Waterfox

Waterfox 6.6.13 is rolling out! Auto-updates to follow soon...

Big changes - the built-in ad blocker is now available to use, and Startpage has been temporarily replaced with 1.org (a charitable search engine).

Plus, tracking protection fixes and web compat work.

https://www.waterfox.com/releases/6.6.13

6.6.13 - Default ad blocker & search updates - Waterfox Release

Security fixes, the built-in ad blocker now enabled by default, a new temporary default search engine, and several web compatibility improvements.

Waterfox
May 19 at 4:56pmWeb
Show threadAstridMay 19

@Waterfox

In the interest of transparency (and curiosity)... who requested you remove Startpage as a search engine, and what was the explanation for why?

Show threadJeffMay 19

@Waterfox

Checking out 1.org and it looks like there's no AI chat or summaries. Unless I'm missing something?...

Show threadMaryMarasKittenBakeryMay 19
@cynical13 @Waterfox
Which would be great!
Show threadJeffMay 19

@MaryMarasKittenBakery @Waterfox

Absolutely! It's really difficult to find search engines with decent results that's untainted by AI.

Show threadKg. Madee Ⅱ.May 19
@cynical13 @Waterfox cool!
Show threadUSB Type-Steve May 21
@cynical13 @Waterfox DuckDuckGo (I know, I know) does have an AI-less mode, FWIW.
Show threadJeffMay 21

@USBTypeSteve @Waterfox

No, they do, and I've used it recently.

However, I'm genuinely struggling with using their search engine and turning off AI to show them how many of their customers do not want AI and using a company that's actively supporting AI and giving business to companies who have taken a stand against AI.

I'm leaning more towards the latter and only using things like No AI DDG when I have no other choice.

Show threadDaforLynx VGMMay 19
@Waterfox What was the reason for switching off Startpage? Why is there no stated reasoning for why, other than a passive "we were asked to"?
Show threadWaterfoxMay 19
@DaforLynx it was costing them more to serve Waterfox users than they were making back
Show threadDaforLynx VGMMay 19
@Waterfox i see! That makes sense.
Show threadppwMay 21
@Waterfox Why was Startpage removed? I mean, it's easy to put it back, but there must be a good reason for removing it from the default settings entirely, right?
Show threadKristoffer ørum5d ago
@Waterfox I love using waterfox and understand the economic pressures of developing great stuff on minimal resources - but it is really unfortunate that the new and inferior search engine was forced during update, please don't do that in the future