LibreWolf is a hardened, privacy-focused Firefox fork that removes telemetry, enables strict tracking protection, and applies privacy-respecting defaults at install time, without requiring the user to manually configure about:config.
The Problem
Firefox is open source but ships with telemetry enabled, opt-in studies, Pocket integration, and default settings that give Mozilla some visibility into browsing behavior. Power users who want strict privacy defaults must manually disable telemetry, configure enhanced tracking protection, harden network settings, and remove sponsored content. This configuration burden is significant and must be repeated on every new Firefox installation.
How LibreWolf Solves It
LibreWolf ships as a compiled Firefox fork with those configurations applied by default. Telemetry and data collection are disabled. Tracking protection is set to strict. Firefox Sync, Pocket, and sponsored shortcuts are removed. uBlock Origin is pre-installed. The result is a browser with Firefox's engine and extension compatibility but with a privacy-hardened baseline that requires no manual configuration. MPL-2.0 license applies, consistent with Firefox.
Key Features
- All Mozilla telemetry and data collection disabled by default
- Strict enhanced tracking protection and uBlock Origin pre-installed at install time
- Anti-fingerprinting protections enabled by default
- No Firefox Sync, Pocket, or sponsored content
- Regular updates tracking Firefox releases for security patches
Who It's For
LibreWolf is best for privacy-focused users, researchers, and developers who want Firefox's engine and extensions with a security-hardened baseline applied at install time, without manually configuring privacy settings on every new machine.
Compared to Firefox
Unlike Firefox, which ships with telemetry and Pocket enabled and requires manual configuration for strict privacy, LibreWolf applies a hardened privacy configuration at install time. Firefox has easier access to Mozilla Sync for cross-device bookmarks; LibreWolf prioritizes zero data collection over convenience features.
