2011-07-24 23:20:09 +02:00
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GNU IceCat is the GNU version of the Firefox browser.
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2010-05-13 01:00:02 +02:00
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2011-07-24 23:20:09 +02:00
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Its main advantage is an ethical one: it is entirely free software.
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While the principal source code from the Mozilla project is free
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software, the distribution contains various problematic files, the
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EULA they require for use of their binaries is troublesome, and they
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distribute and recommend non-free software as plug-ins.
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2010-05-13 01:00:02 +02:00
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2011-07-24 23:20:09 +02:00
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In addition, GNU IceCat includes some privacy protection features
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included in a separate addon:
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1. Some sites refer to zero-size images on other hosts to keep track
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of cookies. When IceCat detects this mechanism it blocks cookies
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from the site hosting the zero-length image file. (It is possible
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to re-enable such a site by removing it from the blocked hosts
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list.)
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2. Other sites rewrite the host name in links redirecting the user to
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another site, mainly to "spy" on clicks. When this behavior is
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detected, IceCat shows a message alerting the user.
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