Main reason I don’t is cuz:
Avoid Gecko-based browsers like Firefox as they’re currently much more vulnerable to exploitation and inherently add a huge amount of attack surface. Gecko doesn’t have a WebView implementation (GeckoView is not a WebView implementation), so it has to be used alongside the Chromium-based WebView rather than instead of Chromium, which means having the remote attack surface of two separate browser engines instead of only one. Firefox / Gecko also bypass or cripple a fair bit of the upstream and GrapheneOS hardening work for apps. Worst of all, Firefox does not have internal sandboxing on Android. This is despite the fact that Chromium semantic sandbox layer on Android is implemented via the OS isolatedProcess feature, which is a very easy to use boolean property for app service processes to provide strong isolation with only the ability to communicate with the app running them via the standard service API. Even in the desktop version, Firefox’s sandbox is still substantially weaker (especially on Linux) and lacks full support for isolating sites from each other rather than only containing content as a whole. The sandbox has been gradually improving on the desktop but it isn’t happening for their Android browser yet.
nahostdeutschland@feddit.org 21 hours ago
Let’s be honest: Everything that might be “worse” or “annoying” in Firefox for someone is not relevant in comparison to “no working adblocker available”. A browser without adblock is unusable
P1nkman@lemmy.world 21 hours ago
True, but if an adblocker no longer works on a specific browser, change your browser! I started using Netscape back in '94, and lost count on how many browsers I’ve tested and used in the past… Holy shit, 30+ years!!
Sturgist@lemmy.ca 13 hours ago
…fuck off, '94 wasn’t 30… counts on fingers several times
…Shit…
P1nkman@lemmy.world 11 hours ago
I know… Jurassic Park is 33 years this year. It would be like watching a movie from the 60’ when it was released.
We’re old, friend.
Teal@lemm.ee 7 hours ago
It doesn’t sound right but it is. I think in ‘94 I was using Juno for email and internet. Shortly after that it was time to actually use one of the many AOL trial discs for service instead of a mini frisbee/ninja star.
Modem sounds, chat rooms, you’ve got mail. What a time to live!
bdonvr@thelemmy.club 20 hours ago
In the past 10 years it’s pretty much just been Firefox, Safari, Explorer/Edge, and Chrome. 99% of browsers are just skinned Chrome. Even Edge now. Opera’s engine died in 2013.
P1nkman@lemmy.world 20 hours ago
Yup. Hence, the reason I originally suggested to use Firefox, only because it’s not built on Chromium.
hddsx@lemmy.ca 19 hours ago
Chrome uses WebKit, safaris engine.
cupcakezealot@lemmy.blahaj.zone 13 hours ago
I use Palemoon for the nostalgia but also because of the best theme around, Moonscape
CarbonBasedNPU@lemm.ee 20 hours ago
What issues do people even have with firefox? Its a browser, it seems fast enough. Isn’t that all most people need from a browser
leftzero@lemmynsfw.com 18 hours ago
Mainly that Google intentionally makes its sites (like YouTube or Google Docs) slower and less useable when they detect you’re using Firefox, and/or ad blockers (which you need Firefox to use, so same difference).
It’s mostly fixable with add-ons and userscripts (and eventually, one hopes, with an antitrust lawsuit), but it’s still a hassle.
Kalysta@lemm.ee 8 hours ago
Unfortunately, with the FTC rolling back net neutrality protections, I don’t see an antitrust lawsuit happening, or succeeding, anytime soon
gi1242@lemmy.world 16 hours ago
how do I find out more about this and what scripts do I need to make the sites faster again on Firefox
FooBarrington@lemmy.world 18 hours ago
I very much dislike Mozilla’s direction over the last decade. They’re introducing user-hostile features that subtly break normal browsing experience, even when disabled[0]. Not like Google is better, but I’m also trying to get away from Mozilla.
[0] On Firefox Mobile, there’s a “feature” which makes the address bar auto-complete domains of companies paying Mozilla. I noticed this with Netflix - I never visit, but when I start writing a URL with n, roughly every 10th time Netflix was suggested. You can disable this feature, but this doesn’t actually disable it. The address bar no longer auto-completes with Netflix, instead it just doesn’t autocomplete! So 9/10 times I can write n and press Enter, but 1/10 times I press n and search for the letter n.
Mozilla doesn’t care whether they break features, as long as they can make more money. I strongly dislike this approach by the supposedly “good” browser manufacturer.
CarbonBasedNPU@lemm.ee 18 hours ago
Do you have a good non chromium based alternative? To be clear I genuinely am asking those things make switching probably worth it considering how little of a hassle it is.
thanksforallthefish@literature.cafe 17 hours ago
Download fennec it’s the fork of ff mobile with less of the cruft.
I don’t know if it has fixed that specific problem, but I can’t recall seeing it
Hawk@lemmynsfw.com 16 hours ago
Also, I don’t think one can export bookmarks from Android Firefox either.
Prox@lemmy.world 14 hours ago
No horizontal tab grouping. Tab groups on Chrome are perfect, and the Firefox tab extensions all suck in comparison.
That said, I’m still using Firefox today because the internet is unusable without a good ad blocker.
cupcakezealot@lemmy.blahaj.zone 13 hours ago
Tab groups and vertical tabs are at least on Nightly now; you can enable them in settings.
purplemonkeymad@programming.dev 9 hours ago
I still use the full screen tab groups feature that they removed from the core. I don’t like scrolling tabs, so I can just hit a button and click on the exact tab I want. I do probably have too many tabs open tbh.
kat@orbi.camp 12 hours ago
Security and sandboxing are important, weak points on the android implementation.
CarbonBasedNPU@lemm.ee 11 hours ago
would Vivaldi on android be better? I really like having extensions on my browser and that’s the only other android one I know of that has them.
Hawk@lemmynsfw.com 16 hours ago
Some js is a bit slower. I typically use chrome for self hosted apps, jupyter etc.
I think wasm performance is actually better in Firefox though.
krimson@lemmy.world 20 hours ago
I have no idea either. Sure, chrome is a little faster but its a minor difference in my opinion. Been using it for a long time and have no idea why it’s so unpopular.
Enkers@sh.itjust.works 18 hours ago
Also, keep in mind, google has been caught slowing Firefox down in YouTube before. So if you notice any slowness in their services, it’s fair to suspect it might not be Firefox’s fault.
CarbonBasedNPU@lemm.ee 20 hours ago
No way it stays that way after blocking ad-blocking. Some websites genuinely take over 30s without ad block.
Sheldan@mander.xyz 19 hours ago
I advocate Firefox, but I must admit I personally am affected by regular crashes on Firefox desktop. Mostly when I enter a page I haven’t visited before (randomly though).
I don’t know if others are affected by this, and I still recommend Firefox regardless, but every crash leaves a sour taste in my mouth. As it is not widespread, it might just be my setup, but still.
IanTwenty@lemmy.world 18 hours ago
If you have the time try the troubleshoot mode to help figure it out - add ons are often the cause
…mozilla.org/…/troubleshoot-firefox-crashes-closi…
CarbonBasedNPU@lemm.ee 19 hours ago
Thats really weird. I have never personally had the issue but it is more and fair enough to have issues with FF after that. I would recommend brave then, still chromium based but is actively doing things to make sure their adblock still works.
I_Miss_Daniel@lemmy.world 19 hours ago
In Australia it won’t save card details. And it can’t natively create app shortcuts for things like Gmail, keep, whatsapp etc.
I put up with it but it’s a pain compared to chrome and edge.