Firefox: Difference between revisions

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{{ProductCargo

|Company=Mozilla

|ReleaseYear=2004

|InProduction=No

|InProduction=Yes

|ArticleType=Product

|Category=Browser, Web Browser

|Website=https://www.firefox.com/

|Description=Firefox is a free open-source browser created and owned by Mozilla.

|Description=Firefox is a free and open-source browser created and owned by Mozilla.

}}

|Logo=Firefox_Logo.svg}}

'''{{wplink|Firefox}}''' is a free and open-source web browser developed by the [[Mozilla]] Foundation. It is officially available on Windows (10 and above<ref>{{Cite web |date=21 Feb 2025 |title=Firefox users on Windows 7, 8 and 8.1 moving to Extended Support Release |url=https://support.mozilla.org/en-US/kb/firefox-users-windows-7-8-and-81-moving-extended-support |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250729074747/https://support.mozilla.org/en-US/kb/firefox-users-windows-7-8-and-81-moving-extended-support |archive-date=29 Jul 2025 |access-date=20 Aug 2025 |website=Mozilla Support}}</ref>), macOS and Linux.<ref>{{Cite web |date=20 Aug 2025 |title=Firefox for desktop |url=https://www.firefox.com/en-US/browsers/desktop/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250729082008/https://www.firefox.com/en-US/browsers/desktop/ |archive-date=29 Jul 2025 |access-date=20 Aug 2025 |website=Firefox}}</ref>

==Consumer impact summary==

===User privacy===

Despite marketing itself as a security browser, by default "technical and interaction data" is sent to Firefox.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Manage technical and interaction data collection settings in Firefox|url=https://support.mozilla.org/en-US/kb/technical-and-interaction-data|website=Mozilla Support|access-date=August 31, 2025 |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20260222200928/https://support.mozilla.org/en-US/kb/technical-and-interaction-data |archive-date=22 Feb 2026}}</ref> You can easily disable this with an [[opt-out]] option in the GUI settings.

However, some options cannot be conveniently disabled, and requires fiddling the settings in <code>about:config</code>. Some of these examples include:

*Integrated Pocket technology as a built-in extension, which in its Privacy Policy uses Google Analytics.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Pocket|url=https://getpocket.com/privacy?t=privacypolicy|date=August 27, 2025|website=Pocket|access-date=August 31, 2025 |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20251121184427/https://getpocket.com/privacy?t=privacypolicy |archive-date=21 Nov 2025}}</ref>

*Google Analytics in the browser.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Google Analytics is used to track users. #3145|url=https://github.com/mozilla/addons/issues/3145|website=GitHub|access-date=August 31, 2025 |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20251118130843/https://github.com/mozilla/addons/issues/3145 |archive-date=18 Nov 2025}}</ref> Firefox stated they will not "give the 'data directly to Google'" but will "[collect] aggregate and non-identifiable data in numbers to ensure our development/UX changes are met well. [...] We need some data, anonymised and aggregated, to do this."

===User freedom===

*Heavily configurable via <code>about:config</code>.

==Incidents==

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This is a list of all consumer protection incidents related to this product. Any incidents not mentioned here can be found in the [[:Category:{{PAGENAME}}|{{PAGENAME}} category]].

===~~Example incident one~~ (~~''date''~~)===

===Mandatory add-on signing (2016)===

~~{{Main|link~~ to the ~~main article}}~~

In 2015, Mozilla introduced extension signing (add-on signing) to Firefox, meaning the browser would show a warning if the user ran an extension not approved by Mozilla. This was later expanded to block the extension, but the user was able to override it by modifying an <code>about:config</code> property. In 2016, Mozilla took that option away as well. This means Mozilla is able to remotely disable extensions, removing ownership from the end user.

~~Short summary of~~ the ~~incident (could be~~ the ~~same~~ as the ~~summary preceding the article)~~.

~~===Example incident two (''date'')===~~

Shortly after extension signing was announced, the user base already responded negatively, stating how this would limit the freedom of power users.<ref>[Introducing Extension Signing: A Safer Add-on Experience | Mozilla Add-ons Community Blog https://archive.today/2024.01.22-024009/https://blog.mozilla.org/addons/2015/02/10/extension-signing-safer-experience/]</ref>

...

