From 9bdf375a43ce4e2fda3083ed68d43ddee1a3323d Mon Sep 17 00:00:00 2001
From: HJ <11689349+yokoffing@users.noreply.github.com>
Date: Tue, 8 Aug 2023 13:00:11 -0400
Subject: [PATCH] README 8 Aug 2023 (#205)
---
README.md | 50 ++++++++++++++++++++++++++------------------------
1 file changed, 26 insertions(+), 24 deletions(-)
diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index b958cb2..f3ebfa4 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -8,10 +8,7 @@
## Made for everyday browsing
**A secure, blazing fast browsing experience. Without breakage.**
-An opinionated preference list inspired by the [law of diminishing returns](https://pmctraining.com/site/wp-content/uploads/2018/04/Law-of-Diminishing-Returns-CHART.png) and the [minimum effective dose](https://medium.com/the-mission/less-is-more-the-minimum-effective-dose-e6d56625931e).
-
-The objective is to make the browser's defaults sufficient enough for privacy-minded users, 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 😓
-
+Betterfox is an opinionated preference list inspired by the [law of diminishing returns](https://pmctraining.com/site/wp-content/uploads/2018/04/Law-of-Diminishing-Returns-CHART.png) and the [minimum effective dose](https://medium.com/the-mission/less-is-more-the-minimum-effective-dose-e6d56625931e).
## Simple goals
1) **Minimalism:** get what isn't needed out of the way
@@ -23,7 +20,7 @@ The objective is to make the browser's defaults sufficient enough for privacy-mi
| List | Description |
|:---------:|-------------|
| [Fastfox](https://github.com/yokoffing/Betterfox/blob/main/Fastfox.js) | Immensely increase Firefox's browsing speed. Give Chrome a run for its money!|
-| [Securefox](https://github.com/yokoffing/Betterfox/blob/main/Securefox.js) | Telemetry blocked. [HTTPS-by-Default](https://blog.mozilla.org/security/2021/08/10/firefox-91-introduces-https-by-default-in-private-browsing/). [Total Cookie Protection](https://blog.mozilla.org/security/2021/02/23/total-cookie-protection/) with [site isolation](https://blog.mozilla.org/security/2021/05/18/introducing-site-isolation-in-firefox/). Enhanced [state](https://developer.mozilla.org/en-US/docs/Web/Privacy/State_Partitioning) and [network](https://blog.mozilla.org/security/2021/01/26/supercookie-protections/) partitioning. Various other enhancements. |
+| [Securefox](https://github.com/yokoffing/Betterfox/blob/main/Securefox.js) | [Global Privacy Control](https://blog.mozilla.org/netpolicy/2021/10/28/implementing-global-privacy-control/). [HTTPS-by-Default](https://blog.mozilla.org/security/2021/08/10/firefox-91-introduces-https-by-default-in-private-browsing/). [Total Cookie Protection](https://blog.mozilla.org/security/2021/02/23/total-cookie-protection/) with [site isolation](https://blog.mozilla.org/security/2021/05/18/introducing-site-isolation-in-firefox/). Enhanced [state](https://developer.mozilla.org/en-US/docs/Web/Privacy/State_Partitioning) and [network](https://blog.mozilla.org/security/2021/01/26/supercookie-protections/) partitioning. [Telemetry](https://github.com/yokoffing/Betterfox/blob/e66a549985f6b0db4b14226904b8c09eaaea998f/Securefox.js#L1262-L1265) disabled. |
| [Peskyfox](https://github.com/yokoffing/Betterfox/blob/main/Peskyfox.js) | Unclutter the new tab page. Remove [Pocket](https://support.mozilla.org/en-US/kb/what-pocket). Restore [compact mode](https://support.mozilla.org/en-US/kb/compact-mode-workaround-firefox) as an option. Stop webpage notifications, pop-ups, and other annoyances. |
| [Smoothfox](https://github.com/yokoffing/Betterfox/blob/main/Smoothfox.js) | Get Edge-like smooth scrolling on your favorite browser — or choose something more your style. |
| [user.js](https://github.com/yokoffing/Betterfox/blob/main/user.js) | All the essentials. None of the breakage. This is your `user.js`. |
@@ -33,43 +30,48 @@ The objective is to make the browser's defaults sufficient enough for privacy-mi
While Betterfox is designed to [set-and-forget](https://glosbe.com/en/en/set-and-forget), it contains plenty of options for those who like to tinker.
