How to get for android w/o Google Play violates my security by asking for
Google play violates my system security and privacy. it asks for location which once turned on is difficult to remove, camera, microphone, photos media and files identity device app and history. None of this is necessary for a browser. Your organization is working against mass surveillance. Google is possibly the worlds largest mass surveillance organization and these requests for permissions are violating my privacy and create potential security risks now and in the future. Android is already flimsy enough on security that I am very exacting about what I allow my device to do.
May I please receive the Firefox for Android app as an email attachment so I can use your great product without violating my privacy and security. I know this works because other app vendors have done this for me.
All Replies (6)
I appreciate your wise words. You are not bind to download it from the google play. You can directly download .apk file from Mozilla's ftp server. Check this: https://ftp.mozilla.org/pub/mozilla.org/mobile/releases/latest/android-api-11/multi/
You may check this link for more info: Download Firefox for Android
Or if your device has a Intel cpu see https://ftp.mozilla.org/pub/mozilla.org/mobile/releases/latest/
Note that the Android mobile Firefox Release and Beta channel builds installed manually do not get updates like you would on desktop Firefox.
Modified by James
Thank you for your replies. My device has a Qualcomm Snapdragon cpu. It is a Samsung Galaxy Note 3
When I downloaded the apk from the link in Sashoto Seeam's reply I still get the same intrusive requests for rights including location, camera, microphone that I object to as an invasion of my privacy. How do I avoid this privacy violation?
I am new to help forums so I may not be using this resource correctly. Thank you
Unfortunately due to the way Android functions with regards to permissions Firefox needs to ask for a wide range of permissions to provide functionality.
These Android permissions are only called when the the site you are visiting asks and the user agrees to share access to the device feature.
For example with regards to location visiting yelp.com will ask for your current location to better suggest restaurants within walking distance of your current location. The user is in control of granting yelp this information.
Camera and microphone are used to provide the user the ability to upload photos/video directly from the camera instead of switching from Firefox to the camera app to take a photo, then switch back to Firefox, then navigate to the file that they want to upload. It is used for WebRTC communications as well.
https://support.mozilla.org/en-US/kb/how-firefox-android-use-permissions-it-requests
Thank you for this info. I find it very disappointing.
All I want is a browser just like on my pc for me to look up info on the internet. Can these location, camera and microphone features of Android Firefox be turned off? Skipping state sponsored surveillance, the internet today is a very large criminal network and it is easy to spoof so called authorization requests to enable something without knowing you have done so. What do you suggest otherwise.. Thank you.
Firefox desktop has the same features.