Legend

Access Firefox Settings

Open the menu by clicking the ☰ burger icon at the top right, then click on Settings.
Or you can type about:preferences in the adress bar (CTRL + L).

General

Digital Right Management (DRM) Content

Uncheck Play DRM-controlled content, under Digital Rights Management (DRM) Content.
DRM is a limitation to user freedom. Read about it.

Play DRM-contrrolled content

Browsing

Recommend extensions as you browse
Recommend features as you browse
Enable link previews
See the page title, description, and more when you use the shortcut or right-click on a link.
Allow AI to read the beginning of the page and generate key points
Shortcut: Click and hold the link for 1 second (long press)

Home

New Windows and Tabs

Prefer a clean Blank Page on Homepage and new windows and New tabs. Or use custom URLs. Or even better, if you know HTML, make your own home page! This is a personal choice.

Firefox Home Content

We suggest to uncheck everything in Firefox Home Content, Web Search is useless if you search via the adress bar (CTRL + L).

Web Search
Shortcuts
Sites you save or visit
Support Firefox
Sponsored shortcuts
Recent activity
A selection of recent sites and content
Visited pages
Bookmarks
Most recent download

Prefer to switch to a more privacy-friendly search engine like DuckDuckGo, Startpage or Brave Search rather than Google as the default search engine. You can use Bangs shortcuts if needed.

Default Search Engine

🖈 TIP

It is possible to add a search engin from a website with right click on the adress bar of the website then Add "WebSite", it will appear in the Default Search Engine selection.


🛈 PRIVACY-PRESERVING SEARCH ENGINES

Brave Search A privacy-preserving search engine based in the US. Search results are based on its own index. DuckDuckGo A privacy-preserving search engine based in the US. Search results are mainly based on Bing. Startpage A privacy-preserving search engine based in the Netherlands. Search results are mainly based on Google.

Search engine suggestions

We do not need suggestions so we uncheck all.

Show search suggestions
Show search suggestions before browsing history in address bar results
Search suggestions in private windows
Trending search suggestions

Adress Bar

We recommend to uncheck all except the ones you need.
A useful choice would be Bookmarks.

Choose which suggestions display in your address bar

Browsing history
Bookmarks
Open tabs
Shortcuts
Recent searches
Suggest search engines to use
Quick actions

Browser Privacy

Enhanced Tracking Protection

Firefox ETP Strict mode offers stronger privacy than Standard mode by blocking a wider range of tracking mechanisms across all browsing sessions. It blocks all cross-site cookies, tracking content in all windows (not just private ones), social media trackers, cryptominers, and fingerprinting scripts, significantly reducing the ability of third parties to monitor your activity. It also includes Bounce Tracking Protection and query parameter tracking mitigation, which stop stealthy redirect-based tracking. While this may occasionally affect site functionality, Firefox uses WebCompat shims to maintain usability without compromising privacy. For users prioritizing maximum protection, Strict mode provides a robust, multi-layered defense against pervasive online tracking.

We recommend that you set the Enhanced Tracking Protection on Strict.

Standard
Balanced for protection and performance. Pages will load normally.

Strict
Stronger protection, but may cause some sites or content to break.
Firefox blocks the following:
· Social media trackers
· Cross-site cookies in all windows
· Tracking content in all windows
· Cryptominers
· Known and suspected fingerprinters
Fix major site issues (recommended)

Helps load sites and features by unblocking only essential elements that may contain trackers. Covers most common problems.

Fix minor site issues

Restores things like videos in an article or comment sections by unblocking elements that may contain trackers. This can reduce site issues but offers less protection. Must be used with fixes for major issues.

⚠ Some sites may break with strict tracking protection
Firefox recommends using the “Fix site issues” settings to reduce broken site features and content. If a site seems broken, try turning off tracking protection for that site to load all content.

Custom
Choose which trackers and scripts to block.

Website Privacy Preferences

Despite its potential effectiveness, we leave this option disabled by default to avoid making users stand out from the general population, as few users enable it, doing so can inadvertently aid in browser fingerprinting.

Tell websites not to sell or share my data

Cookies and Site Data

We set Firefox to delete cookies and site data when it is closed.

Delete cookies and site data when Firefox is closed


🛈 NFO

You can clear cookies and other site data stored on your computer.
Settings > Privacy and Security > Cookies and Site Data > Manage Data

If you check the option Delete cookies and site data when Firefox is closed (Privacy & Security > Cookies and Site Data), you dont need to worry about cookies and site data, because the storage is cleared everytime Firefox is closed.


Passwords

We recommend to disable the Firefox password manager and use a better and more secure solution like Bitwarden, KeePassXC or Proton Pass.

Ask to save logins and passwords
Fill usernames and passwords automatically
Suggest strong passwords
Suggest Firefox Relay email masks to protect your email address
Show alerts about passwords for breached websites
Use a Primary Password
Formerly known as Master Password
Allow Windows single sign-on for Microsoft, work, and school accounts
Manage accounts in your device settings

Payment methods

It is not a good idea to have information like credit or debit cards stored in a browser, so let's disable it.

Save and autofill payment info

Addresses and more

It is not a good idea to have such information stored in a browser, so let's disable it.

Save and autofill addresses

History

We set Firefox to clear history when it closes.
Choose [Use custom settings for history] in the drop down menu, then click the [Settings] button to check all options in Settings for Clearing History.



Always use private browsing mode
Remember browsing and download history
⚠ Disable this option if you want to keep your group and pin tabs!
Remember search and form history
Clear history when Firefox closes
Enable this option to have the settings below available.