## about:Privacy
-Most projects have niche concerns with no regard for speed, annoyances, or mainstream use. But for us, features like WebGL and DRM are still enabled, and you won't find a setting like `privacy.resistFingerprinting` mentioned here.^[*why?*](https://old.reddit.com/r/firefox/comments/wuqpgi/are_there_any_aboutconfig_tweaks_to_get_smooth/ile3whx/?context=3)
+Most projects have niche concerns with no regard for daily use. But for us, features like WebGL and DRM are still enabled, and you won't find a setting like `privacy.resistFingerprinting` mentioned here.^[*why?*](https://old.reddit.com/r/firefox/comments/wuqpgi/are_there_any_aboutconfig_tweaks_to_get_smooth/ile3whx/?context=3)
Fingerprinting is a high [threat model](https://thenewoil.org/en/guides/prologue/threatmodel/) issue that is only reasonably [addressed by Tor](https://github.com/arkenfox/user.js/wiki/3.3-Overrides-%5BTo-RFP-or-Not%5D).[1](https://youtu.be/5NrbdO4yWek?t=4334) If your context calls for _anonymity_ and not just reasonable _privacy_, then please use the [Tor Browser](https://www.torproject.org).^[*what's the difference?*](https://thenewoil.org/en/guides/prologue/secprivanon/)
-## Assumptions
+## about:Defaults
Apply preferences from the [common overrides](https://github.com/yokoffing/Betterfox/issues/87) sticky if you want to revert the following behavior:
* Firefox **Accessibility Service** is disabled to improve resource utilization and security. Override this if you use assistive software.
* **Firefox Sync** and **Firefox View** are disabled. Override if you use these features.
* The built-in **password manager** is disabled. We recommend using [Bitwarden](https://addons.mozilla.org/en-US/firefox/addon/bitwarden-password-manager/) or [1Password](https://addons.mozilla.org/en-US/firefox/addon/1password-x-password-manager) to manage your credentials on multiple devices.
* **Location requests** and **site notifications** are blocked to minimize annoyances.
-* Embedded **tweets, instagram, reddit posts, and tiktoks** are allowed to load on webpages in order to avoid site breakage, even though these requests are usually blocked when using [Strict](https://support.mozilla.org/en-US/kb/enhanced-tracking-protection-firefox-desktop#w_strict-enhanced-tracking-protection) Enhanced Tracking Protection.
+* Embedded **tweets, tiktoks, Instagram and Reddit posts** are allowed to load on webpages in order to avoid site breakage, even though these requests are usually blocked when using [Strict](https://support.mozilla.org/en-US/kb/enhanced-tracking-protection-firefox-desktop#w_strict-enhanced-tracking-protection) Enhanced Tracking Protection.
-## Privacy Suggestions
+## Suggestions
After applying the `user.js` and restarting Firefox:
-1) Change your default search engine.
- * You can also choose a different search engine for Private Windows only:
+1) Use an **ad blocker** like [uBlock Origin](https://addons.mozilla.org/blog/ublock-origin-everything-you-need-to-know-about-the-ad-blocker/) with our [recommended filters](https://github.com/yokoffing/filterlists#guidelines). For a quick and easy solution, use [Ghostery](https://addons.mozilla.org/en-US/firefox/addon/ghostery/).
+2) Add **DNS-level protection** like [NextDNS](https://nextdns.io/?from=xujj63g5), and check out our configuration [guide](https://github.com/yokoffing/NextDNS-Config).
+3) Change your **default search engine**.
+ * Alternatively, select a different search engine just for [Private Browsing](https://support.mozilla.org/en-US/kb/private-browsing-use-firefox-without-history) windows.
1) Go to *Settings → Search → Default Search Engine*
2) Change your default search engine to DuckDuckGo, or [add](https://github.com/yokoffing/Betterfox/blob/04c3184359c83d7b58411c3b68f40f3e9d95c373/Securefox.js#L600-L604) a premium search engine like [Kagi](https://kagi.com/).
-2) Enable **sanitize on close** ([clear browsing data on shutdown](https://github.com/yokoffing/Betterfox/blob/99f2e860633f307781ddb73d792358ad1bec6af5/Securefox.js#L409-L434)).
+
+To further harden Firefox:
+1) **Hide the referrer** between sites by changing [`network.http.referer.XOriginPolicy`](https://github.com/yokoffing/Betterfox/blob/e66a549985f6b0db4b14226904b8c09eaaea998f/Securefox.js#L982-L991) to `1`.
+ * Note: This will break embedded Instagram posts.
