Betterfox

Betterfox is a configuration file for Mozilla Firefox that adjusts a large number of browser settings at once to improve privacy, security, and performance. Firefox stores its internal settings in a file called user.js, and Betterfox is a carefully curated version of that file. Instead of visiting Firefox's settings panel and changing things one by one, you download this file and place it in your Firefox profile folder. The next time Firefox starts, it applies all those settings automatically.

The philosophy behind Betterfox is deliberate restraint. Rather than applying every possible privacy or security tweak available (some collections of Firefox settings go very far in locking things down and end up breaking websites), Betterfox aims for what the author calls the minimum effective dose. The idea is to get meaningful privacy and performance improvements while keeping the browser functional for normal daily use.

The project is split into a few separate configuration guides. Securefox focuses on data protection. Peskyfox removes clutter and distractions from the browser interface. Smoothfox adjusts scrolling behavior. The main user.js file pulls in the settings the author considers essential from all of these.

Several Firefox-based browsers, including Zen, Floorp, Waterfox, and Midori, have incorporated Betterfox into their default configurations. The project notes that these integrations sometimes water down the settings, so using the file directly still gives the best results.

Setup requires downloading the user.js file, placing it in the right folder inside your Firefox profile directory, and restarting the browser. No programming knowledge is needed. The project also recommends pairing it with an ad blocker and DNS-level protection for fuller coverage.