New browser for Linux and Windows: LibreWolf.

This project is an independent offshoot of the FireFox browser being developed by Mozilla. LibreWolf's goals are greater privacy, security and freedom for users. LibreWolf is developing the project community of 5 independent programmers. LibreWolf developers usually release new builds of the program immediately after the release of a new version of Mozilla FireFox.

LibreWolf is designed to improve protection against tracking techniques and fingerprinting of a user's browser and computer, and also includes several security enhancements. This is achieved through privacy and security-focused browser settings and patches. LibreWolf also aims to remove all telemetry, data collection and annoyances, as well as disable anti-freedom features such as DRM.

Installing the LibreWolf browser

sudo apt update && sudo apt install extrepo -y

sudo extrepo enable librewolf

sudo apt --allow-releaseinfo-change update

sudo apt install librewolf -y

After installing the browser, it can be found in the operating system in the program menu "Start" - "Internet".
LibreWolf main window color is dark theme. Settings and menus at the beginning are in English: as in most FireFox-based browsers, Russification (or translation into another language) is carried out by installing a language pack ~~ (which is not yet available, since the browser is new) and a language switch (as in Pale Moon).~~

To install the Russian language, you need to visit the Mozilla FireFox extension store and download the language pack from there at:
"Russian (RU) Language Pack"
(click on link)

• "Add to FireFox"
• "Continue installation"

After that, go to settings "Settings" - "Language"

• add Russian language by pressing a button "Set Alternatives":

• Select Language to add
  

• Search for more languages

• Choose Russian language
  

• Button Add

• OK
  

Close settings.

The settings for blocking fingerprinting are made by default; the developers do not recommend changing them:

The program version is currently synchronous with the Mozilla Firefox version.
Difference from FireFox: in the settings there is a “LibreWolf” section, in which, for example, you can enable the IPv6 protocol.

Also, unlike classic FireFox, you can enable protection against fingerprinting (the so-called linking to Canvas. In simple words, the browser prohibits sites from collecting the features of the “canvas” around the browser - screen size, color depth, hardware platform, number of processor cores, installed fonts, plugins, etc., which makes the site user unique among other visitors). The LibreWolf browser hides the actual display resolution from websites and trackers.

Privacy testing

Privacy check: go to the web resource https://www.experte.com/browser-privacy-check

After clicking on the "Start..." button, we see that the web page is trying to fingerprint the browser: resolution, operating system, number of processor cores, etc., but it fails (since I refused to fingerprint it - Disallow).

Let's go to another service https://gologin.com/check-browser and carry out the same check:

• country found - Russia
• city
• coordinates - not found (the center of St. Petersburg is indicated)
  The postal code specified is incorrect.

IP address determined - my Internet provider IP address is indicated, because... I don't use anonymization tools.

• JavaScript is enabled by default,
  *Cookies are disabled.

Addition from 04/11/2022:

My selection of FireFox add-ons for security and privacy

1. DuckDuckGo Privacy Essentials
2. uBlock Origin- built into LibreWolf, no need to install
3. Disable JavaScript
4. Anti-AdbBlock Blocker
5. Decentraleyes
6. WebRTC Leak Shield- plugin for protection against leakage of real IP address via WebRTC (needed only when using VPN),check
7. Random User-Agent- useful for replacing User-Agent with Yandex.Browser, see.article
8. User-Agent Switcher and Manager- you can enable substitution of the "User-Agent" field header with the corresponding value for "Chrome" in Windows OS.

Links:

• Official LibreWolf website
• Installing LibreWolf on various OS
• Developer discussion group on github
• Reddit user discussion group
• https://coveryourtracks.eff.org/ - Check your browser for ad blocking and tracker protection.
• LibreWolf Debian Migration Guide - information about changes to the repository structure and a new way to update the application in 2024.

Update: 10/24/2024 I removed the installation method using commands from the article, because... it stopped working due to an update to the LibreWolf repository structure. (see link above).
~~echo "deb [arch=amd64] http://deb.librewolf.net $(lsb_release -sc) main" | sudo tee /etc/apt/sources.list.d/librewolf.list
sudo wget https://deb.librewolf.net/keyring.gpg -O /etc/apt/trusted.gpg.d/librewolf.gpg
sudo apt update
sudo apt install librewolf -y
~~

• In software development, a “fork” is an independent branch from the main project.

Related publications

Internet browsers for Linux

Installing or updating Mozilla FireFox web browser from third-party APT repository "apt.fruit.je"

Updating Mozilla Firefox on Ubuntu and Debian OS

Optimizing Mozilla FireFox performance

Restoring the HTTPS protocol and self-signed certificates