Firefox extensions
Let’s defend our browsing with some pointy plugins that’ll keep the wolves at bay.
While it’s reassuring to know that we have “strong protection against web tracking”, it’s less comforting to see our unique browser fingerprint.
The world isn’t going to end when Google pulls the plug on Manifest V2 for Chrome, so let’s investigate the very best anti-tracking and ad-blocking extensions for Firefox. With Chrome and the long-term viability of extensions on other Chromium-based browsers in doubt, it’s increasingly clear that Firefox is the way forward.
We’d love to recommend Linux-specific browsers such as Falkon, but the built-in adblock extension does not have a stellar reputation for being user-friendly, and Falkon’s overall performance is not quite up there with the best Mozilla has to offer. Perhaps the inevitable exodus from the Googlesphere will prompt increased investment in competent independent browser development, but then again, maybe not.
Firefox has another major advantage in the upcoming browser wars: it’s truly multi-platform, with builds available for Windows, Mac OS, Android and iOS. Linux-specific browsers have a tiny market share of what is already a tiny market share, and worthy as they may be, can’t attract the kind of massive investment needed – at least, not before January 2023.