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submitted 22 hours ago by HiddenLayer555@lemmy.ml to c/privacy@lemmy.ml

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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[-] fireshell@lemmy.ml 2 points 7 hours ago* (last edited 6 hours ago)

LibreWolf finally has an account at mastodon @librewolf@chaos.social

[-] somedev@aussie.zone 1 points 1 hour 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.

[-] cypherpunks@lemmy.ml 4 points 9 hours ago* (last edited 7 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.

[-] Biserko@lemmy.ml 5 points 12 hours ago

Ironfox on Android, easily is the best.

[-] trhbd@scribe.disroot.org 5 points 13 hours ago

librewolf, mullvad, zen browser? all fork of firefox

[-] ReakDuck@lemmy.ml 2 points 12 hours ago

Not really an option because he said Android

[-] pathief@lemmy.world 2 points 11 hours ago

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

[-] chocosoldier@lemmy.blahaj.zone 0 points 11 hours ago

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

[-] datendefekt@feddit.org 6 points 14 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?

[-] leadore@lemmy.world 19 points 18 hours ago

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

[-] MrSulu@lemmy.ml 8 points 15 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 4 points 14 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.

[-] trhbd@scribe.disroot.org 2 points 13 hours ago

power of 'community-driven' projects

[-] DrainedOctagon@lemmygrad.ml 2 points 12 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 1 points 11 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.

[-] DrainedOctagon@lemmygrad.ml 1 points 11 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.

[-] melroy@kbin.melroy.org 3 points 13 hours ago
[-] sonalder@lemmy.ml 8 points 17 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)
[-] breadcat@sh.itjust.works 3 points 3 hours ago

Vivaldi is much better than brave, no ai or crypto shit and the CEO isn't alt right

[-] sonalder@lemmy.ml 1 points 1 hour ago

Yes Vivaldi doesn't come with crypto bullshit nor AI. However by default it's so badly tuned for user privacy... and sprobably even security. Honestly I would prefer having a Vivaldi AI Agent over a proprietary web browser (I know it's mainly open but it's not) It was not that well optimized on several of my devices when I tried it... I'm not conviced by their chromium proprietary fork even tho it's not the worst alternative either.

[-] null_dot@lemmy.dbzer0.com 2 points 12 hours ago

I use ungoogled-chromium & thorium are worth a mention.

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?

[-] droplet6585@lemmy.ml 2 points 9 hours ago

Collecting paychecks for being controlled opposition?

[-] sonalder@lemmy.ml 2 points 9 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 15 points 22 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.

[-] lemmeBe@sh.itjust.works 2 points 13 hours ago

This + xBrowserSync for bookmarks.

[-] FrostyTrichs@crazypeople.online 9 points 19 hours ago

Second the Ironfox recommendation.

Not OP, but I've never heard of IronFox. Is it a comparable replacement for Mull? Gods I'm still a bit salty over how sudden that was...

[-] AmbiguousProps@lemmy.today 7 points 20 hours ago

It's a fork of Mull, in fact!

[-] irotsoma@lemmy.blahaj.zone 4 points 19 hours ago* (last edited 19 hours ago)

Yes IronFox is a fork of Mull, and though it does have a couple of differences in opinion on the balance of privacy and usability, it's very similar. I've been using it since shortly after we lost Mull.

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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 1 points 8 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 1 points 15 hours ago

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

[-] Alk@sh.itjust.works 7 points 22 hours ago

Floorp and librewolf, among others.

[-] kekmacska@lemmy.zip 2 points 18 hours ago

neither of them are aviable for android

[-] Thorned_Rose@sh.itjust.works 4 points 18 hours ago

Ironfox for Android

[-] land@lemmy.ml 3 points 19 hours ago

Use any fork of Firefox without the sync option.

[-] nameisnotimportant@sh.itjust.works 4 points 17 hours ago

Sorry I've been out of the loop, the encrypted sync isn't safe anymore? I'm using forks since a while but I rely heavily on sync

[-] smiletolerantly@awful.systems 3 points 17 hours ago

You can also selfhost sync!

[-] nameisnotimportant@sh.itjust.works 2 points 16 hours ago

Yes, that's a great idea. I'm tempted to do that but my old NAS is hardly keeping up with all the services I've deployed on it so far

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this post was submitted on 03 Mar 2025
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