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What browser(s) should I use? (beehaw.org)
submitted 5 days ago by MilliaStrange@beehaw.org to c/technology@beehaw.org
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I came across a Tumblr post detailing how to disable AI "features" in Firefox as of 11/20/25 and I'm expecting an arms race of new/changed fields vs new strategies to disable them. So I wanted to ask, what would you recommend a lifelong Firefox user use, for PC and Android?

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[-] FaceDeer@fedia.io 22 points 5 days ago

I would recommend continuing to use Firefox until you actually don't like it, rather than switch because of yet another social media post raging about AI. 90% of the time I've seen people complaining about AI being "shoved in their faces" it's something that I had no idea existed and had to actively seek out and enable to see it in action.

Just don't use features that you don't want to use.

[-] MilliaStrange@beehaw.org 4 points 5 days ago

Most people have no idea their data is being scraped from the services they use either, that doesn't mean they like it or that they should.

Unlike some folks in this thread, I never got an opt in pop up for the "features" on desktop or mobile.

[-] chaoticnumber@lemmy.dbzer0.com 2 points 3 days ago

Dude above's advice is just bad. Firefox defaults to some crappy shit, such as data collection, all the features such as pocket or what have you. By default its just not a secure browser, its really not.

I would advise against using it. Librewolf exists, you need to tweak the settings for it to be a normal browser, with data permanence, but after just a few tweaks you have a relatively secure browser.

[-] MilliaStrange@beehaw.org 24 points 5 days ago

The Tumblr post:

[-] MilliaStrange@beehaw.org 20 points 5 days ago

The fields:

browser.ml.enable browser.ml.chat.enabled browser.ml.chat.menu browser.ml.chat.page browser.ml.chat.page.footerBadge browser.ml.chat.page.menuBadge browser.ml.linkPreview.enabled browser.ml.pageAssist.enabled browser.tabs.groups.smart.enabled browser.tabs.groups.smart.userEnabled extensions.ml.enabled browser.search.visualSearch.featureGate

[-] otter@lemmy.ca 14 points 5 days ago* (last edited 5 days ago)

If you add three back ticks (```) to the beginning and end of the list, it will format as a code block instead of a bunch of links

browser.ml.enable
browser.ml.chat.enabled
browser.ml.chat.menu
browser.ml.chat.page
browser.ml.chat.page.footerBadge
browser.ml.chat.page.menuBadge
browser.ml.linkPreview.enabled
browser.ml.pageAssist.enabled
browser.tabs.groups.smart.enabled
browser.tabs.groups.smart.userEnabled
extensions.ml.enabled
browser.search.visualSearch.featureGate
[-] Ethereal87@beehaw.org 9 points 5 days ago

Interesting that I had a lot of these already set to False and I definitely haven't gone through this process before. Maybe there was a prompt somewhere that I said no to?

Appreciate the list though just to be extra sure!

[-] scytale@piefed.zip 6 points 5 days ago

Half of them were already False for me. I think I remember right clicking and seeing an AI option that I said no to. That probably disabled some of the features listed.

[-] lemmyng@piefed.ca 22 points 5 days ago

Librewolf (PC) or Fennec (Android) if you want to stay in the Firefox ecosystem. Vivaldi if you don't mind A Chrome based browser.

[-] bonenode@piefed.social 7 points 5 days ago

Fennec is good. Ironfox is better, it is the successor to Mull.

[-] scintilla@crust.piefed.social 2 points 5 days ago

Can you explain why it's better?

[-] Zykino@programming.dev 1 points 5 days ago

I would also love to know. It is not on F-Droid so I'm a bit suspicious at first. (Not all is open source? Or is it too new?)

[-] SweetCitrusBuzz@beehaw.org 2 points 5 days ago* (last edited 5 days ago)

You have to add its repository from here: https://gitlab.com/ironfox-oss/IronFox

[-] cabbage@piefed.social 7 points 5 days ago* (last edited 5 days ago)

A proprietary chrome based browser that is. But nevertheless one that seems to superior I'm considering seeking refuge there until Servo is ready.

After a few months in LibreWolf I still don't feel at home.

[-] sem@piefed.blahaj.zone 5 points 5 days ago

Someone really needs to make a general purpose fork of librewolf that turns on the features you need for compatibility and ease of use by default, and the regular librewolf can stay hardened.

[-] stranger@lemdro.id 4 points 5 days ago

I moved from Chrome to Firefox / Fennec to Vivaldi for Windows and Android, and after disabling a lot of the UI bloat I've honestly not had an issue with it. Synced tabs across devices, fast performance, and built in ad-blocking with option to add extensions.

[-] Morphite88@thelemmy.club 2 points 5 days ago

IIRC the only portion of Vivaldi that isn't open source is their UI code, for what that's worth. Guess they want to keep an edge there? I'm Currently migrating my Android from Vivaldi to Brave; using xBrowserSync (bookmarks), Proton Pass (passwords), and KDE Connect to keep it synchronized to desktop (debian 13 using KDE Plasma) instead of Vivaldi's sync. Kind of a pain after using a single service for some time but I don't trust anyone anymore.

