I’d like to talk about browsers! And people are of course welcome to comment whatever they want - but some notes on what my intentions for this discussion is:
For reasons I’ll touch on later, this is mostly about desktop browsers.
In terms of privacy and security, I’m approaching this from a reality where 65 % of people use Chrome. So in this context, vastly improving the privacy from that, is more interesting than saying someone is a gullible idiot if they don’t use a Tor browser. 
So while I’m not saying those things shouldn’t be part of the discussion at all, I’d like to talk more about user experience and features than hardening.
OK, let’s go!
Ethics is always difficult to discuss. Because while I think everyone should be mindful of the small things we can do to improve things, people have different priorities and possibilities. And where should we draw the line while being consumers in a problematic system? Like, I should probably use a Fairphone over an iPhone even though it’s worse, right? How much worse should I accept? How hard should I pull away from things like Facebook or X?
Still, I’m at least trying to try - and as the browser is perhaps the most used app, the choice of it is among the things I’m thinking about.
And here’s why I feel like I should use Firefox:
- I don’t love the amount of power Google has over the web, among other, things through Chromium.
- And while Safari is better, simply because WebKit is less popular, in principle I don’t love that situation either. An example is how other WebKit browsers, like SigmaOS and Orion, have to hack support for Chrome extensions to be able to offer extensions at all…
So while I could mention plenty of grievances with Mozilla Corp. as well, I still absolutely feel like using Firefox/a Gecko browser is among the most ethical alternatives. And even though we might only put it above Chrome, Safari and Edge, it would still be in the top 10 %.
Question(s) 1: How much weight does ethics carry when you choose apps, platforms, services, etc.? If no, why not? And do you agree or disagree that there are ethical reasons to use Firefox over Chrome? What about Safari? Or something like Vivaldi?
Some notes on mobile
As, I assume, many on this forum, my mobile devices are iOS/iPadOS. And while I actually think Safari is pretty good on these devices, I think Apple’s stance on browsers here is one of the most blatant anti-copetitive ones. I don’t mind the fact that others have to use WebKit, really. But combined with the fact that no one else is allowed to offer extensions, it gets problematic. Now, the EU is forcing them to open up some of this - but as many others, I don’t love the idea of Chromium getting even more dominance… So I kinda wish EU had said something like “You have to open up - but it’s only mandatory to do it to browser engines with less than 50 % market share”, or something.
This stranglehold also contributes to the fact that I find the mobile browser space much less interesting to discuss…
Two things that isn’t a problem for me, but might be for others:
- The first is that I don’t have a work situation where I have to use a specific browser (engine). For instance, I know that many are dependent on work tools that only work well in Chromium browsers. But this is a good argument for why those of us who can use something else should. That more and more of the web only works in Chromium is a very serious problem.
- I’ve always told myself that “Of course I need to use the same browser on desktop and mobile, as I want sync!”. However, as I only take advantage of this like once a year, I’ve finally realised that this just isn’t an issue for me. I think it’s a good idea to keep bookmarks in a separate app (I use Anybox), and shortcuts, like in the bookmark bar or what it’s called, I feel needs to be adapted to every platform anyway. And while I like that my history is accessible on mobile, I don’t see a need for it to be in my default mobile browser. As I do it so rarely, I don’t mind opening a separate app to search for it.
But I’d guess that these might be larger issues for others!
I tried and failed - but now I’m trying again
I tried using Firefox as my default for about a year, around 2022, before giving up. But these are the reasons I’m trying again:
- I think Arc is the best browser. But after being unsure about using it due to Chromium, their recent change of direction pushed me over the edge - so I stopped using it. And I’m using the opportunity from “not being able” to use the best, to give Firefox another chance.
- Firefox on mobile is very uninspired - but, as mentioned, I don’t really care about that anymore! (And I can open Safari on my Mac to get my mobile history, and Firefox on mobile to get my desktop history.)
- I’ve become much better at programing-adjacent activities since last time, so customising it to my liking is less daunting.
One thing that struck me going back to Firefox, is how it hasn’t improved at all in a year. While Arc and SigmaOS, which I’ve used the last year, get updates all the time (even though the SigmaOS team is like 6 people). It also boggles the mind that to be able to do lots of the customisations I want to do with Firefox, I have to do stuff like adjusting values in about:config and AutoConfig.js and make a custom userChrome.css and userContent.css. But at least you can do those things!
So I’m currently doing a little project where I do my best to make Firefox the best it can be (at least to me). I’ll probably post about this later (I know I’m far from the first to embark on this, but I’d still like to make it shareable) - but here’s a teaser screenshot:
But in the meantime, as I’m very into obsessing over browser details, I’d love to hear from others:
Question(s) 2: If you’re not using Firefox, why not? What would make you switch? (Changes in Firefox, or the browser you’re using now.) And what are some of your favourite browser features in general?
My thought process is as follows:
- I think the existence of Firefox/Gecko is very important for the future of the web.
- I don’t have much power as a just-a-guy from Norway - but that doesn’t mean I shouldn’t do anything.
- So if it is as good as the alternatives, I should absolutely use it.
- But here’s the important part, and where I’m currently at: But what about if it’s not as good as the best? (Which it is not…) How large a gap should I accept here? And how small can I make it with the tools available?
-Erlend
And especially out of the box. Without extensions etc. I like Safari a bit more than Firefox, but Arc way more. And on one side, the answer “just get this and this extension” isn’t great. But if someone asks me “if I think macOS is good”, should I answer what I think of it out-of-the-box (very mediocre), or with all the third-party software available (amazing)?
(Or they bash them for not being 100% perfect, even though their better at this stuff than basically everyone.) Here’s a 
But that’s what we sometimes do here on the forum. I’m also really trying to ignore the virtue signaling that is inherent in conversations like this. Leave penance and mortification to the hard-core religious orders. Choose your tech based on your needs and its performance. Use only what you can be happy using. 
). However, I know that I would never manage to be an ascet and “the perfect consumer/citizen”. But I don’t want to become so defeated by this, that I don’t see value in discussing small things to improve, if you know what I mean. For instance, you could view a conversation about desktop browser on a Mac, as saying “OK, going Linux is too much for me - but are there choices within the choice of a Mac that can matter a bit?”