Firefox logo

Browser: Firefox

Mozilla, maker of Firefox, says:

“Only non-profit-backed browser with ad blocker that is secure, private & fast. Get all the speed and tools with none of the invasions of privacy. Firefox Browser collects so little data about you, we don’t even require your email address to download. That’s because unlike other browsers, we have no financial stake in following you around the web.”

https://www.mozilla.org/en-US/firefox/new/

“It’s a new era in tech. Don’t settle for a browser made by unethical, profit-driven, data-hoarding companies. By choosing Firefox, you support the non-profit Mozilla Foundation whose mission is to build a better internet — one that puts individual and public benefit over commercial profit.”

I advocate Firefox

I advocate Firefox for multiple reasons. Here is an article that gives some of the best reasons why.

There are also technical reasons. One is that many new features are only available on Firefox. (Geek Warning: For instance, as of this writing, the CSS :fullscreen-pseudo-class to Select all elements in the fullscreen stack is only supported on Firefox and Firefox for Android. https://developer.mozilla.org/en-US/docs/Web/CSS/:fullscreen#browser_compatibility.)

Settings Changes

Increase Or Decrease The Size Of The Web Page

On Firefox for Linux and Firefox for Windows

You can choose temporarily or permanently.

Temporarily

If you would like to increase or decrease the size of the web pages, you can hold down the Ctrl key, and scroll the wheel between the right and left mouse buttons. You may also type Ctrl and + or Ctrl and . This will not effect your other web page tabs or windows.

Permanently

You can put about:config into the address bar, click Accept the Risk and Continue, then paste layout.css.devPixelsPerPx in the Search bar. The default value is -1.0, which equates to 1.0. (which is 100%, aka full size). You can change the value of the size of the web page text. You can enlarge (a higher number, e.g. 1.1) or shrink (a lower number, e.g. .90).

On Firefox for Android

Temporarily

You can only do this permanently.

Permanently

Click the kebob menu (it looks like this: ) in the lower-right of Firefox > ⚙ Settings > Accessibility. First turn off Automatic font sizing. Then adjust the Font Size slider.

Menu Bar & Bookmarks Toolbar

Only on Firefox for Linux and Firefox for Windows

I like these two bars to be present. Right-click to the right of the rightmost tab name, and choose Menu Bar. Then do the same, and choose Bookmarks Toolbar > Always Show.

Disable Password Saving

If you’re like me, and don’t want Firefox to save your passwords for websites, you can click to not save every time. Or, you can make a setting change and just do it once.

On Firefox for Linux and Firefox for Windows

Click the hamburger menu (it looks like this: ☰) in the upper right of Firefox. Click Settings to open the Settings tab. On the left, click Privacy & Security. Scroll to the section Passwords. Under that, uncheck Ask to save passwords. You’ve done it. There is no Save button to click. Close the tab.

On Firefox for Android

Click the kebob menu (it looks like this: ) in the lower-right of Firefox. Click Settings. Under General, choose Logins and passwords. Then turn off Autofill in Firefox. Exit out twice.

Search Settings

Change the Search Settings to use Startpage by default. Install the add-on Startpage — Private Search Engine. Click Add to Firefox.

Take A Screenshot

If you would like to take a screenshot of a website in Firefox, right-click on Firefox, and choose Take Screenshot. In the upper-right, you can choose Save visible or Save full page or you can drag or click to select a portion of the page. To save that, choose Download.

Enable Dark Theme

To enable Dark Theme on Firefox, check out my article at https://richardthetechman.com/enable-dark-theme-on-devices/.