about:config tweaks to enhance Mozilla Firefox. Files are updated as needed for your user.js.
- Minimalism: get what isn't needed out of the way
- Efficiency: unleash Firefox's ability to be fast and performant
- Security: sensible privacy and security without causing site breakage
| List | Description |
|---|---|
| Fastfox | Immensely increase Firefox's browsing speed. Give Chrome a run for its money! |
| SecureFox | Remove Telemetry, Mozilla experiments, Google Safe Browsing, and search engine suggestions in URL bar. Auto-upgrade mixed content to HTTPS. Various privacy enhancements. |
| PeskyFox | Unclutter the new tab page. Remove Pocket and form autofill. Prevent Firefox from serving annoying webpage notifications. |
| TinkerFox | [optional] Test upcoming features in Firefox! |
| SmoothFox | [optional] Get Microsoft Edge-like smooth scrolling on your favorite browser. |
| user.js | All the essentails. None of the breakage. Users may download this list as their own user.js. |
If you want a secure, blazing fast browsing experience, and don't want to deal with breakage, this setup is for you. My objective is to make the defaults sufficient enough for the average privacy-minded user, but remain trouble-free enough that my grandmother could use it. (That puts a whole new twist on being a foxy grandma!) Edit: Sorry for the dad joke 😓
My guiding principle was: "If it breaks it, it doesn't make it!" So things like WebGL and DRM are still enabled, and you won't find a setting like privacy.resistFingerprinting mentioned here. BetterFox is designed to set-and-forget, not to troubleshoot and tinker. You can compare different user.js files here.
Betterfox was created with a less is more mentality. Most repos I've encountered have niche privacy and security concerns with little regard for speed, annoyances, or mainstream use. The average user doesn't need all user_prefs altered to get the results they want.
That being said, Betterfox does make some assumptions:
- Google Safe Browsing is removed. If you don't have other means of protection, you should remove the preferences listed for this section to leave it enabled.
- The native password manager is also disabled. Betterfox assumes you use a different password manager. If you don't have something like LastPass or Bitwarden, then remove the prefs that disable this functionality.
- You should have Ghostery or uBlock Origin for content blocking. Using DNS-level protection like NextDNS is highly recommended.
- If your threat level calls for anonymity and not just reasonable privacy, please use the TOR browser. 👍
Check out our wiki!
Where there is similiarity to other authors, credit goes to them.