Waterfox 54.0.1 released!

[HarborFront]

Waterfox is an open-source web browser based on Mozilla Firefox for 64-bit Windows, macOS and Linux systems. It is compiled using various compilers and uses Intel's Math Kernel Library, Streaming SIMD Extensions 3 and Advanced Vector Extensions. It is compatible with most Firefox add-ons and 64-bit NPAPI browser plug-ins. Waterfox contains modifications designed to take advantage of the 64-bit system architecture and provide speed improvements over Mozilla's flagship browser. Waterfox also removes Adobe DRM, the Pocket feature and standard data collection of Firefox, and claims compatibility with Windows XP 64 bit.

What’s new in Waterfox 54.0.1?

• Updated to Firefox 54.0.1 (Release Notes)
• Implemented Bug 1294490 to enable support of WebP images
• Block data being sent to Google Analytics on the internal about:addons page

What’s new in Waterfox 54.0.0.1?

• Disable building of pingsender executable
• Give users choice to use Google’s Widevine CDM for HTML5 EME/DRM. Note: No proprietary binaries are included by default, they are optionally downloaded in Preferences > Content

What’s new in Waterfox 54.0?

• Updated to Firefox 54.0 (Release Notes)
• Windows installer now lists Waterfox as publisher instead of Mozilla
• Language request now also change when a different locale is selected

PLEASE NOTE

• The latest build includes an executable (pingsender). It is not currently used (used in Firefox for telemetry data which is disabled in Waterfox), but no need for alarm as this will be removed completely in the next minor update.

What features does Waterfox currently have?

• Compiled with Clang+LLVM on Linux
• Disabled Encrypted Media Extensions (EME)
• Disabled Web Runtime (deprecated as of 2015)
• Removed Pocket
• Removed Telemetry
• Removed data collection
• Removed startup profiling
• Allow running of all 64-Bit NPAPI plugins
• Allow running of unsigned extensions
• Removal of Sponsored Tiles on New Tab Page
• Addition of Duplicate Tab option (toggle with browser.tabs.duplicateTab, thanks to PandaCodex)
• Locale selector in about references > General (further improved by PandaCodex)

N.B.

• When using a profile shared by Firefox, sponsored tile and snippet URLs may overwrite default Waterfox settings, enabling them again
• Automatic updates will be delayed by 24 hours to make sure there aren’t any pressing issues before seeding to everyone.

Waterfox - Downloads - The free, open and private browser

 

[HarborFront]

It solves the privacy problem posed by Firefox

Privacy blunder? Firefox’s Get Add-ons page uses Google Analytics

Privacy blunder? Firefox's Get Add-ons page uses Google Analytics - gHacks Tech News
Firefox tracks users with Google Analytics in the add-on settings | Hacker News
Security #####up: about:addons uses Google Analytics • r/firefox

 

[HarborFront]

Privacy issues are looming with Firefox so it's high time that another Mozilla-based privacy-focused browser be used

Does Mozilla's Firefox web browser repeatedly connect to Google's servers?

I have been testing Waterfox for the past days and finds that it works fine. No speed test or ram usage comparison but more on compatibility with sites and extensions.

The followings are the extensions I'm using

1) uBlock Origin + AAK-Cont user script
2) Greasemonkey - for the installation of the above user script
3) HTTPS Everywhere
4) Self Destructing Cookies
5) Pop-up Blocker (strict)
6) Canvas Defender
7) SSleuth
8) Windscribe VPN
9) BetterPrivacy
10) Speed Tweaks (SpeedyFox)
11) Flagfox
12) Country Flag & IP Whois
13) Random Agent Spoofer
14) Secret Agent
15) Privacy Settings - set to Full Privacy

Notes :-
1) Only 13 out of the 15 above extensions have icons appeared on the addon and address bars. All 15 of them work fine though.
2) Items 13), 14) & 15) are still undergoing testing as they do have many overlapping features. Fingerprinting should be handled well by these 3 extensions
3) Disabled Tracking Protection in browser since it uses Disconnect filters which can be found in uBlock Origin
4) Disabled Pop-up feature in browser for Pop-up Blocker (strict) to work
5) No cookies allowed in browser - Only make exceptions for a few needed ones in browser, hence, Privacy Badger not needed.
6) Not using Privacy Badger & Ghostery since blocking is done by uBlock Origin. FI, Privacy Badger(using heuristics) detects a few more trackers over Ghostery(using blocklists) but Ghostery gives better GUI info
7) Not used - Decentraleyes/CanvasBlocker/Canvas Fingerprint Blocker for their icons do not appear on the addon bar so their notification/blocking actions are unknown as compared to those in Chrome
8) The majority of the settings in Waterfox are disabled by default to enhance its privacy.
9) Replaced its default Ecosia 'Storm' open-source search engine by SearX search engine
10) NoScript/RequestPolicy Continued/uMatrix are not used as these are more time consuming to set
11) Disabled all plugins
12) Can use basically all the extensions like in Firefox
13) Always running in Private Browsing mode
14) On start up it's connected to Cloudflare in California, USA. Not Amazon nor Mozilla

 

[frogboy]

Privacy issues are looming with Firefox so it's high time that another Mozilla-based privacy-focused browser be used

Does Mozilla's Firefox web browser repeatedly connect to Google's servers?

