10mo ago

How to Switch From Chrome to Firefox (and Why You Should)

lifehacker.com

Firefox is a privacy-friendly alternative to Chrome, using its own browser engine (Gecko) and offering strong privacy protections compared to Chromium-based browsers.
Despite its benefits, Firefox relies on Google for funding, raising concerns about its future, and some recent privacy decisions have drawn criticism.
Switching from Chrome to Firefox is simple, and alternatives like Mullvad Browser offer even stronger privacy for those seeking more protection.

46 comments

There's also arkenfox or librewolf
- I use librewolf (and have for a while) the extra privacy really isn't intrusive, there are some sites that don't work correctly, on it, but I just open up regular Firefox and throw the URL there if that's the case.
  The only thing I don't like is how long it takes to build whenever there's an update. I only update it 1-2 times a month but it's still a 20-30 minute process each time
  
  I switched to arkenfox since the librewolf package lagged a bit on arch and I didn't want to build myself. If sites really break bad (usually I can get around it by disabling some ublock settings), I just open a blank firefox profile
- Arkenfox is not a browser, but a set of technical settings.
- Just out of interest, how do those browsers, and other forks, get funding? All voluntarily development or donations?
  
  See this relevant article on Firefox and Mozilla’s funding.
  https://slrpnk.net/post/12621021
  
  They just patch Firefox
- That's great. Want to tell us more than their names?
  
  No
- arkenfox
  arken what?
  Oh, I see.
Sorry, I can't switch to Firefox, as I've never not used Firefox.
I used it already when it was called Netscape. Before that I used Mosaic, which itself is not entirely stranger to Netscape creation.
Also, FF is not "a great alternative to Google Chrome". FF is a great browser in its own right. (Almost) always has been. And how could it be considered an alternative to anything when it was there first (or second, right after Mosaic)?
- This is the way.
  I solely used Netscape Navigator since it came out and after it fell I chose Firefox. My interface has always been modded to look permanently like Firefox 3.6.
  Everything is where I want it to be and everything works perfectly.
  Many moons ago my employer tried to force us to use only Internet Explorer / Edge for reasons they were unable to explain - since there were none, technically or otherwise. I rebelled and remotely installed Firefox with Adblock / uBlock Origin to every personal computer (I was the unofficial IT guy) and told my co-workers to try it out.
  At the next meeting we were told that the use of Firefox is not only approved but recommended. The magic of an "ad free browser" had taken hold, people found it vastly superior and had been vocal about their newfound dislike of MS browsers.
  To my surprise I wasn't even reprimanded in any way.
- Wait... Firefox was Netscape?!
  
  Not just was Netscape, Mozilla was straight up founded by Netscape people https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mozilla
  On January 23, 1998, Netscape announced that its Netscape Communicator browser software would be free, and that its source code would also be free.[4] One day later, Jamie Zawinski of Netscape registered mozilla.org.[5] The project took its name, "Mozilla", from the original code name of the Netscape Navigator browser—a portmanteau of "Mosaic and Godzilla",[6] and used to coordinate the development of the Mozilla Application Suite, the free software version of Netscape's internet software, Netscape Communicator.[7][8] Zawinski said he arrived at the name "Mozilla" at a Netscape staff meeting.[9] A small group of Netscape employees were tasked with coordinating the new community.
  
  https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/History_of_the_web_browser ;)
  
