Version 93 back in October added sponsored search suggestions on by default, [1] without even explicitly mentioning it in the release notes. [2] Is there going to be a similar surprise this time?
I still use Firefox as the lesser evil, and I believe there are lots of great people working on it (to whom I am thankful) but to see how the project has been run by the Mozilla Corpo-Foundation in the recent years is really disillusioning. I would love to see a change that would put a stop to the incessant stream of anti-features, while instead focusing on staying true to the original goals of the project.
Thank you for your suggestions. I've been considering what to do about my Firefox setup for some time (switching to ESR vs one of the forks, which I have to research first). Thing is, I'm using a heavily-customized profile with lots of extensions, Violentmonkey [1] userscripts, containers (including Containerise [2], and Temporary Containers [3]), and a custom user.js (based on [4]), so I should also revisit the settings for all of these at the same time as it's been a while since I last did so. It's all on my to-do list but as the current setup works well, there's always something more urgent to do instead.
The LTSC suggestion is also good. I'm already using a heavily-debloated LTSC with lots of unnecessary packages removed (including the hidden ones, which are not supposed to be officially removable), and all kinds of customizations for privacy, security, performance, and convenience. While I'm satisfied with my setup (automated with custom scripts I've been maintaining since Windows 8), the number of hoops one has to go through to have their computer do what the user wants and nothing else, or a "User-Agent" that gives actual agency to the user these days is truly astonishing, and makes the goal unattainable for most people.
I run Windows 10 LTSC 1809 which has extended support until 2029-01-09 (security and bug fixes). Licensed via my academic institution. It is stripped of the store, edge and a few other features which may be a draw for some.
curl has been included in Windows for some time (in %SystemRoot%\System32, so even in the %PATH%). If you have a direct download URL, it can be used as a last resort.
I'm always hesitant to use such patched versions because you have to trust your security to some 1 random anonymous stranger on the internet.
Also because they tend to be someone's hobby project and when they get bored of it (as we all do) you'll be left with an unpatched security nightmare. Which is exactly what happened with Librefox. Looks like it was last updated 3 years ago and is abandoned.
It's a patchset over firefox removing so called "antifeatures". Anyway being the last commit 34 years old I wonder how do they actually remove the Mozilla VPN ads.
There's also Librewolf. Would be curious to hear on takes if anyone has looked closer on both. Main difference is that Librefox doesn't really patch or fork Firefox itself - it's "just" config and extensions, whereas Librewolf is a more classic fork (though very close to upstream).
The default browser of Garuda Linux is a rebranded Librewolf build.
Google isn't the only source, but the largest, and by far. Unless the company is just stacking serious cash reserves, I assume the company wouldn't exist in its current form without that money. (Though perhaps another big spender would fill that gap)
I still use Firefox as the lesser evil, and I believe there are lots of great people working on it (to whom I am thankful) but to see how the project has been run by the Mozilla Corpo-Foundation in the recent years is really disillusioning. I would love to see a change that would put a stop to the incessant stream of anti-features, while instead focusing on staying true to the original goals of the project.
1. https://support.mozilla.org/en-US/kb/firefox-suggest
2. https://www.mozilla.org/en-US/firefox/93.0/releasenotes