Firefox actually has most privacy stuff you need built-in nowadays. There are surprisingly few steps you need to harden it after install (on both desktop and mobile):
Install the uBlock Origin extension.
Switch Enhanced Tracking Protection to “strict”.
Turn on HTTPS-only mode in all tabs.
Optionally:
Switch your search engine away from Google. I’ve been using DuckDuckGo with zero problems for years, but there are others.
Install the multi-containers extension, it can be used to load websites in isolated color-coded tabs so no data “leakage” can occur.
You do not need any other extension. There is some advanced stuff for fingerprinting protection but they can do more harm than good if you don’t know what you’re doing. Stick to the above, update Firefox when prompted and that’s all.
I love the possibility to have uBlock Origin on mobile. I have Privacy Badger and Decentraleyes installed as well. Toolbar on bottom is another thing I can’t live without anymore. That’s configurable through settings.
I would add disabling recommendations for Add-Ons and Themes and clearing the initial default bookmarks.
Of course you can pimp it out like setting config properties to enable experimental stuff like Wayland, WebRender, hardware decoding, etc. pp. before they get enabled by default in later releases.
Same, I tried it for a while a few months ago but it never gave me as good results as Google. I’m very aware of the enshittification and will switch away as soon as I notice it not showing me what I want, though.
Firefox actually has most privacy stuff you need built-in nowadays. There are surprisingly few steps you need to harden it after install (on both desktop and mobile):
Optionally:
You do not need any other extension. There is some advanced stuff for fingerprinting protection but they can do more harm than good if you don’t know what you’re doing. Stick to the above, update Firefox when prompted and that’s all.
I love the possibility to have uBlock Origin on mobile. I have Privacy Badger and Decentraleyes installed as well. Toolbar on bottom is another thing I can’t live without anymore. That’s configurable through settings.
You can use uBlock Origin on mobile in the Firefox nightly build.
In the nightly build, you get to use pretty much all addons from desktop.
Yup, solid advices.
I would add disabling recommendations for Add-Ons and Themes and clearing the initial default bookmarks.
Of course you can pimp it out like setting config properties to enable experimental stuff like Wayland, WebRender, hardware decoding, etc. pp. before they get enabled by default in later releases.
I’ve noticed DDG giving poor results lately and definitely putting me in a bubble. No matter what it gives hyper local results.
Same, I tried it for a while a few months ago but it never gave me as good results as Google. I’m very aware of the enshittification and will switch away as soon as I notice it not showing me what I want, though.
For the record I find it miles better than google, I just think they are getting to be more like Google in their results being tailored.
When I search something I want to learn about I’ll often get local examples whereas I used to get the wiki or some general discussions.
When I google it I get ads and pictures of myself in the shower.
https://andisearch.com/
Thank you!