On May 3rd, 2019, a technical issue with Mozilla's add-on signing service forcibly disabled all extensions of every Firefox instance connected to the Internet (excluding older versions that predate add-on signing).

In March 2025, Firefox versions before 128 (and <abbr title="Extended Support Release">ESR</abbr> 115) were rendered defective as a result of Mozilla no longer providing extension signing support for those versions, resulting in them losing the ability to run extensions.

<ref>[https://digdeeper.club/articles/mozilla.xhtml#historyofcontrol Mozilla - Devil Incarnate - History of anti-control] - Dig Deeper ([http://web.archive.org/web/20260211220133/https://digdeeper.club/articles/mozilla.xhtml Archived])</ref><ref>[https://archive.today/2016.04.20-194222/https://wiki.mozilla.org/Add-ons/Extension_Signing Add-ons/Extension Signing - MozillaWiki (2016-04-20)]</ref>

===Mozilla introduces TOS to Firefox (''02/27/2025'')===

On February 26th, 2025 Mozilla announced in their blog that they are introducing Terms of Use to Firefox, effective June 10th, 2025. <ref>{{Cite web |last= |date=2025-02-26 |title=Firefox Terms of Use |url=https://www.mozilla.org/en-US/about/legal/terms/firefox/ |url-status=live |access-date=2025-08-18 |website=Mozilla |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20260112211331/https://www.mozilla.org/en-US/about/legal/terms/firefox/ |archive-date=12 Jan 2026}}</ref> Their reasoning is to "give [the user] more transparency over [their] rights and permissions as [they] use Firefox".<ref>{{Cite web |last=Varma |first=Ajit |date=2025-02-26 |title=Introducing a terms of use and updated privacy notice for Firefox |url=https://blog.mozilla.org/en/firefox/firefox-terms-of-use/ |url-status=live |website=Mozilla Blog |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20260111132423/https://blog.mozilla.org/en/firefox/firefox-terms-of-use/ |archive-date=11 Jan 2026}}</ref> In the same blog post they announce an update to their Privacy Policy.

Under section "Mozilla Can Update or Terminate This Agreement" in the ToS, it is announced that updates to it will be posted online, and continued use of Firefox is taken as the user's acceptance of the new terms. No mention is made of any other commitment to notify the user (in-browser notification, etc.). In the next section, "Termination", it is explicitly stated that Mozilla will "try to notify [the user]" at their email address or next time they try to access their account, in case Mozilla denies or suspend anyone's access to Firefox.

===Mozilla removed the "nonexclusive, royalty-free, worldwide license" in the Firefox TOS (10/06/2025)===

On June 10th, 2025 Mozilla has removed the "nonexclusive, royalty-free, worldwide license" in the "[https://www.mozilla.org/en-US/about/legal/terms/firefox/#you-give-mozilla-certain-rights-and-permissions You Give Mozilla Certain Rights and Permissions]" page of where the controversial [[terms of service]] clause used to be last seen<ref>{{Cite web |title=Firefox: About Your Rights |url=https://www.mozilla.org/en-US/about/legal/terms/firefox/ |url-status=deviated |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250515140703/https://www.mozilla.org/en-US/about/legal/terms/firefox/ |archive-date=15 May 2025 |access-date=20 Oct 2025 |website=Mozilla}}</ref> on March 15th of 2025. It is currently unknown why this change was made, as of current writing.

