# README

By default, LibreWolf is probably the better choice over Firefox as it already disables most of telemetry and tracking.

## Install

Get LibreWolf from website.

Add the `librewolf.overrides.cfg` to the `$HOME/.librewolf` folder and adapt to your needs.

Remove leading `//` to enable a setting. You need to restart (all instances of) LibreWolf afterwards. You can cross-check if they have been applied by typing `about:config` in the browser navigation bar and search for the setting.

## Recommended extensions

Besides LibreWolf's integrated anti-tracking mechanisms, it's still advised to install additional plugins to further enhance this.

In addition, some of those extensions will also greatly improve your user experience: fewer ads, faster page loads. Remember, you can also switch them off (disable), you don't need to uninstall.

**Highly recommended to have all of them allowed in Incognito Mode as well.**

See [arkenfox extensions recommendations](https://github.com/arkenfox/user.js/wiki/4.1-Extensions).

### Must have

* `uBlock Origin`: blocks ads and unwanted trackers, also removes certain url parameters (https://addons.mozilla.org/de/firefox/addon/ublock-origin/)

**Hint**: Extensions impacting redirects or cookies _might_ lead to malfunctioning of some websites. If you encounter this, it's **recommended to disable them _per page_** and **NOT** globally! First could shot can be setting an exception for a page inside uBlock.!

You can **hide extension icons** in the overflow menu if you like. Just right click the icon in the top right in the menu bar and "pin to overflow".

#### uBlock settings

* Import the `ublock.txt` in the "My Filter" menu for proper settings from the [extension_settings/](./../browser_extension_settings/) folder within the extension.
* Import `https://raw.githubusercontent.com/gwarser/filter-lists/master/lan-block.txt` in "Filter lists" (Custom)

### Advanced, but highly recommended extensions / software to use

Use a password manager and don't store or synchronize your passwords within internal browser functionality, e.g., `KeePassXC` or `Bitwarden` with a custom provider

## Recommended search engines

If not possible in another way, you can add them via [Add custom search engine](https://addons.mozilla.org/en-US/firefox/addon/add-custom-search-engine/). Just follow instructions after installing and opening the extension.

For most search engines, you can also store your preferences inside the URL itself. This is great for having the same experience across devices and if you clear any cookies when your browser shuts down. Make sure that you have those preferences in when you save as a new search engine.

You should also prefer `POST` over `GET`. Depending if there's a `%s` in the URL, it's using `GET`. If it's not present in the examples below, make sure to hit the _Advanced settings_ when adding it as search engine and check `POST`. Then provide `q={searchTerms}` in the input field.

```shell
https://searx.be
https://duckduckgo.com
https://www.qwant.com
https://duckduckgo.com
```

Be sure to add shortcuts to be used in your navigation bar, e.g. `@ddg` refers to DuckDuckGo search engine and directly issues searches to DuckDuckGo from the navigation bar and does not use the default search engine, but your default!

## Additional hints

Besides securing LibreWolf, you should consider not using the DNS servers of your Internet provider and instead install system-wide [DNS alternatives](https://www.kuketz-blog.de/empfehlungsecke/#dns) or a [local DNS server](https://wiki.archlinux.org/index.php/Unbound) which directly queries root DNS servers. There's really no downside of this.