what they are or are not doing with the data.

I agree. As privacy policies go, tha's a pretty fair one. Only thing lacking is what specific data they do collect and what they do with it.

[Frank Lion]

Maybe because I live in Britain, then I look at the legal side in a different light to those who live in the US.

Where are the Terms and Conditions for Firefox usage?

Fun? I like fun. I like the fun of going into a bookshop and paying £15.00 for a book on a foreign language, without the shopkeeper telling me what I will or will not do, for the privilege of buying it. Since when exactly did the tail start wagging the dog?

Since when did I did need the following just to learn a foreign language, may I ask?

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[J-Mac]

Yeah, Frank - but how can you compare a book purchase - in a book shop, at that - with Internet site usage? Are you saying that you have issues with Internet Privacy Policies in general? Or specifically with the one at WordLearner? I was comparing it to privacy policies I have seen at other wesites; specifically to the Conduit/Effective Brand toolbar sites which we were using for comparison at the start.

[Frank Lion]

Yeah, Frank - but how can you compare a book purchase - in a book shop, at that - with Internet site usage? Are you saying that you have issues with Internet Privacy Policies in general?

Bear in mind, J, that in the post above that I was dealing solely with the 'Terms and Conditions' side and not the 'Privacy Policy.'

You are quite correct that our main areas of concern in relation to Addons is the comparison of the effective privacy policies of the extensions that should or should not be available from Addons. Plus, obviously, the issues that dk70 and I covered regarding the legitimacy of the extension authors, themselves.

However, in the above post, I wanted to digress from that to make the point, that is not often raised, that there is nothing inherently special about the Internet when it comes to money, than in any other area of purchasing. I'm not saying that the above example is any better or worse than you see on the Net elsewhere. What I am saying is would we so readily accept such stringent restrictions of our own rights in any other field of buying, such as simply buying a language book in a shop, which would effect the same end? I know I wouldn't, I'd walk out of the shop, if the guy started reading that lot out.

Put simply, I see no distinction here and would argue that with the success of the Open Source movement, that it is rarely necessary for the 'customer' to have to jump through these hoops for such a privilege as being allowed to purchase the goods and services of many Internet companies that we see.

Having now said that, I will, in future, stick to the precise topic here.

[J-Mac]

No problem, Frank. I understand now. I didn't have any disagreement with what you said. I just thought you had seen something specific on their site that triggered this, and I wondered what I had missed.

Not jumping on you for going OT, so to speak. Far be it from me to do that, with the number of times that I go off-topic!

[VanillaMozilla]

Frank, those terms and conditions are written by lawyers. They all look like that. It's a little-known fact that every piece of fritter ware has a clause that by clicking here you agree to give up your first-born child. So far, no one has ever noticed.

Speaking of questionable extensions, I do wish to post a tiny bit off the subject and bring attention to this: http://forums.mozillazine.org/viewtopic.php?p=2507316 .

EDIT: I posted the wrong link. The link I intended was for the message at the top of the page.

[Frank Lion]

Frank, those terms and conditions are written by lawyers. They all look like that. It's a little-known fact that every piece of fritter ware has a clause that by clicking here you agree to give up your first-born child. So far, no one has ever noticed.

Speaking of questionable extensions, I do wish to post a tiny bit off the subject and bring attention to this: http://forums.mozillazine.org/viewtopic ... 14#2508714 .

Yes, thanks Vanilla, but when I posed the question, "BTW who wrote the 'fun' Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policy, for all this then? You?".... I had, in fact, already recognised the characteristic slimy trail of a member of the second oldest profession in the the world, at work here.

Still, between us, maybe this will no longer be such a 'little-known fact', as it once was.

Anyway, the guy did ask for feedback, didn't he? ...and indeed he should feel free to collect 2 'new' words from me, upon request.

Your second paragraph touches on what I think will be the very least of Addons problems, if this whole issue is not quickly and effectively resolved.

[anderzen]

often big box stores will ask for some personla information to add to a data base but I guess the difference between that and the Internet is you are face to face with the person and you have a good idea what the information is begin used for but over the Net you are not face to face and don't really know all the time what your personal information will be used for or where it will go...and how often has a book store handed you a privacy policy to read before you make a purchase ?

[old LoudNoise]

Our you can just tell the big box folks no. I do it all the time and no one refuse to take my money yet.

[anderzen]

Yeah exactly LoudNoise...but you don't have that option for most web sites when you should...we shouldn't have to give out our identity info for everthing on the Net

[J-Mac]

Our you can just tell the big box folks no. I do it all the time and no one refuse to take my money yet.

This brought back some good (or were they?) memories!! Retail stores used to require your phone number and other personal info when you returned something. I always argued with the clerks over this, saying that if they didn't require it to take my money, they don't need it to return my money. Some got pretty heated - I was never a patient person. I used to end up giving them an address like, "123 Santa Claus Lany, North Pole" or the like if it was the only way to get my money back.

I remember one time a clerk actually challenged me on this and we ended up with the police there threatening to take me away! Of course they didn't - they had no desire to arrest me for this, though they didn't necessarily respect your rights back then!

OK - now we return you to your regularly scheduled thread...

[VanillaMozilla]

This thread is not about general attacks on your privacy. This is about Firefox addons. The people who started this thread mean business about keeping Firefox on track. OK?

[anderzen]

This thread has a life of its own...Is there any Add-ons that are made by the people who brought us Firefox ?..I never researched that

[bergie]

or making cryptic trolls like frank does

I beg your pardon? I asked you for your point, not abuse. Behave yourself.

Well said Frank--I forbad those arrogant,snotty replies a long time ago.

[VanillaMozilla]

Here's a follow-up: http://shaver.off.net/diary/2006/10/31/ ... ality-bar/ .

Here's what the front page of www.mozilla.org used to say:
"Browse the Web with confidence - Firefox protects you from viruses, spyware and pop-ups. Enjoy improvements to performance, ease of use and privacy." Hmm...., is that true?

Here's what it says now:
"The award-winning Web browser is now faster, more secure, and fully customizable to your online life."
"Firefox continues to lead the way in online security, and now includes active protection from online scams to keep you safer."

Hmm.... Nothing about privacy.