==Alternatives==

*[https://floorp.app/en-US Floorp]

*[https://librewolf.net/ LibreWolf]

*[https://mullvad.net/browser Mullvad Browser]

*[https://zen-browser.app/ Zen Browser]

==See also==

~~{{Ph-C-SA}}~~

*[[Brave browser|Brave]]

*[[DuckDuckGo Browser|DuckDuckGo Browser]]

*[[Google Chrome]]

*[[Microsoft Edge]]

==References==

@@ Line 1: / Line 1: @@
+{{Stub}}
 {{ProductCargo
 |Company=Mozilla
 |ReleaseYear=2004
-|InProduction=No
+|InProduction=Yes
 |ArticleType=Product
 |Category=Browser, Web Browser
 |Website=https://www.firefox.com/
-|Description=Firefox is a free open-source browser created and owned by Mozilla.
+|Description=Firefox is a free and open-source browser created and owned by Mozilla.
-}}
+|Logo=Firefox_Logo.svg}}
-{{Ph-C-Int}}
+'''{{wplink|Firefox}}''' is a free and open-source web browser developed by the [[Mozilla]] Foundation. It is officially available on Windows (10 and above<ref>{{Cite web |date=21 Feb 2025 |title=Firefox users on Windows 7, 8 and 8.1 moving to Extended Support Release |url=https://support.mozilla.org/en-US/kb/firefox-users-windows-7-8-and-81-moving-extended-support |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250729074747/https://support.mozilla.org/en-US/kb/firefox-users-windows-7-8-and-81-moving-extended-support |archive-date=29 Jul 2025 |access-date=20 Aug 2025 |website=Mozilla Support}}</ref>), macOS and Linux.<ref>{{Cite web |date=20 Aug 2025 |title=Firefox for desktop |url=https://www.firefox.com/en-US/browsers/desktop/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250729082008/https://www.firefox.com/en-US/browsers/desktop/ |archive-date=29 Jul 2025 |access-date=20 Aug 2025 |website=Firefox}}</ref>
 ==Consumer impact summary==
 {{Ph-C-CIS}}
+===User privacy===
+Despite marketing itself as a security browser, by default "technical and interaction data" is sent to Firefox.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Manage technical and interaction data collection settings in Firefox|url=https://support.mozilla.org/en-US/kb/technical-and-interaction-data|website=Mozilla Support|access-date=August 31, 2025 |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20260222200928/https://support.mozilla.org/en-US/kb/technical-and-interaction-data |archive-date=22 Feb 2026}}</ref> You can easily disable this with an [[opt-out]] option in the GUI settings.
+However, some options cannot be conveniently disabled, and requires fiddling the settings in <code>about:config</code>. Some of these examples include:
+*Integrated Pocket technology as a built-in extension, which in its Privacy Policy uses Google Analytics.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Pocket|url=https://getpocket.com/privacy?t=privacypolicy|date=August 27, 2025|website=Pocket|access-date=August 31, 2025 |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20251121184427/https://getpocket.com/privacy?t=privacypolicy |archive-date=21 Nov 2025}}</ref>
+*Google Analytics in the browser.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Google Analytics is used to track users. #3145|url=https://github.com/mozilla/addons/issues/3145|website=GitHub|access-date=August 31, 2025 |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20251118130843/https://github.com/mozilla/addons/issues/3145 |archive-date=18 Nov 2025}}</ref> Firefox stated they will not "give the 'data directly to Google'" but will "[collect] aggregate and non-identifiable data in numbers to ensure our development/UX changes are met well. [...] We need some data, anonymised and aggregated, to do this."
+===User freedom===
+*Heavily configurable via <code>about:config</code>.
 ==Incidents==
@@ Line 17: / Line 28: @@
 This is a list of all consumer protection incidents related to this product. Any incidents not mentioned here can be found in the [[:Category:{{PAGENAME}}|{{PAGENAME}} category]].
-===Example incident one (''date'')===
+===Mandatory add-on signing (2016)===
-{{Main|link to the main article}}
+In 2015, Mozilla introduced extension signing (add-on signing) to Firefox, meaning the browser would show a warning if the user ran an extension not approved by Mozilla. This was later expanded to block the extension, but the user was able to override it by modifying an <code>about:config</code> property. In 2016, Mozilla took that option away as well. This means Mozilla is able to remotely disable extensions, removing ownership from the end user.