  I remember using Mosaic on Silicon Graohics machines back in the early ‘90s. It’s was fab for the time.
  And yes, Mosaic became Netscape, became Firefox. From the wiki page at https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Netscape_Navigator
  The business demise of Netscape was a central premise of Microsoft's antitrust trial, wherein the Court ruled that Microsoft's bundling of Internet Explorer with the Windows operating system was a monopolistic and illegal business practice. The decision came too late for Netscape, however, as Internet Explorer had by then become the dominant web browser in Windows. The Netscape Navigator web browser was succeeded by the Netscape Communicator suite in 1997. Netscape Communicator's 4.x source code was the base for the Netscape-developed Mozilla Application Suite, which was later renamed SeaMonkey.[4] Netscape's Mozilla Suite also served as the base for a browser-only spinoff called Mozilla Firefox.
- Sorry, I can’t switch to Firefox, as I’ve never not used Firefox.
  You still can! Just uninstall Firefox, switch to an alternative browser. Now you are in a position where you can switch to Firefox. To make it more believable, open your favorite website with the new browser, close it and uninstall it. Install Firefox, so you can switch to it. All of this takes only a few minutes and can be done by virtually anyone.
  Modern problems require modern solution. Thank me later, alligator.
  
  Clever 8^)
  But I still have to install FF from time to time, like I did today — best way to spend one's Sunday, reinstalling the Mac :/
  Speaking installation, whenever I do an installation Firefox is always the second app I install on fresh machine. The first one being my password manager.
I appreciate the effort but posting this in here is pointless as most people in here are already in Firefox or any other browser that is not Chrome itself.
- Not subscribed and saw the post. Still a Chrome user but probably need to bite the bullet and move over.
- Nah I disagree, people can also send articles to friends
I don't really understand all these articles explaining how to switch to Firefox. You install firefox and use it, that's all. During all those years when firefox was the black sheep, I tried chromium again and never felt any real difference in speed or productivity. Software is all about habits. 2 weeks with one browser and you forget that another exists. Might as well go for the cleanest.
- I don’t really understand all these articles explaining how to switch to Firefox. You install firefox and use it, that’s all.
  They don't give a crap about the article usefulness, that's just more ads to sell.
  Why do you think the web is so much riddled with crap content? More and more of it generated by clueless AI? It's not to be helpful to their readers, that I can tell you ;)
I think we should spread this message and the guide in other communities or on other platforms. I don't think posting this in the Firefox community will achieve much.
- I look at All and this is great info for me.
- Lemmy is quite good at not being too "tribal". Why not embrace a message as expressed, instead of worrying about where it is ... posted?
  For me, one of the worst issues affecting t'internets is tribalism. Us humans are hardwired to go all in on tribal affiliation. It is generally harder to find inclusive measures than it is to find exclusive measures.
  If you are here then you may not be exclusively: Firefox user ⊆browser user ⊆human. Note that browser user can have multiple browsers.
Does this really need an article?
Step one: open chrome
Step two: google firefox download
Step three: download firefox
Step 4: use firefox
- This article talks about additional things such as importing data, pros and cons of Firefox, and other alternatives. I know many people who are not tech savvy enough to even know how to change a browser.
  However, considering that this is posted on Lemmy where most users are already tech savvy (enough to at least start using Lemmy) and more privacy and open source focused (enough to at least stop using reddit), I do agree that this does feel a bit redundant for me at least.
  
  It's also a good reminder for us to share it with people that may not be tech savvy enough to make the switch.
  
  this is posted on Lemmy where most users are already tech savvy (enough to at least start using Lemmy)
  You can just download one of the many
  <WhateverApp>
  For Lemmy apps from your mobile store... there's literally no barrier to entry.
Is Mulvad browser chromium?
- No, its basically just firefox with extra privacy features
  
  Is it not just firefox with more privacy settings by default? Are there actually festures added?
Already switched.
the barrier to firefox for me was extension support now i dont rlly care anymore i use a chromium based web browsert alongside
Firefox autofill is dog shit
Used since 2006.
I kinda hate how some sites don't allow firefox users
Me: “Import bookmarks from another browser”
But… there were some valid criticisms under the comments section of popular FireFox posts in subreddits like r/Technology. The gist was lot of the areas of FireFox (including the interface elements) are archaic failing to even recognise simple features like Safari’s Reader List to incorporate or to listen directly from the community and the urge to modernise FireFox itself like Chromium.

46 comments