Skip to main content

Comcast just joined Mozilla's program to make web browsing more private, after lobbying against similar efforts by Google last year

* On Thursday, Mozilla announced that Comcast will be the first internet service provider to join Firefox's efforts to make web browsing more private and secure.  * Last year, Firefox started using an encryption standard called DNS-over-HTTPS, or DoH, which encrypts the DNS look-up process of converting the website you type into a browser address bar into an IP address. Firefox initially launched with Cloudflare as it's sole DNS provider, with the company committing to a set of privacy requirements. * Comcast just signed on as a partner, too, meaning that it commits to limiting data collection and informing users of its data retention policies, among other things.  * Late last year, Motherboard reported that Comcast had lobbied lawmakers against similar encrypted-browsing efforts from Google.  * The DoH protocol overall has been criticized, with some privacy advocates saying that it over-promises its protections and some lawmakers arguing that it hampers legitimate efforts to block harmful web content.  * Click here to read more BI Prime stories. Comcast just joined Mozilla's efforts to make web browsing more private, after lobbying against similar efforts by Google last year. Mozilla, best known for its web browser Firefox, announced Thursday that Comcast will be the first internet service provider to sign onto its efforts to encrypt the DNS look-up process, which converts the website name you type into a browser address bar into an IP address that takes you to the right place. The aim of the encryption protocol — referred to as DNS-over-HTTPS, or DoH — is to make it harder for outsiders to see which websites you're visiting (your communication with those websites is generally already encrypted through HTTPS).   Firefox rolled out DoH for its users last year, with security company Cloudflare as its sole trusted DNS look-up partner. Now, Comcast is joining the Trusted Recursive Resolver program too, which means that it's committing to privacy requirements like limiting data collection and sharing, informing users of its data retention policies, and not blocking or filtering content without explicit consent (like through parental controls).  "Bringing [internet search providers] into the TRR program helps us protect user privacy online without disrupting existing user experiences," said Firefox CTO Eric Rescorla in a statement. "We hope this sets a precedent for further cooperation between browsers and ISPs." Comcast's move to join Mozilla's program comes roughly eight months after Motherboard reported in October 2019 that the internet service provider had lobbied lawmakers against similar encrypted browsing efforts from Google. At the time, a Mozilla spokesperson told Motherboard that the lobbying was "part of a pretty aggressive campaign we've seen from the ISPs to protect their control over DNS traffic and the tracking opportunities it provides them." Comcast subsequently released a blog post laying out its privacy policies and stating that it does not track the websites users visit or sell information that identifies its users.  The DoH protocol has been controversial in general. While Mozilla and privacy group Electronic Frontier Foundation, among others, have said that it makes web browsing more private and secure, it has also been criticized as over-promising its protections, while some lawmakers have argued that it can hamper legitimate efforts to prevent harmful web content. While Firefox isn't the only browser with DoH capabilities, it was the first to turn it on for all users by default. Mozilla originally started testing DoH in 2018.  Join the conversation about this story » NOW WATCH: Why electric planes haven't taken off yet
https://bit.ly/3fSEmcc

Popular posts from this blog

How to enable the text-to-speech feature on your Kindle Fire device to hear text read aloud

* You can enable the text-to-speech feature on your Kindle Fire device to have written content read aloud. * Both Kindle content and your personal documents can utilize the text-to-speech feature. * Text-to-speech inputs are also available for languages other than English and can be downloaded via the progress bar within the book itself. * Visit Business Insider's Tech Reference library for more stories. If you are vision-impaired or simply want to hear your book or document aloud rather than reading the text, Kindle Fire has a text-to-speech feature that will translate the written words to audio so you can listen aloud. Best of all, text-to-speech is not only available for Kindle books but also for many (though not all) personal text files. Turning on text-to-speech is easy and should only take a few seconds. Books in the Kindle store will even notify you if the capability is available before you purchase, though the feature must be turned on within the book or document itse...
Read more

The NSA warned staff that smartphone apps can track them. Here are their recommendations to avoid tracking.

* The NSA warned members of the US military and intelligence community this week that their smartphone apps could be tracking them and put their security at risk. * In guidance issued Tuesday, the agency noted that many apps make use of WiFi, GPS, and Bluetooth to collect cellphone location information, which is typically sold to advertisers or third parties. * The agency recommended specific steps for staff to reduce their data exposure, like restricting app permissions and reducing web browsing on their smartphones. * Visit Business Insider's homepage for more stories. The National Security Administration warned staff that the amount of data their smartphones track could pose a national security risk in new guidance issued Tuesday. The guidance highlights a practice that's common across Silicon Valley products but rarely understood by consumers: smartphones are constantly gathering information on users' location, through a combination of apps, the smartphone's o...
Read more

All the coolest features of every Tesla vehicle ever made or unveiled, ranked (TSLA)

* Tesla's vehicles are and always have been crammed with great ideas. * These range from touchscreen interfaces to innovative battery designs to staggering acceleration. * I've driven or experienced every vehicle Tesla has ever sold or intends to sell in the future. * Here are all my favorite features, ranked. * Visit Business Insider's homepage for more stories. In about two decades, Tesla has done what everyone in the auto industry thought was impossible: create an all-electric brand that could sell hundreds of thousands of vehicles. Tesla could have done that in a boring or modest way, developing  the equivalent of an electric VW Beetle. Instead, Tesla made fantastically compelling cars that are fast, look amazing, and are packed with features. Here's a rundown of all my favorites, ranked from bottom to top: FOLLOW US: On Facebook for more car and transportation content! Tesla has been in business for 17 years. In that period of time, it's consisten...
Read more