-Short summary of the incident (could be the same as the summary preceding the article).
-===Example incident two (''date'')===
+Shortly after extension signing was announced, the user base already responded negatively, stating how this would limit the freedom of power users.<ref>[Introducing Extension Signing: A Safer Add-on Experience &#x7C; Mozilla Add-ons Community Blog https://archive.today/2024.01.22-024009/https://blog.mozilla.org/addons/2015/02/10/extension-signing-safer-experience/]</ref>
-...
+On May 3rd, 2019, a technical issue with Mozilla's add-on signing service forcibly disabled all extensions of every Firefox instance connected to the Internet (excluding older versions that predate add-on signing).
+In March 2025, Firefox versions before 128 (and <abbr title="Extended Support Release">ESR</abbr> 115) were rendered defective as a result of Mozilla no longer providing extension signing support for those versions, resulting in them losing the ability to run extensions.
+<ref>[https://digdeeper.club/articles/mozilla.xhtml#historyofcontrol Mozilla - Devil Incarnate - History of anti-control] - Dig Deeper ([http://web.archive.org/web/20260211220133/https://digdeeper.club/articles/mozilla.xhtml Archived])</ref><ref>[https://archive.today/2016.04.20-194222/https://wiki.mozilla.org/Add-ons/Extension_Signing Add-ons/Extension Signing - MozillaWiki (2016-04-20)]</ref>
+===Mozilla introduces TOS to Firefox (''02/27/2025'')===
+{{Main|Mozilla introduces TOS to Firefox}}
+On February 26th, 2025 Mozilla announced in their blog that they are introducing Terms of Use to Firefox, effective June 10th, 2025. <ref>{{Cite web |last= |date=2025-02-26 |title=Firefox Terms of Use |url=https://www.mozilla.org/en-US/about/legal/terms/firefox/ |url-status=live |access-date=2025-08-18 |website=Mozilla |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20260112211331/https://www.mozilla.org/en-US/about/legal/terms/firefox/ |archive-date=12 Jan 2026}}</ref> Their reasoning is to "give [the user] more transparency over [their] rights and permissions as [they] use Firefox".<ref>{{Cite web |last=Varma |first=Ajit |date=2025-02-26 |title=Introducing a terms of use and updated privacy notice for Firefox |url=https://blog.mozilla.org/en/firefox/firefox-terms-of-use/ |url-status=live |website=Mozilla Blog |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20260111132423/https://blog.mozilla.org/en/firefox/firefox-terms-of-use/ |archive-date=11 Jan 2026}}</ref> In the same blog post they announce an update to their Privacy Policy.
+Under section "Mozilla Can Update or Terminate This Agreement" in the ToS, it is announced that updates to it will be posted online, and continued use of Firefox is taken as the user's acceptance of the new terms. No mention is made of any other commitment to notify the user (in-browser notification, etc.). In the next section, "Termination", it is explicitly stated that Mozilla will "try to notify [the user]" at their email address or next time they try to access their account, in case Mozilla denies or suspend anyone's access to Firefox.
+===Mozilla removed the "nonexclusive, royalty-free, worldwide license" in the Firefox TOS (10/06/2025)===
+On June 10th, 2025 Mozilla has removed the "nonexclusive, royalty-free, worldwide license" in the "[https://www.mozilla.org/en-US/about/legal/terms/firefox/#you-give-mozilla-certain-rights-and-permissions You Give Mozilla Certain Rights and Permissions]" page of where the controversial [[terms of service]] clause used to be last seen<ref>{{Cite web |title=Firefox: About Your Rights |url=https://www.mozilla.org/en-US/about/legal/terms/firefox/ |url-status=deviated |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250515140703/https://www.mozilla.org/en-US/about/legal/terms/firefox/ |archive-date=15 May 2025 |access-date=20 Oct 2025 |website=Mozilla}}</ref> on March 15th of 2025. It is currently unknown why this change was made, as of current writing.
+==Alternatives==
+*[https://floorp.app/en-US Floorp]
+*[https://librewolf.net/ LibreWolf]
+*[https://mullvad.net/browser Mullvad Browser]
+*[https://zen-browser.app/ Zen Browser]
 ==See also==
-{{Ph-C-SA}}
+*[[Brave browser|Brave]]
+*[[DuckDuckGo Browser|DuckDuckGo Browser]]
+*[[Google Chrome]]
+*[[Microsoft Edge]]
 ==References==