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▲ Mozilla Introduces Firefox Enterprise(firefox.com)
148 points by recvonline 2 hours ago | 72 comments
▲DoctorOW 20 minutes ago | parent | next [-]

As a Firefox user, I hope this works. As someone who works in IT, people are going to try and install Chrome at all costs and your ticket queues will be clogged with people saying a computer is broken or has no internet access if it doesn't have Chrome on it.

▲nine_k 5 minutes ago | parent [-]

For general-purpose use this may be true. For specialized Wrb-based tools, like access to medical or legal systems, not as much: the users are conditioned to work with a specific browser (many remember MSIE-only apps), and are used to the idea that their workstation has all kinds of Internet access limitations, along with a corporate policy that expressly forbids arbitrary browsing.

▲nicoburns an hour ago | parent | prev | next [-]

This was needed. A lot of large businesses ban Firefox because they don't have these kind of controls. I can't test Firefox on my work computer because company policy prevents it being installed. And that kind of thing really hurts Firefox.

▲mossTechnician 16 minutes ago | parent | next [-]

Is there a notable difference between Firefox Enterprise and standard Firefox with group policy management[0]?

[0]: https://support.mozilla.org/en-US/kb/customizing-firefox-usi...

▲roryirvine 5 minutes ago | parent | next [-]

Sounds like there's additional governance options (notably, SIEM integration) and Enterprise SSO - but I suspect the main benefit from the enterprise pov is going to be the account management and support teams.

▲nine_k 11 minutes ago | parent | prev [-]

From compliance checklist point of view, there may be enough difference. Addressing it is the point.

▲insin 36 minutes ago | parent | prev [-]

The large business I work for cited low usage when they blocked it from being installed a couple of years back.

▲LeBit 20 minutes ago | parent | next [-]

I work in IT and I am still surprised by how few of us are passionate about what we do.

90% of my colleagues use Microsoft Edge without extensions.

Other browsers are seen as exotic.

▲Foobar8568 16 minutes ago | parent | prev [-]

I gotta love to get "for security/safety" reasons, and yet I get ads on anything served. Bonus points for YouTube.

▲rockdoe 10 minutes ago | parent [-]

I mean I get it, as an admin there's only so much time you want to spend to support everyone's favorite setup. So "security/safety" is kind of a simple wave-off. It's sometimes just "we don't want to spend the time to figure out how to lock down this thing."

▲PaulHoule an hour ago | parent | prev | next [-]

Probably the most practical idea Firefox has had to maintain and possibly build up its market share in a long time.

▲shevy-java 4 minutes ago | parent [-]

Well, you read one of their goals and visions here. That part is ok.

The question is: how is that goal turning out once it meets reality?

Tons of great ideas failed for various reasons. Alan Kay keeps on pointing out how sad he is that Xerox PARC failed in many ways. Reality is a strong selector - and the evil Google empire will make competition really, really hard here.

▲Hugsbox 8 minutes ago | parent | prev | next [-]

Do I work in the twilight zone or something? The company I work for is trying to phase out Firefox, and I'm getting multiple complaints a week from non-technical users that they can't open Firefox anymore and they don't want to use any other browser.

▲Kuyawa an hour ago | parent | prev | next [-]

Does it block ads like Brave without installing extensions? Tracking is one of the worst plagues of modern browsing so blocking all kinds of tracking and fingerprinting should be the first concern in an enterprise. Nothing should leak to the outside world

▲ahartmetz an hour ago | parent | next [-]

Well, just install the fucking extension in Firefox. There is nothing else that is as good as uBlock Origin. E.g. Reddit prevents you from reading unless you log in? There's a filter for that in an "annoyances" block-list that you can activate.

▲austhrow743 38 minutes ago | parent | next [-]

Can people working at places that don’t let them install Firefox without an enterprise contract just go and install extensions?

▲traverseda 26 minutes ago | parent [-]

Firefox already had a very mature policy management engine, it just didn't have a nice gui and would require like ansible or something to use.

It allows forcing specific extensions on, and allowing user installs is a flag.

I use the policy engine on nixos to install some plugins and disable some of firefox's dumber features.

▲kotaKat 13 minutes ago | parent | prev [-]

I wanted to, but my dumbass global IT department directly blocks uBlock Origin, Origin Lite, and AdBlock by extension IDs. Chrome, Firefox, Edge, the works.

I cannot even begin to fathom that stupid fucking decision from someone above me.

▲coldpie 8 minutes ago | parent [-]

My company's security dept briefly (briefly!) put GCC on the banned software list. Yes, that GCC. Buncha big brainlords in that dept.

▲Telaneo a few seconds ago | parent [-]

How did that work out for them?

▲curt15 8 minutes ago | parent | prev | next [-]

It doesn't ship with a blessed adblocker, but firefox + ubo is still the gold standard.

▲rockdoe an hour ago | parent | prev | next [-]

This feature ships in Firefox for a few years IIRC? https://support.mozilla.org/en-US/kb/enhanced-tracking-prote...

