Firefox
Firefox is a regular browser that can become very private if you configure it correctly and use the right tools. It has a great foundation for privacy, and the Mozilla Foundation, which owns Firefox, is a strong advocate for user privacy. I’ve always used Firefox, and I believe everyone should have a version that is configured specifically for privacy.
Mozilla is committed to open-source principles, which means the code can be looked at by anyone. This transparency ensures that independent developers can verify that the browser is not secretly collecting or selling user data. Firefox also allows users to customize their privacy settings extensively, allowing them to block unwanted things and control their data better.
The Firefox Browser
The browser should also be regarded as an excellent browser. It is one of the original web browsers and continues to perform well today. It serves as the foundation for TOR, highlighting its strong privacy stance.
Firefox can become very private, but it requires specific adjustments and configurations to achieve this level of privacy. By default, it may not be as private as some users expect, so it’s important to make the right tweaks to the settings.
For best privacy during installation, some users might want to disconnect from the internet. After downloading the installation file, turning off all internet connectivity prevents any telemetry data from being sent back to Mozilla. This method ensures that the browser cannot transmit any data during the setup process. Let’s begin!
Home
- In settings go to the “Home” tab on the left side of the page.
- Set both options in “New Windows and Tabs” to “Blank Page”.
- Disable everything else.
Search
- In the “Search” tab on the left.
- Set your default search engine to “DuckDuckGo”.
- Disable all under “Search Suggestions” and “Address Bar”.
Privacy & Security
- Set “Enhanced Tracking Protections” to Strict.
- Under “Website Privacy Preferences” enable “Delete cookies and site data when Firefox is closed”.
- Disable all under “Passwords” and “Payment methods”.
- Under history set “Firefox will” to “Use custom settings for history”.
- Disable everything and enable “Clear history when Firefox closes”.
- In “Permissions” go into each permission and click “Block new requests asking to access your…”.
- Disable all in “Firefox Data Collection and Use”.
- in “HTTPS-Only Mode” choose “Enable HTTPS-Only Mode in all windows”.
- Scroll down to “DNS over HTTPS” and pick max protection and pick custom DNS. Enter your custom DNS.
A Last Comment
Now you have a fully functional browser, complete with no fluff, no telemetry, and all settings optimized. This is, in my opinion, the best setup you can achieve, unless you disable JavaScript. With your main browser configured, there’s just one more step. Install uBlock Origin. I suggest to go to the uBlock Origin page.
