Why is Thunderbird connecting this huge list of servers?
Checking the servers and domains that are connected by ThunderBird was a horrifying experience:
incoming-telemetry.thunderbird.net aus.thunderbird.net thunderbird-settings.thunderbird.net live.thunderbird.net services.addons.thunderbird.net versioncheck-bg.addons.thunderbird.net versioncheck.addons.thunderbird.net
Are you crazy?!?
Totally?
I am using Mozilla products for PRIVACY and SECURITY !
I don't want to be collected for telemetry and location! And also for nothing else that is not ESSENTIAL for using the App!
1) Please explain for which reason any and all of the above servers get connected Esp. what is "aus" for and "live"? What does the "settings" host is used for? Why are there 2 "versioncheck" servers?
2) Please FIX this list by removing any and all statistic-collectors like for telemetry and locations! And also by removing other, non-essential hosts!
Thanks!
Isisombululo esikhethiwe
Disable/remove/block anything you want related to mozilla.whatever or thunderbird.net - that is your prerogative.
aus and live are related to providing release information and automatic updates.
Funda le mpendulo ngokuhambisana nalesi sihloko 👍 1All Replies (7)
I respect your concern, but these servers are not spying on anyone. These servers allow Thunderbird to do what users want, such as knowing what addons are available for a particular release, or to keep the addons up to date, or knowing default settings for a large number of email providers. Furthermore, although these servers exist, Thunderbird only accesses them when a service is requested that needs them. Your privacy is of utmost importance.
@david
Don't get me wrong, I have no problems with required services and servers!
But they need to be documented! You need to be able to read somewhere, which servers, domains, IPs and ports are required - and for what exact reason!
I did check this before and and could NOT find any such explanations at all - the more I got irritated when I found out all those connections!
And as I wrote, I am esp. concerned about "telemetry", "location" - because those seem to just collect any installation of ThunderBird, which is NOT acceptable! - and about "live" and "aus" - where it is totally unclear which purpose they have!
And it is also irrititating that there are 2 "versioncheck" servers! Why 2? In how far do they differ?
Do you have such information? Why it this not publically documented and explained?
Many thanks
Okulungisiwe ngu onlywebmail.2011
sfhowes said
https://www.mozilla.org/en-US/privacy/thunderbird/
Yes. And this was presented to every user when the FIRST install Thunderbird. Also available via Help > About > Privacy
@sfhowes, thanks - but sadly, this is not a list of services and servers connected to by ThunderBird and for what reason.
The only thing I learned is, how to disable Telemetry - which I instantly did. Going to test if the "telemetry" server will still get contacted, or not.
Anybody knows what "aus" and "live" are used for, or why there are 2 versioncheck servers? I understood that "settings" is used for configuration of new email accounts.
So it seems there is not harm to disable those:
- telemetry
- location
- settings
Those two are yet unclear:
- aus
- live
I may allow "services" and "versioncheck" for addons - but I only use one addon and this is not important. Could probably block those as well.
I am really concerned that there is no official documentation!
Isisombululo Esikhethiwe
Disable/remove/block anything you want related to mozilla.whatever or thunderbird.net - that is your prerogative.
aus and live are related to providing release information and automatic updates.
So, a good default is:
Constantly block:
- telemetry - location
Block after configuring your providers, or even before:
- settings
Don't block:
- aus - live
Many thanks!