[-] D1re_W0lf@piefed.world 16 points 5 days ago

Any of the options already discussed here except Brave.

https://www.spacebar.news/stop-using-brave-browser/

[-] RivverRavven@beehaw.org -1 points 5 days ago

Oh there's no doubt he's a really bad dude, but his browser is the most secure and best overall. I choose the browser.

[-] D1re_W0lf@piefed.world 6 points 5 days ago* (last edited 5 days ago)

Secure?? 👀 If it was only him that was bad. From bypassing ad blockers with their own ads, to crypto scams, to privacy scandals, to… I just want distance from that thing.

[-] chaoticnumber@lemmy.dbzer0.com 4 points 5 days ago

Best overall you say? Don't post absolutes friend, the way the browser space is right now, none of them are the best overall. They each are better than others for their respective niche.

[-] pasdechance@jlai.lu 14 points 5 days ago

Stick with Firefox for now.

Some FF forks like LibreWolf break sites because they are too strict. That isn't a critique, that's just how LibreWolf works and if your threat model requires it, go for it.

You can toggle the flags or use a userjs like arkenfox or betterfox. Eventually they might also enable these flags.

On Android I like Privacy Browser, but it takes getting used to (I like being logged out when I close the browser in case someone uses my phone).

[-] azerial@lemmy.dbzer0.com 7 points 5 days ago

I just installed librewolf on my Linux laptop and you can customize how strict it is in the settings. There's a librewolf setting group in the settings to adjust the fork customizations that they have made.

[-] solomonschuler@lemmy.zip 6 points 5 days ago

Librewolf on desktop, ironfox on mobile.

By default these applications come with no Firefox suggestions, no AI bullshit, and even turns on strict security. This is what I use personally because I don't like to reconfigure the settings every time I install Firefox, this just works.

[-] chaoticnumber@lemmy.dbzer0.com 1 points 5 days ago

Same here, I use the exact same ones

[-] higgsboson@piefed.social 13 points 5 days ago

LibraWolf and IronFox

[-] tyler@programming.dev 13 points 5 days ago

Firefox. If you want them to all be disableable with a single toggle then make a pull request. FF is open source.

[-] kittenroar@beehaw.org 1 points 3 days ago

I still use Firefox; their bullshit is less egregious than Chrome's and they are Chrome's only challenger. The ai features don't even come in to play unless you actually choose to use them.

[-] dangling_cat@piefed.blahaj.zone 8 points 5 days ago* (last edited 5 days ago)

Zen browser! It’s a Firefox fork without all that crap and it’s soooo pretty! Like arc browser but ff based. It’s also not like florp which I feel like if I look it wrong it will break.

[-] termus@beehaw.org 1 points 5 days ago

Been using Zen for about 6 months now. I like it a lot. It's also come a long way. I dig the minimal vertical tab bar.

[-] hendrik@palaver.p3x.de 8 points 5 days ago* (last edited 5 days ago)

I use LibreWolf on the computer and IronWolf on the phone. Both modified versions of Firefox, both Free Software. Not sure what they do with AI, but as they're both aimed at privacy, I'd expect them to disable AI features which send data to external services.

[-] 30p87@feddit.org 5 points 5 days ago

Probably any FF fork

[-] sculd@beehaw.org 2 points 4 days ago

Vivaldi if you want Chromium browser Continue to use Firefox is probably the best choice for now

[-] thatsTheCatch@lemmy.nz 2 points 5 days ago

I like Mullvad browser

[-] swelter_spark@reddthat.com 2 points 3 days ago

I've read good things about it.

[-] Nanook@lemmy.zip 2 points 5 days ago

wtf is month 20?

[-] mc900ftJesus@lemy.lol 13 points 5 days ago

Only Americans put the month at the start.

[-] Nanook@lemmy.zip 5 points 5 days ago

Must be the lead.

[-] Manjushri@piefed.social 8 points 5 days ago

Different countries write dates differently. In the USA, 11/20/25 is Nov. 20, 2025. In other nations, it's written 20/11/25.

[-] Nanook@lemmy.zip 5 points 5 days ago* (last edited 5 days ago)

Only in the US. This is an international platform.

7.7 billion people: Day Month Year, Decade, Century, Millennium etc.

[-] doc@fedia.io 21 points 5 days ago

ISO8603 master race

Year-Month-Day

[-] Nanook@lemmy.zip 3 points 5 days ago

lol, I submit

[-] scytale@piefed.zip 6 points 5 days ago

Not just the US. Philippines, Togo, Cayman Islands, and Greenland apparently also use MM/DD/YYYY in some way or form. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_date_formats_by_country

[-] Powderhorn@beehaw.org 3 points 5 days ago

Well, that settles it. We must invade Greenland.

[-] Manjushri@piefed.social 4 points 5 days ago

Yes, as I said, "In other nations..."

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[-] adonkeystomple@lemmy.ml 1 points 5 days ago

I like using Brave. They also have some AI features but they’re super easy to turn off.

[-] 68silver@beehaw.org 0 points 5 days ago

I use Brave on desktop and android.

[-] artyom@piefed.social -2 points 5 days ago

Brave and/or Zen

this post was submitted on 02 Dec 2025
51 points (94.7% liked)

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