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Google to Firefox users: Dump Yahoo for us

Rohith_Kumar_Sp
By Rohith_Kumar_Sp
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Google is trying to persuade users of the Firefox browser to ditch Yahoo as their default search engine.
 

In November, Firefox-maker Mozilla cut a deal in which Yahoo would take over in the US as the "default search experience on Firefox across mobile and desktop," Yahoo CEO Marissa Mayer announced at the time. Mozilla's goal was to work with a more flexible search engine that didn't also compete with its own product as Google does with its Chrome browser. Prior to the switch, Google had been the default search in Firefox since 2004.

And just what has Google been doing to win back Firefox users?
 

The search giant has been displaying not-so-subtle messages on its home page asking Firefox users a couple of questions: Do you want to make Google your default search engine? Do you want to make Google your homepage? You can answer "Sure" or "No thanks."
 

On Wednesday, Google posted a tweet with the line: "This one's for all the Google Search-loving Firefox fans out there." The tweet showed an image of how you change your default search engine back to Google. It also displayed a link to a page with steps on how to make Google your search engine.
 

The number of searches is key to companies like Yahoo and Google. More searches mean more chances for users to see advertisements, especially those associated with search terms. And that makes advertisers happy and willing to spend more money at search engines that deliver results. The default search engine is used when you type your query in the location bar, the search bar or the start page, so it's in effect no matter how or where you search in the browser.
 

In November, Jackdaw Research chief analyst Jan Dawson expressed the view that many Firefox users wouldn't bother to change the default search settings away from Yahoo. "Google should be concerned," Dawson said. "This could mean a significant switch in market share away from Google toward Yahoo." And that shift has already started.
 

ComScore's US desktop search engine rankings for December showed a 1.6 percent increase in search for Yahoo sites and a 1.6 percent decrease for Google sites. Google by far still dominates the market with a 65 percent share, compared with Yahoo's 11.8 percent. But Google wants to make sure it retains that dominance.
 

Google did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
 

With such a huge chunk of the search engine market, Google is certainly in no danger of losing its dominant status. But with advertisers trying to determine where to spend their ad dollars on Web searches, it's only natural the company would try to woo those lost Firefox users.


SrYsYAH.png

Source : http://www.cnet.com/news/google-to-firefox-users-dump-yahoo-for-us/

 

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Using v 35.0 right now and Google is my default...

 

If you've already set your default search engine and your sync account, it shouldn't change...

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Didnt have to tell me google.

 The Wannabe is no longer. Replaced by the Flotilla. If you replace every part of a computer is it still the same computer?

Survived the Survivor 2299

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PJSalt

------------------------------------------------------I HAZ SHINY----------------------------------------------------------


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It's a cold cut world.

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but than how is mozilla supposed to finance the future development? not that i realy care since i still use FF25.

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hmm since u asked i think ill switch to yahoo

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They can fight it out, but as a consumer I will use the product that gets me the best results with least amount of headaches.  If they want my custom then they can work out what I want and provide it.

Grammar and spelling is not indicative of intelligence/knowledge.  Not having the same opinion does not always mean lack of understanding.  

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Google just wants all of your data and to know everything about you.

My profile pic is the game i'm currently playing. I hope i remember to change it..

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Google just wants all of your data and to know everything about you.

Like Google gives a crap about you.

 

It's targeted advertising.

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Already using Google.

 

Yahoo and Bing suck.

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Google lost a lot of users due to the switch, but they also want to kill off Firefox (hence why they didn't renew the deal with Mozilla).

Very sad.

To me it's like if Windows blocks you from using any web browser beside Spartan.

And the reaction I am seeing here is "Who cares. Spartan is the best! Competition is bad!"

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Using FF 33 and using Google as default. Yahoo and Bing search suggestions suck.

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Google just wants all of your data and to know everything about you.

Sorry but people who say google just wants all your info are paranoid  idiots. Sorry you dont matter that much in the world.  Google makes most money off ads not you info. 

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Google has been my homepage and search engine since forever and that will not change.

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Sorry but people who say google just wants all your info are paranoid  idiots. Sorry you dont matter that much in the world.  Google makes most money off ads not you info. 

 

Considering how often the paranoid idiots have been right about privacy-related stuff already, it's better to be safe than sorry.

Google does indeed make most money through ads, but they get more for delivering them to the right demographic.  That's why all your data is being stored and analyzed. 

Oh, and let's not forget about Prism.  That too wasn't about our info but only for advertisements, I presume.

 

I use Google ... but using startpage.com instead of Google's own address.  No cookies, no IP logging and the option to either go straight to a result's webpage or open it through a proxy. 

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yahoo is shit not search engine.

 

There is only one search engine and that's GOOGLE!

Computer users fall into two groups:
those that do backups
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Considering how often the paranoid idiots have been right about privacy-related stuff already, it's better to be safe than sorry.

Google does indeed make most money through ads, but they get more for delivering them to the right demographic.  That's why all your data is being stored and analyzed. 

Oh, and let's not forget about Prism.  That too wasn't about our info but only for advertisements, I presume.

 

I use Google ... but using startpage.com instead of Google's own address.  No cookies, no IP logging and the option to either go straight to a result's webpage or open it through a proxy. 

Yeah because you definitely need to cover your tracks after surfing a search engine...

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Sorry but people who say google just wants all your info are paranoid idiots. Sorry you dont matter that much in the world. Google makes most money off ads not you info.

They use your info to do targeted advertising. The more info they got on you, the more specific ads they can show and those make more money.

The amount of info they got on you and the amount of money they can get from ads are directly related.

Yeah because you definitely need to cover your tracks after surfing a search engine...

Sure, why not? I know plenty of people who Google every site they want to visit. For those people, the search provider can know every single site you visit. That's very valuable.

Even if you don't Google every site you visit it will still be pretty easy to extract lots of personal info just from your searches.

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I thought Google would have had a larger market share than 65%, I'm also equally surprised about how high Yahoo's is too.

 

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Startpage is pretty good for non-image searches. And it's okay if the term for the image is really specific.

That said, it's basically like using Google through a VPN except that it's not giving Google your user agent information or doesn't tell it which result you followed.

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Google has been a giant asshole lately. Like more than usual.

The stone cannot know why the chisel cleaves it; the iron cannot know why the fire scorches it. When thy life is cleft and scorched, when death and despair leap at thee, beat not thy breast and curse thy evil fate, but thank the Builder for the trials that shape thee.
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I don't think a lot of people are realizing why Google is doing this. Yahoo is now the main search engine partner of Mozilla since after Google decided to cut their ties with Mozilla because Chrome and Firefox are competitors, Yahoo came to Mozilla's side and offered them support and funds that would further their research and keep them running. In turn, Mozilla would make Yahoo the default search engine for Firefox.

 

If people would still use the Google search engine even with Firefox, then they would just be giving more money to Google and lessening Yahoo's market share. If Yahoo's market share declines, they would sooner or later have to cut costs, one of which is supporting the Mozilla Foundation. Without support, Mozilla would be forced to end as its an open-source foundation that needs supporters' funds, therefore also ending Firefox.

 

Google would then be able to dominate both the search engine market and the browser market. Not that they are already dominating now, it's just that competition will lessen and the market won't be healthy.

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