I agree with the other person though that you should install uBlock Origin in Firefox (which works better there than in Chromium based browsers) and never look back.

▲tokai an hour ago | parent | prev [-]

If its first concern why would you use a browser that has ben caught injecting affiliate codes?

▲ahartmetz an hour ago | parent [-]

Note: that browser is Brave, I think the downvoters might have been confused

▲sdcfgy an hour ago | parent | prev | next [-]

I can't think of a single enterprise who I have worked with or know who'd pay for this when there's Chrome or Edge available.

▲ahartmetz 38 minutes ago | parent | next [-]

You can't think of an enterprise that doesn't want all of its web browsing metadata collected by third parties? Some enterprises are much more security-conscious than that. I have seen protected paper trash bins in a research lab and office buildings with X-ray scanners (mainly for electronic devices, not weapons).

▲TiredOfLife 24 minutes ago | parent [-]

That's what enterprise edge and probably also chrome do already.

▲ndegruchy an hour ago | parent | prev [-]

There's already Island browser that competes in this space. Plenty of companies pay for browser control that goes beyond what the normal policies can provide.

▲dzonga an hour ago | parent | prev | next [-]

this is move that should have been done a long time ago + with a bundled vpn or equivalent of a tailscale in the browser.

Mozilla would have made tons of money.

▲rockdoe 13 minutes ago | parent | next [-]

Someone dropped the following link, which seems to have way more detail than the press releases: https://www.firefox.com/en-US/firefox/enterprise/158.0/relea...

It looks like they do actually offer that as a feature: "Employees can access internal company sites and web apps from personal devices without a device-level VPN"

▲lenerdenator 42 minutes ago | parent | prev [-]

Hopefully they still can. Healthy Firefox == healthy browser market.

▲shevy-java 6 minutes ago | parent | prev | next [-]

They are trying. But it won't work.

I think if you really want to build something like that, you need real momentum. Perhaps the ladybird folks can succeed here, the future will tell. I don't think Mozilla has enough momentum left.

https://www.digitalapplied.com/blog/browser-market-share-202...

Firefox is between 2% and 3% now.

▲gamegod 10 minutes ago | parent | prev | next [-]

For all the garbage Mozilla puts out, this is actually a good idea.

▲gustavus 2 hours ago | parent | prev | next [-]

Now this is the kind of Mozilla project I can get behind it focuses on the browser it gives a potential path for revenue and I practically jumped up and down when they announced their bringing in Thunderbird.

Solid props to Mozilla for this one. Good job.

▲stuff4ben an hour ago | parent | next [-]

Right?!? There's a lot of negative sentiment on the comments here on HN but probably from people that don't understand locked down corps and other higher-security work environments where these features are needed. Plus not relying on Microsoft/Google is always a good thing. I can definitely see this being useful in hospitals, government orgs, etc.

▲mxuribe an hour ago | parent [-]

100% agreed, that this is a great idea for Mozilla! Maybe its not exciting like some new tech....but to those who like firefox and/or support open source offerings, digital sovereignty, etc....and also want to have that as an option at their enterprise, i think this is really good! Now, the hope is that orgs tap into it (so it can keep growing), plus i sure hope Mozilla manages this right...but overall, i think this is very encouraging, and I for one am very happy to see it being offered!

▲kevincox an hour ago | parent | prev | next [-]

Not only revenue but enterprise users are valuable market share. Think of things like Slack calling which last I checked don't work in Firefox unless you spoof the user-agent. More enterprise users will force better Firefox support in a huge variety of websites which will benefit all Firefox users.

▲t_mahmood an hour ago | parent | prev [-]

Yes, this is good move. I am not getting why are people being up in arms, if they are getting fund from this, it will help improving Firefox, and resolve pain points the complainers have.

All in all good thing, why are they so mad.

▲CodesInChaos an hour ago | parent | prev | next [-]

No public price information. I wonder how much they charge.

▲InsideOutSanta an hour ago | parent | next [-]

It's enterprise, so the cost is 500k unless you don't want to pay so much, then it's 50k.

▲KingOfCoders an hour ago | parent [-]

Or the sales rep needs to make their quarterly numbers.

▲boesboes an hour ago | parent | prev | next [-]

That's how you know it's enterprise!

▲jqpabc123 an hour ago | parent | prev [-]

If you have to ask the question, you're probably not going to like the answer.

▲krautsauer 11 minutes ago | parent [-]

You sure? Maybe I like Mozilla getting some money?

▲zecg an hour ago | parent | prev | next [-]

Does this mean they will remove "AI controls" (i.e. a way to completely shut all LLM shit off) from normal Firefox?

▲sunaookami an hour ago | parent | next [-]

No, why would you think that?

▲cowsandmilk an hour ago | parent [-]

The page literally says

> AI controls — allow, restrict or disable AI tools

So the answer is yes, no need for making up a cynical answer.

