this post was submitted on 03 Mar 2025
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Privacy

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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.

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[–] [email protected] 1 points 1 month ago

No mention of phoenix here? I moved from Librewolf over concerns it wasn't keeping up and this project does much like the arkenfox stuff does by using the current firefox and just changing some settiings and policies so you are never behind the latest version of firefox. Check out their comparisons: https://codeberg.org/celenity/Phoenix/wiki/Comparison#safe-browsing

[–] [email protected] 1 points 2 months ago

Cromite, it's basically Vanadium for non GrapheneOS devices

[–] [email protected] 14 points 2 months ago* (last edited 2 months ago) (2 children)

LibreWolf finally has an account at mastodon @[email protected]

[–] [email protected] 3 points 2 months ago

I made the switch, its worth noting that there is some differences, like not keeping cookies by default, and you're not able to set it dark mode etc. These can be fixed up through extensions or config changes.

[–] [email protected] 9 points 2 months ago* (last edited 2 months ago) (1 children)

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.

[–] [email protected] 3 points 2 months ago

While it was an interesting read, the article is quite outdated and the author is overly negative of literally everything, not just privacy. If a browser has a glowy button, it's horrible because it's too fancy... I feel for the guy...

[–] [email protected] 4 points 2 months ago (3 children)

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.

[–] [email protected] 3 points 2 months ago (1 children)

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.

[–] [email protected] 3 points 2 months ago (2 children)

Impossible to take them seriously if they have already started off on the wrong foot using exclusively megacorpo proprietary platforms for coms. If your developer / testers privacy doesn’t matter since they opted for Microsoft GitHub & Discord, what would lead you to believe their project would take privacy seriously?

[–] [email protected] 1 points 2 months ago

Ah that does makes sense. I didn't think about that. I still do hope it'll go well though, simply because more options will be available.

[–] [email protected] 2 points 2 months ago
[–] [email protected] 1 points 2 months 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.

[–] [email protected] 1 points 2 months ago

Did you guys know Firefox is still libre software? 😱 Like, all data usage is verifiable 🤯, and you can easily configure it so it doesn't call home... Right? 🥵

Every couple of months there is an alarmist trend to kill Firefox, and then it turns out Firefox stays as the big libre option that respects your privacy and fights for freedom.

I am not saying they will never fail. But they haven't so far. And that's what matters.

[–] [email protected] 7 points 2 months ago

Ironfox on Android, easily is the best.

[–] [email protected] 4 points 2 months ago (1 children)

librewolf, mullvad, zen browser? all fork of firefox

[–] [email protected] 2 points 2 months ago (2 children)

Not really an option because he said Android

[–] [email protected] 2 points 2 months ago

You can use any firefox fork on Linux and any other firefox fork on Android. They sync fine.

[–] [email protected] 0 points 2 months ago

useful to me, a non-android user who clicked because the title doesn't say anything about it.

[–] [email protected] 3 points 2 months ago
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