I have been testing Waterfox for the past days and finds that it works fine. No speed test or ram usage comparison but more on compatibility with sites and extensions.

The followings are the extensions I'm using

1) uBlock Origin + AAK-Cont user script
2) Greasemonkey - for the installation of the above user script
3) HTTPS Everywhere
4) Self Destructing Cookies
5) Pop-up Blocker (strict)
6) Canvas Defender
7) SSleuth
8) Windscribe VPN
9) BetterPrivacy
10) Speed Tweaks (SpeedyFox)
11) Flagfox
12) Country Flag & IP Whois
13) Random User Agent
14) Secret Agent
15) Privacy Settings - set to Full Privacy

Notes :-
1) Only 13 out of the 15 above extensions have icons appeared on the addon bar.
2) Items 13), 14) & 15) are still undergoing testing as they do have many overlapping features
3) Disabled - Tracking Protection in browser since it uses Disconnect filters which can be found in uBlock Origin
4) Disabled - Pop-up feature in browser for Pop-up Blocker (strict) to work
5) No cookies allowed in browser - Only make exceptions for a few needed ones in browser, hence, Privacy Badger not needed.
6) Not using Privacy Badger & Ghostery since blocking is done by uBlock Origin. FI, Privacy Badger(using heuristics) detects a few more trackers over Ghostery(using blocklists) but Ghostery gives better GUI info
7) Not used - Decentraleyes/CanvasBlocker/Canvas Fingerprint Blocker for their icons do not appear on the addon bar so their notification/blocking actions are unknown
8) The majority of the settings in Waterfox are disabled by default to enhance its privacy.
9) Replaced its default Ecosia 'Storm' search engine by SearX search engine
10) NoScript/RequestPolicy Continued/uMatrix are not used as these are more time consuming

Almost a carbon copy for me with CyberFox.

 

[HarborFront]

Almost a carbon copy for me with CyberFox.

But CF is EOL soon otherwise I'll try it

 

[frogboy]

But CF is EOL soon otherwise I'll try it

Yes I know and I am a bit sad about that. I love my CyberFox but all good things must come to an end sooner or later.

 

[HarborFront]

Yes I know and I am a bit sad about that. I love my CyberFox but all good things must come to an end sooner or later.

Waterfox seems to have some big plans coming up. Looks like having 3 different versions

Waterfox dev has big plans for the browser - gHacks Tech News

 

[ispx]

cf is eol & wf is x64 only & i am stuck.

@HarborFront,

would you recommend the comodo ice dragon? keeping in mind the privacy / tracking related issues you have mentioned above.

 

[HarborFront]

cf is eol & wf is x64 only & i am stuck.

@HarborFront,

would you recommend the comodo ice dragon? keeping in mind the privacy / tracking related issues you have mentioned above.

So far for Mozilla-based browsers I have only used Tor(which is very slow), FF and Waterfox. No idea about Comodo Ice Dragon.

You can check its reviews on the net and at reddit to find out whether it's to be recommended as a privacy-focused Mozilla-based browser

 

[frogboy]

So far for Mozilla-based browsers I have only used Tor(which is very slow) and Waterfox. No idea about Comodo Ice Dragon.

You can check its reviews on the net and at reddit to find out whether it's to be recommended as a privacy-focused Mozilla-based browser

You could look at PaleMoon it has both x64 and x32 Bit versions. The Pale Moon Project homepage

 

[HarborFront]

You could look at PaleMoon it has both x64 and x32 Bit versions. The Pale Moon Project homepage

PaleMoon have some but not so many FF extensions

 

[ispx]

i use no extensions with firefox. will try palemoon for sure thanks @frogboy.

@HarborFront,

you have sound knowledge of browsers which is why i would rather go with your suggestions than reviews

 

[HarborFront]

i use no extensions with firefox. will try palemoon for sure thanks @frogboy.

@HarborFront,

you have sound knowledge of browsers which is why i would rather go with your suggestions than reviews

No testing of browser so cannot conclude like it or not. Also, I read up extensively on the net and at reddit before testing a browser

FYI, after testing many Chromium-based browsers the ones I liked of their privacy-oriented are confirmed

Just something for your FF. If you simply use extensions and untick most of the check boxes FF still send your privacy data back to Mozilla. For security and privacy you'll need to harden and further harden FF using the tips from below

https://github.com/pyllyukko/user.js
https://vikingvpn.com/cybersecurity-wiki/browser-security/guide-hardening-mozilla-firefox-for- privacy-and-security

 

[brod56]

Didn't test this browser for a long time, and decided to do it today again.
Much more stable, less bugs, very good work. Time to unninstall my Firefox and opt for this privacy-based 64-bit fork.

 

[McLovin]

Can't you now just get Firefox in 64 Bit?

 

[HarborFront]

Can't you now just get Firefox in 64 Bit?

Yes, you can.

However, as mentioned in posts #3, FF seems not protecting the privacy issues of users. In addition, read post #13, the need to harden and further harden to strengthen its privacy and security seems to be a nightmare