▲rockdoe an hour ago | parent | next [-]

I think that just means https://blog.mozilla.org/en/firefox/ai-controls/ will be administrator controlled in Enterprise settings. As in, the admin can force-disable all that stuff.

▲malfist 44 minutes ago | parent | prev | next [-]

Features aren't a zero sum game. Enterprise can have a set of features, and the consumer version can have the same feature. Turn the example around. Enterprise Firefox will render HTML. That does not mean the consumer version will have the ability to render HTML removed.

So the answer isn't yes. The answer is we don't know if they will or will not remove the feature from non-enterprise, but it doesn't seem likely.

▲llm_nerd an hour ago | parent | prev [-]

Ignoring that a feature page for a tier can include features from other "tiers", they're explicitly describing central governance and configuration of this.

So the answer is no, no need for reading tea leaves and making stuff up.

And I mean, does everyone here know that Firefox is open source?

▲ashenke an hour ago | parent | prev [-]

They list this as a feature in the submission page.

▲SuperNinKenDo an hour ago | parent | prev | next [-]

So much negativity in here. I mean, I get the antipathy toward Mozilla, but they're trying to find a way to make the actual browser a revenue stream. Yeah it could skew incentives or something, but unless you believe that you, and everyone you know is ready to start a paid subscription to Firefox Personal tomorrow, it's something like this, or more Google deals and pushing "service" integrations.

Seriously, this place is so damn negative these days, but not even constructively.

▲chrismorgan 37 minutes ago | parent [-]

Mozilla as an organisation is rotten and genuinely needs to die, so that Firefox can live. The only thing from Mozilla that people care about is Firefox, but Mozilla doesn’t care about Firefox to a quite stunning degree. As an example: four or five years ago they announced laying off a quarter of their 1,000 employees, and declared what they were going to be focusing on: none of it was related to Firefox in any way (and most of it they’ve since shut down). And it should go without saying that you don’t need 750 employees to make a browser, and probably can’t effectively use even a hundred.

▲ex1fm3ta 16 minutes ago | parent | prev | next [-]

Yesss this was needed so much.

▲s17tnet 2 hours ago | parent | prev | next [-]

And yet, still no simple way to self host the their syncserver (syncstorage-rs) without the mozilla account abomination.

▲soco an hour ago | parent [-]

Are you using, or planning to use, the Enterprise version, and feel like this functionality is missing? Or is the complain about the regular release? I'm asking because I fail to see the link...

▲darkwater 34 minutes ago | parent [-]

It's the good old "open source software adds feature X but what about feature Y I want??"

▲InsidiousWombat an hour ago | parent | prev | next [-]

> Firefox Enterprise puts customer privacy, independence and control first.

So what before came as main advantage of Firefox is now dropped and put behind the paywall?

▲jqpabc123 an hour ago | parent | prev | next [-]

Firefox Enterprise puts customer privacy, independence and control first.

Thanks for the open admission that regular Firefox does not.

▲Telaneo 39 minutes ago | parent | next [-]

No, they do not infact hate pancakes.

▲rockdoe an hour ago | parent | prev | next [-]

Pretty sure that's Firefox in contrast to the other alternatives in the Enterprise space.

▲LtWorf an hour ago | parent | prev [-]

"control first" to the IT department instead of the user.

▲fractalf an hour ago | parent | prev | next [-]

Once again Mozilla invents stuff noone wants. Its just incredible how an "org" with so much income fails again and again

▲evolve2k an hour ago | parent | next [-]

They need to try. I also feeling like there’s likley growing demand globally; like they mentioned. A need for greater digital sovereignty.

▲jqpabc123 an hour ago | parent | prev [-]

It's income they don't really earn.

Like a rich kid living on daddy's money, they're somewhat disconnected from the reality that most people exist in.

▲user3939382 28 minutes ago | parent | prev | next [-]

Mozilla sold out its values with ads, telemetry etc hence the existence of LibreWolf, which should have no reason to exist.

I manage these types of decisions and won’t use it.

▲sixhobbits 2 hours ago | parent | prev [-]

every announcement I see from Mozilla makes me happier that I switched to WaterFox last year and don't have to deal with their shit any more

▲auslegung 2 hours ago | parent [-]

What do you dislike about this announcement?

▲zecg an hour ago | parent [-]

How they list "AI controls — allow, restrict or disable AI tools" which Firefox now has under Enterprise, but not normal version.

▲ashenke an hour ago | parent | next [-]

There is a AI menu in Firefox where you can disable individual AI features, as well as a single toggle to disable every current and future features.

▲GrinningFool an hour ago | parent | prev | next [-]

You can already do that in regular firefox. I think in this case, it's adding the capability to enable/disable via policy at the enterprise level.

▲malfist an hour ago | parent | prev [-]

Firefox does have a setting to disable all AI features. It's in your settings: Settings > AI Controls > Block AI Features