+2) **Clear browsing data** on shutdown ([sanitize on close](https://github.com/yokoffing/Betterfox/blob/99f2e860633f307781ddb73d792358ad1bec6af5/Securefox.js#L409-L434)).
* You can **allow exceptions** if you want to stay logged in to some sites:
1) Go to *Settings → Privacy & Security → Cookies and Site Data → Manage Exceptions*
2) Check *Delete cookies and site data when Firefox is closed*.
-3) Use [uBlock Origin](https://addons.mozilla.org/blog/ublock-origin-everything-you-need-to-know-about-the-ad-blocker/) to block ads and trackers with our [custom filters](https://github.com/yokoffing/filterlists). For a quick and easy solution, use [Ghostery](https://addons.mozilla.org/en-US/firefox/addon/ghostery/).
-4) Add DNS-level protection like [NextDNS](https://nextdns.io/?from=xujj63g5), and check out the configuration [guide](https://github.com/yokoffing/NextDNS-Config).
+
## Recognition
### User Comments
-- [1](https://old.reddit.com/r/firefox/comments/xsw0zt/comment/iqo0dbv/?context=3)
-[2](https://old.reddit.com/r/browsers/comments/y7w57n/which_browser_do_you_use_on_your_devices/it30hqi/?context=3)
-[3](https://old.reddit.com/r/firefox/comments/z5auzi/firefox_not_properly_usingrecognizing_gpu_poor/iy0kru3)
-[4](https://old.reddit.com/r/firefox/comments/z5auzi/firefox_not_properly_usingrecognizing_gpu_poor/iy36hyz)
-[5](https://old.reddit.com/r/firefox/comments/1030fri/why_does_firefox_feel_slowchoppy/j2wu4ow/)
-[6](https://old.reddit.com/r/pcmasterrace/comments/zwioe1/what_browser_will_you_be_using_in_2023_please/j1wmbxo/)
-[7](https://old.reddit.com/r/firefox/comments/zodxzx/performance_optimizations_for_firefox/j0memta/?context=2)
-[8](https://old.reddit.com/r/browsers/comments/106qwyk/in_contrast_to_previous_post_what_do_you_like/j3irpx0/?context=2)
-[9](https://old.reddit.com/r/firefox/comments/115va7d/list_of_aboutconfiguserjs_privacy_tweaks/j9700bc/?context=2)
-[10](https://old.reddit.com/r/browsers/comments/11q6je7/is_block_or_snoof_browser_fingerprint_better/jc2mhcx/?context=2)
+- [1](https://old.reddit.com/r/browsers/comments/y7w57n/which_browser_do_you_use_on_your_devices/it30hqi/?context=3)
+[2](https://old.reddit.com/r/firefox/comments/z5auzi/firefox_not_properly_usingrecognizing_gpu_poor/iy36hyz)
+[3](https://old.reddit.com/r/firefox/comments/1030fri/why_does_firefox_feel_slowchoppy/j2wu4ow/)
+[4](https://old.reddit.com/r/pcmasterrace/comments/zwioe1/what_browser_will_you_be_using_in_2023_please/j1wmbxo/)
+[5](https://old.reddit.com/r/firefox/comments/zodxzx/performance_optimizations_for_firefox/j0memta/?context=2)
+[6](https://old.reddit.com/r/browsers/comments/106qwyk/in_contrast_to_previous_post_what_do_you_like/j3irpx0/?context=2)
+[7](https://old.reddit.com/r/firefox/comments/115va7d/list_of_aboutconfiguserjs_privacy_tweaks/j9700bc/?context=2)
+[8](https://old.reddit.com/r/browsers/comments/11q6je7/is_block_or_snoof_browser_fingerprint_better/jc2mhcx/?context=2)
+[9](https://old.reddit.com/r/browsers/comments/139h4my/suggestion_for_finding_3_good_privacy_focus/jj3n3qn/?context=2)
+[10](https://old.reddit.com/r/MozillaFirefox/comments/15cc1vk/about_changes_in_aboutconfig/jtyx910/?context=3)
### Browser Integration
* [Floorp Browser](https://github.com/Floorp-Projects/Floorp#-betterfox) [1](https://github.com/Floorp-Projects/Floorp/issues/233#issuecomment-1543557167) [2](https://blog.ablaze.one/3135/2023-04-01/) | [files](https://github.com/Floorp-Projects/Floorp/blob/f63e87016d88535aafa2b57d690442b9a69cbaa5/toolkit/content/license.html#L200-L224) (April 2023)