>"Will the old trick of outlining your license plate with a bunch of high power IR LEDs obscure your plate from the camera, while still allowing human eyes to read them....?"

1) That won't work in the daytime.
2) Many States have laws against anything that would tamper with the ability of cameras to video/photograph plates (and I am sure more laws will be coming).
3) Flock and others are gathering non-plate fingerprinting so they can get around depending on the plate. Vehicle make/color/accessories, bumper stickers, accident damage, WiFi/bluetooth/TPMS broadcasts, etc.

This is a fight that you cannot win, other than making the surveillance, itself, illegal. And I fear that is going to be a losing prospect as well.

>"Unfortunately that give the police a reason to kill you."

An outcome that is statistically almost zero, if you follow instructions and common sense. But I guess trying to escape, run over officers, fight officers, and/or brandish weapons (or look like it) makes more sense.

Your chance to resist/correct/fight law enforcement is in court, not on the street.

>"Russia's Foreign Ministry issued criticism of America's move, saying "In pursuit of its narrow self-interests, Washington is ready to completely ignore the catastrophic consequences for humanity of any armed conflict in orbit."

Yeah, I don't think we care much about Russia's take on this. They have little to no moral high ground when it comes to "humanity" and "armed conflict". And China has been, no doubt, moving forward steadily with weapons in space.

Anyway, killer space satellites and sentient AI possibly coming... has there ever been a more clear indication of Sykynet?

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/...

That might be on by default in later versions. But it can be disabled and will remain disabled. And that doesn't mean it isn't being "private."

Some people don't want automatic updates, or automated checking. It also depends on which OS and which Firefox you have installed. For example, under Linux, Firefox from the distro will typically have zero notifications or updating because it is handled elegantly by the distro updates.

>"Apparently Mozilla isn't interested in simple. Like so many other companies, the object is to make things as complicated, convoluted, and inconvenient as possible."

Their objective is to make sure web browsing is secure and that you are aware of updates. Look, I agree with you that there should be an easy way to turn it off, even if just in about:config. But they made it clear when they took it away (many years ago) that they aren't going to bring that back, due to security. And I do have some sympathy for that position, considering many users would just never update- giving themselves a sub-optimal experience and possibly giving Mozilla a bad reputation.

But complaining about it to others in Slashdot over and over makes zero difference. All it does is stir up unnecessary and unneeded negativity while also making it sound like there is NO way to disable update checking/warning, which is not true. And that they are incompetent on this, which is also not true, because it was/is intentional.

>"That's true now that pocket is gone, perhaps."

I don't think pocket did anything to collect data unless you had it configured and were actually using it, though. I am not certain. I just disabled pocket in settings or about:config and paid it no mind.

The funny thing is, although it is a bogus "bug" report, they treated it like it was real.

In any case, Mozilla only collects anonymized data by default. And you can happily, quickly, and easily turn that off and it will turn it off and it will remember that across updates.

>"For all they keep doing, the one thing they can't seem to do is make a checkbox to stop being harassed about updates."

You literally post this on every article about Firefox. Aren't you tired yet? I have replied numerous times that they are *NEVER* going to do that. And then I pointed you to using policies, which will disable updates.

>"No random passerby, tradesperson, delivery driver, ever had their phone's mobile hotspot turned on and unsecured...."

I suppose that is possible, if the TV were really that obsessed- trying all the time, while also ignoring the "off" setting.

One option is to buy a commercial signage display [bhphotovideo.com] which are still more like "dumb" displays. "

That is overkill. Just buy whatever TV you want and never connect to it a network. I bought a high-end Samsung and have been enjoying it for years. It has never been connected to a network. And no, there is no "open"/insecure WiFi network in range of the TV. So if it is collecting anything, it doesn't matter. "Smart" stuff should be separate and replaceable. I have a non-networked blueray player connected, my Linux desktop system, a TiVo, and a Roku Ultra. TiVo has no microphones or cameras. Roku has a mic only on the remote, yet no reports of that being an issue, and no cameras. Linux, well, that is, of course, safe.

I literally use my TV as a display monitor. Even sound is external, like it should be, using a nice audio/video amplifier and many great speakers for actual 5.1 surround. Not the fake crap you get with TV speakers or "sound bars".

Reply to self:

>"And I guess I can believe you are using TE3"

Obvious typo, that should read "TE4"

>"Every place I look and ask says all Suggestions and Thumbs Up/Down were shut down in 2023."

It apparently was for TE4.

>"My TiVo hasn't had it since 2023."

Then you are probably using TE4. I am using TE3. Why it would still work with TE3 and not TE4 makes absolutely no sense to me at all. I suppose the functionality is completely local with TE3 and somehow they needlessly "cloudified" that function with TE4. I intentionally never switched to TE4 on my Roamio because I hated that user interface. Bolt cable version (not OTA version) can also use either, as well. But Bolt OTA and Edge was/is TE4 only.

>"I guess I can believe you."

And I guess I can believe you are using TE3

>"And don't call people assholes."

Normally I don't. But re-read what you posted to me and tell me it wasn't needlessly insulting! But (in your words) "I guess I can" apologize for that...

>"Whatever, you might seem to think it works, but it was shut down in 2023."

Don't be an asshole. I have used TiVo for decades. I know exactly how suggestions work and use them all the time on my TE3 Roamio. You are accusing me of either being an idiot or lying, and neither is correct. I suspect you don't even know what TE3 or TE4 is. So think before you post.

Suggestions was shut down for TE4. Not for TE3.

>"Nope, it doesn't work at all anymore. TiVo discontinued Thumbs Up/Down and Suggestions in early 2023."

Mine records suggestions, every day.
Mine thumbs up and down work fine, every day.

According to my information, only TE4 (Edge) was affected. Mine is a Roamio. I am using TE3. So your statement isn't technically correct. Apparently they discontinued it for TE4 only. I didn't even know that (since it doesn't affect me).