On Linux and Android. What are privacy oriented alternatives to Firefox now that it’s no longer trustworthy?

The ability to sync between devices would be a huge bonus, even just on a local network.

  • Arthur Besse@lemmy.ml
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    4 hours ago

    https://digdeeper.club/articles/browsers.xhtml has a somewhat comprehensive analysis of a dozen of the browsers you might consider, illuminating depressing (and sometimes surprising) privacy problems with literally all of them.

    In the end it absurdly recommends something which forked from Firefox a very long time ago, which is obviously not a reasonable choice from a security standpoint. I don’t have a good recommendation, but I definitely don’t agree with that article’s conclusion: privacy features are pointless if your browser is trivially vulnerable to exploits for a plethora of old bugs, which will inevitably be the case for a volunteer-run project that diverged from Firefox a long time ago and thus cannot benefit from Mozilla’s security fixes in each new release.

    However, despite its ridiculous conclusion, that page’s analysis could still be helpful when you’re deciding which of the terrible options to pick.

  • datendefekt@feddit.org
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    11 hours ago

    So I haven’t been following the Firefox thing that closely. Fennec isn’t an alternative because it uses Firefox’s Sync and Brave is out of the question because it’s crypto Chrome?

  • DrainedOctagon@lemmygrad.ml
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    9 hours ago

    Depends on your specific case, but IMO in order of preference for deskop, Tor Browser as much as possible, followed by Mullvad Browser as much as you can, for scenarios where you cannot use Tor Browser, followed by LibreWolf for the few sites that require persistent logins (you’ll need to enable setting cookies for those specific sites). There’s also other Firefox forks like GNU IceCat (unofficial binary for it), Floorp and Zen Browser.

    For a less complicated alternative, just swap out Firefox with LibreWolf. Just make sure to read the ENTIRE docs to save yourself from any nasty surprises. Especially about RFP (Resist Fingerprinting), WebGL, Canvas, etc.

    On Andriod, again, there’s Tor Browser, IronFox, Fennec F-Driod. Additionally if you want a browser based on a different engine, there’s Cromite, which is based off of Chromium, but it’s probably better to stay with a less commonly used engine like Firefox rather than keep using the mainstream monopoly of Google.

    As an aside, this video helped me understand some stuff better and it seems to be less of Mozilla being untrustworthy and more about them being total losers in communication. I recommend checking it out.

    • DrainedOctagon@lemmygrad.ml
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      8 hours ago

      Oh also, Ladybird Browser, is being developed. It is not based off of Mozilla Firefox or Google Chromium or Safari. They’re building their own browser independently without getting any code from other browsers. The Alpha release is planned to come out on 2026.

    • DrainedOctagon@lemmygrad.ml
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      9 hours ago

      I somehow missed reading about the part about syncing. Pretty sure LibreWolf and IronFox does allow that as well, you need to enable it somewhere in the settings and log into your Mozilla account I guess.

  • MrSulu@lemmy.ml
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    13 hours ago

    I’ve been using LibraWolf on desktop for several years now. It’s just far simpler than modifying standard Firefox. for my personal needs.

    • N0x0n@lemmy.ml
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      11 hours ago

      LibreWolf is great ! Coming from ArkenFox, I found LibreWolf’s override cfg a bit easier.

      They also have a pacdiff cfg to see what changes from version to version without the need to roam arkenfoxes github repo for hours to find what changed or what to change.

      I installed it yesterday to see how it goes :) If it doesn’t fit, will go back to Arkenfox.

  • leadore@lemmy.world
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    15 hours ago

    I just installed Librewolf today, using it now. Being a fork of FF it makes a very smooth transition.

  • Sonalder@lemmy.ml
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    14 hours ago

    If you want to keep the Gecko Engine from Mozilla to support an alternative to Google’s monopoly here are a couple alternative for Linux :

    • Librewolf
    • Mullvad Browser
    • Zen Browser

    For Android you have to be aware that unfortunately every firefox based browser lack of per-site isolation unlike chromium browsers.

    • IronFox (active fork of Mull by DivestOS)
    • Fennec

    On the dark side of the spectrum you have chromium browser such as :

    • Brave (Linux & Android) (disable cryptocrap, sponsor backgrounds and it’s quite good)
    • Cromite (Android)
    • ERROR: Earth.exe has crashed@lemmy.dbzer0.com
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      11 hours ago

      For Android you have to be aware that unfortunately every firefox based browser lack of per-site isolation unlike chromium browsers.

      Wait really? Its 2025, seriously, what is Mozilla doing?

      • Sonalder@lemmy.ml
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        7 hours ago

        Yes, I learned that thanks to DivestOS which was comming with Mull, they had a comparison table and yes no FF based browser support that basic security feature yet…

  • ClownsInSpace2@lemm.ee
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    19 hours ago

    I use a similar set up. Librewolf on Linux and IronFox on Android. You could still use a Firefox account to sync, but I wouldn’t. I’ve heard there’s a way to host an older version of Firefox sync locally, but I haven’t looked into it.

  • EveryMuffinIsNowEncrypted@lemmy.blahaj.zone
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    18 hours ago

    LibreWolf is what I use, but I heard Zen Browser is another fork that’s been getting some traction. I don’t use it though, but I’ve heard from someone who does that it works for them. thumbs-up

    • rageagainstmachines@lemmy.world
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      6 hours ago

      Zen looks good, but being more unique couldn’t it get fingerprinted more easily?

      Also their community is on Discord, which to me is a red flag quite frankly. I realize it’s separate from the browser, but still. Discord no good.

    • Xanza@lemm.ee
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      12 hours ago

      Been using Zen for the past week. It takes some getting used to, but it’s been great so far.