"I tested 5 "Private" browsers_ Only One Didn’t Spy"...from youtube channel https://www.youtube.com/@Hardwaredetails

[jonsi]

I just recently switched back to Firefox because Vivaldi was a horrendously buggy nightmare when I swapped to Linux. I'm starting to take my privacy a bit more seriously, so I'm very happy to see Firefox mentioned here!

It's got me thinking, though, what I actually need to change or otherwise implement. I'm searching around a bit but figured I'd ask: Is there a master thread that describes how I should lock down my Firefox? If not, tips from you all?

I'm assuming this stuff has got to go first:

• Mozzilla account and Firefox syncing
• Mozilla Relay service
• Google Safebrowsing / Phishing Protection lists
• Mozilla telemetry

 

[piorunz]

I just recently switched back to Firefox because Vivaldi was a horrendously buggy nightmare when I swapped to Linux. I'm starting to take my privacy a bit more seriously, so I'm very happy to see Firefox mentioned here!

It's got me thinking, though, what I actually need to change or otherwise implement. I'm searching around a bit but figured I'd ask: Is there a master thread that describes how I should lock down my Firefox? If not, tips from you all?

I'm assuming this stuff has got to go first:

You can try fork of Firefox called Librewolf, with most of these things already taken care of. All telemetry is disabled by default there.
Librewolf tracks every Firefox version very closely, browser engine underneath is the same, if you already like Firefox, you should like this one too.

 

[PuppyHome]

What do you regard as being a decent hosts file ? Is this something to incorporate into uBlock Origin ?

No, rather the other way around.
A hosts file blocks domains at system level where Ublock and such block domains at browser level. So if a domain uses protocols beyond TCP they might still be able to reach your system. Any query a browser processes is looking for your hosts file first. So if (malicious) domains are queried no connection will be made IF said domain is in your hosts file and redirected to address 0.0.0.0.

There are hosts files that contains Ublock lists, put them there and you basically do no need said addpn anymore.
I prefer system level domain blocking over browser level.

 

[PuppyHome]

@Condobloke

This one and this one combined lays a good foundation. Many more can be found online for different purposes.

Copy them as text into /etc/hosts. Be sure to remove ALL "localhost" entries so it won't possibly conflict with services you may have running on your machine that need localhost. Don't touch any and all localhosts entries already in your hosts file. Save and all the entries will be blocked immediately. No restart required.

These two contains tons of domains which are usually not blocked (or only partially) by for example ublock. Now you are denying domains at system level.

 

[jonsi]

You can try fork of Firefox called Librewolf, with most of these things already taken care of. All telemetry is disabled by default there.
Librewolf tracks every Firefox version very closely, browser engine underneath is the same, if you already like Firefox, you should like this one too.

Oh wow, I never noticed that it was FF. Thank you! Gonna make that switch.

 

[beanburrito]

What do you regard as being a decent hosts file ? Is this something to incorporate into uBlock Origin ?

Steven Black has some good hosts files (only need to choose and add one) which can be added to uBlock. Some are redudant but there's a lot in there which uBlock filters miss.

Oops, I see PuppyHome already posted about this. Though he didn't link to the page of "choices" just the main feed so I'm good. Thanks PuppyHome!