Settings for Clearing History

This panel is available when you enable the option Clear history when Firefox closes above, the options are applied when Firefox closes!

Automatically clear all checked items when Firefox closes.

Browsing & download history
Clears site and download history
⚠ Disable this option if you want to keep your group and pin tabs!

Cookies and site data
May sign you out of sites or empty shopping carts

Temporary cached files and pages
Clears items that help sites load faster

Saved form info
Clears things like names, emails, and other items you enter in forms

Site settings
Resets your permissions and site preferences to original settings


Permissions

We suggest to block ALL permissions access and new requests to get access to our device.
(Location, Camera, Microphone, Notifications, Autoplay Audio & Video, Virtual Reality).
Check "Block pop-up windows" and "Warn you when website try to install add-ons".
Click on every permission and Block them in their own panel.

Block new requests asking to access your location Block new requests asking to access your camera Block new requests asking to access your microphone Block new requests asking to allow notifications Block Audio and Video Block new requests asking to access your virtual reality devices

Block pop-ups and third-party redirects
Warn when websites try to install extensions

Firefox Data Collection and Use

Uncheck all "Firefox Data Collection and Use" to disable Firefox telemetry.

Send technical and interaction data to Mozilla
This helps us improve Firefox features, performance, and stability
Allow personalized extension recommendations
Get extension recommendations to improve your browsing experience.
Install and run studies
Try out features and ideas before they’re released to everyone.
Allow Firefox to improve features, performance, and stability between updates
Changes will be applied remotely.
Send daily usage ping to Mozilla
This helps Mozilla to estimate active users.
Automatically send crash reports
This helps Mozilla diagnose and fix issues with the browser. Reports may include personal or sensitive data.

Security

Deceptive Content and Dangerous Software Protection

We disable Deceptive Content and Dangerous Software Protection by default to avoid sending data to Google, as it conflicts with our privacy-first approach. Instead of relying on third-party services, we prioritize user privacy and recommend using privacy-respecting tools like uBlock Origin for protection. For users who want stronger malware and phishing defenses, options like the free Quad9 DNS Service are available.

Block dangerous and deceptive content
Block dangerous downloads
Warn you about unwanted and uncommon software

HTTPS-Only Mode

We enable HTTPS-Only Mode in all windows.

🛈 This setting makes the extensions like HTTPS Everywhere redundant.

Enable HTTPS-Only Mode in all windows
Enable HTTPS-Only Mode in private windoes only
Don't enable HTTPS-Only Mode

DNS over HTTPS

We recommend that you set the Domain Name System (DNS) over HTTPS to Off, and use the one you set on your system or router level. DoH should be at operating system level or router level, not browser based! Or you can use the Max Protection like the example below, if you dont know what to do, both options are valid.

Enable secure DNS using:

Default Protection
Firefox decides when to use secure DNS to protect your privacy.

Increased Protection

You control when to use secure DNS and choose your provider.


Max Protection

Firefox will always use secure DNS. You’ll see a security risk warning before we use your system DNS.

Choose provider:



Off

Use your default DNS resolver

⚠ Use this option if you already have a DNS configured on your system or router.


🛈 RELIABLE DNS PROVIDERS

You can enter the url of one of these reliable DNS Providers in the Custom field.

PROVIDER

URL

FEATURES

AdGuard https://dns.adguard.com/dns-query ad blocking, tracking protection. LibreDNS https://doh.libredns.gr/noads no logging, ad blocking, tracking protection. Mullvad https://all.dns.mullvad.net/dns-query no logging, block ads, trackers, malwares, adult, gambling, social media. Quad9 https://dns.quad9.net/dns-query malware, phishing, spyware, and botnets protection.

SYNC

⚠ Firefox Accounts password is the basis of the encryption key, if you have no devices left with your logins and you need to reset your Firefox Accounts password, then all your synced data is lost, logins included.

SEE ALSO

AI Controls

We prefer disable and block Firefox AI enhancements.

Conclusion

Nowadays, you will get most of the privacy possible with Firefox's built-in solutions, such as:

[1] Sanitizing refers to clearing site and other data such as caches and histories.

For most people, that's all you really need, with the help of a few select extensions.

Sources: To Arkenfox or Not | Privacy Guides Browser Recommendations

Advanced Settings (about:config)

⚠ Use advanced settings to customize Firefox deeper or enable/disable hidden features.
For those who know what they are doing!

To access Firefox advanced settings, type about:config in the adress bar (CTRL + L).

Explore the information from the arkenfox user.js at arkenfox gui.

Add-ons / Extensions

⚠ REMINDER: The less extensions you have, the better!

Extensions are like apps for Firefox. They add features to Firefox to make browsing faster, safer, or just plain fun.

Below is a selection of what we think that are the best privacy-related extensions of their category.
We pick uBlock Origin as the best internet content and ad blocker, a must-have!

Backup your profile

Before changing your settings, it is strongly recommended that you backup your profile and start a new profile.

To backup your profile you need to access the profiles manager page by typing: about:profiles into the adress bar.

Click on Open Folder on the Root Directory. There are some important files you want to keep.

FILE DESCRIPTION cookies.sqlite Store cookies between sessions. key4.db Contains a key used to encrypt and decrypt saved passwords. logins.json Stores the encrypted names and passwords. places.sqlite Stores the annotations, bookmarks, favorite icons, input history, keywords, and browsing history.

Some useful links.