setting up firefox

13 Nov, 2024

firefox is a free and open source web browser. it is available on every major platform, is faster, more customizable, and has significantly better security and privacy features.

if you want another reason to switch, google also recently switched over to manifest V3, the newest version of their extensions platform, which has made adblockers inaffective on chrome.

there are forks, like librewolf or floorp, which have stronger security and/or more customization respectfully, but i recommend sticking to firefox for now.

settings

what you need set up is unique to you, but i recommend these settings regardless:

• under General > Browsing, uncheck Recommend extensions as you browse & Recommend features as you browse
• under Home > Firefox Home Content, uncheck Recommended stories
• (optional) under Search > Search Suggestions, uncheck Show search suggestions
• under Search > Address Bar - Firefox Suggest, uncheck Suggestions from Firefox, Suggestions from sponsors, and Improve the Firefox Suggest experience
• under Privacy & Security > Enhanced Tracking Protection, set it to Strict
• (optional) under Privacy & Security > Cookies and Site Data, check Delete cookies and site data when Firefox is closed, then click on Manage exceptions... and add sites you want to stay logged in on.
• under Privacy & Security > Passwords, uncheck Ask to save passwords and Use a Primary Password. use a password manager, like bitwarden, instead.
• under Privacy & Security > Autofill, uncheck Save and fill address and Save and fill payment methods.
• (optional) under Privacy & Security > History, uncheck Remember search and form history, and check Clear history when Firefox closes. click on Settings... and check all options except for Site settings.
• under both Privacy & Security > Firefox Data Collection and Use and Website Advertising Preferences, uncheck everything.
• (optional) under Privacy & Security > Security, uncheck Block dangerous and deceptive content.
• under Privacy & Security > HTTPS-Only Mode, set it to Enable HTTPS-Only Mode in all windows. however, i have it set to Disabled as i browse a lot of older websites, so this is technically optional if you know what you're doing.
• (optional) under Privacy & Security > DNS over HTTPS, i currently have it set to Increased Protection and am using a DNS service. if you don't know what that is, feel free to skip this step.

extensions

if your main goal is better privacy, the less extensions you have installed the better.

• ublock origin - powerful and efficient wide-spectrum content blocker.
  • enable AdGuard URL Tracking Protection under filter lists
  • actually legitimate URL shortener tool
• sponsorblock - auto-skips annoying segments in youtube videos
  • this is optional if you watch youtube with a third-party client (like i do)
• (optional) leechblock - block websites permanently or temporarily
• (optional) multi-account containers - isolates cookies to specific tabs
• (optional) violentmonkey - userscript manager
  • bypass all shortlinks debloated
• (optional) stylus - userstyle manager
  • userstyles.world
• (optional) ublacklist - removes sites from search results
  • official subscription list
  • huge AI blocklist
  • super SEO spam suppressor
  • right-wing media
  • pinterest
  • w3schools
• (optional) indie wiki buddy - auto-redirects fandom wikis to alternatives
• (optional) don't accept image/webp - discourages web servers from sending webp/avif images instead of jpeg/png

do not install

i see these being recommended for some reason, often to new users. don't bother.

• umatrix – unmaintained, redundant with ublock and firefox prefs
• noscript – redundant with ublock
• HTTPS everywhere – deprecated, redundant in firefox
• localCDN / decentraleyes – inaffective, redundant in firefox
• ghostery / privacy badger / disconnect – inaffective, redundant in firefox
• any cookie extensions – inaffective, redundant in firefox
• clearURLs – redundant with ublock
• stylish – spyware, use stylus instead

wait! there's more!

firefox can be customized far beyond themes and extensions, but you can really fuck shit up too. if things go wrong, you will need to refresh firefox, which deletes your settings and extensions.

user.js

type about:config in the address bar. there should be a popup warning you about the risks. click accept.

this is the configuration editor, and it gives access to advanced settings. do not change things without knowing what you're changing. if you're willing to accept the risks of possibly fucking shit up, i have a few recommendations:

• toolkit.legacyUserProfileCustomizations.stylesheets = true

enables userChrome & userContent customization.

• media.cache_readahead_limit = 9999
• media.cache_resume_threshold = 9999

allow videos to load when paused (less technical explanation).

• (optional) browser.urlbar.trimHttps = true

hides https:// from the address bar, which saves some space. it's technically not necessary to see it thanks to the padlock (which will be visibly crossed out if on a non-https website).

• browser.urlbar.suggest.calculator = true
• browser.urlbar.unitConversion.enabled = true

suggests math solutions and unit conversions in the address bar when searching.

• toolkit.telemetry.unified = false
• toolkit.telemetry.server = (blank)
• toolkit.telemetry.archive.enabled = false
• toolkit.telemetry.shutdownPingSender.enabled = false
• toolkit.telemetry.updatePing.enabled = false
• toolkit.telemetry.bhrPing.enabled = false
• toolkit.telemetry.firstShutdownPing.enabled = false
• browser.newtabpage.activity-stream.feeds.telemetry = false
• browser.newtabpage.activity-stream.telemetry = false
• app.normandy.enabled" = false
• app.normandy.api_url = (blank)

disables telemetry.

• extensions.getAddons.showPane = false
• extensions.htmlaboutaddons.recommendations.enabled" = false

removes extension recommendations from the addons panes.

• browser.preferences.moreFromMozilla = false

removes the "more from mozilla" section in settings.

• (optional) browser.compactmode.show = true

brings back Compact mode under Customize toolbar....

• extensions.pocket.enabled = false

disables the Pocket extension.

• layout.word_select.eat_space_to_next_word = false

select a word without including the space after it.

• image.jxl.enabled = true

enables the JPEG XL format.

haha yeah. fuck google chrome

#2024 #firefox #tech support #useful