Edit these 3 privacy-invading Mozilla about:config settings.

5 replies [Last post]
islander
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Joined: 05/27/2013

These about:config edits need to be set as default.
Type "about:config" (without the quotes) in your browser bar, click enter, ignore the warning, and continue:
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(1) Get rid of DOM Storage: (used for tracking all behavior online)

DOM storage has become a larger threat to privacy than cookies ever were. The default value should be changed to false, but for now you must do it yourself.

about:config Name: dom.storage.enabled

Default value: true
Modified value: false

The following is an old quote about DOM storage:

HTML5 web storage is a better local storage tracker than cookies, but WTH is HTML5 Web Storage?

Using HTML5, web pages can store data locally in your browser, which goes un-noticed. This Web Storage is more secure and faster, and the data is not included with every server request, since it is used ONLY when asked for by the installing web-site. Huge amounts of data can be hidden and stored without affecting local pc performance. They use key/value pairs which on the surface is great, since only the web-site storing data can access that data. The problem is: How do we know who stores what, who they really are, or when they share that info? My suggestion is turn it off.

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(2) Referrer Control: (used for marketing and affiliate commissions)

about:config Name: network.http.sendRefererHeader

Default Value: 1
Modified Value: 0

By changing the setting to 0, you no longer tell the destination site where you were when you clicked the link. (Abrowser should set this to (0) by default.

In effect this makes the add-on RefControl (& a few others) redundant.

*** But, there is a caveat: If you can't get into a site it may be due to this setting. If so, under that situation, you are better off using RefControl for your normal surfing and change the setting option that works for troublesome sites.

Personally, if a site blocks me for any reason, I just auto-block them. They have no clue what honest business is about, and they have no respect for online privacy! It's best to stop supporting trolls and money-hungry fools.

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(3) Prefetch Control: (same as #2, but in reverse)

about:config Name: network.prefetch-next

Default Value: true
Modified Value: false

By setting network.prefetch-next to false, we control:

Link prefetching which is when a web page hints to the browser that certain pages may soon be visited according to saved data and our current surfing. The browser will download those "possible" pages immediately so they can be displayed faster if a request does come in. This was created to be helpful for marketing companies and consumers, but someone watching over my shoulder creeps me out! :-)

Link with descriptions for other Mozilla about:config settings:
http://kb.mozillazine.org/About:config_entries

Do Good Things!

trisq

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Joined: 09/03/2013

Thanks. Only had #3 in mine. Have updated. There are so many settings in there it is just hard to know where to begin or where to end.

Dave_Hunt

I am a member!

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Joined: 09/19/2011

Thanks for the config settings, explanations, and link to more. The about:config interface is a bit intimidating.

GNUser
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Joined: 07/17/2013

I am happy to see that there are people who value privacy =)
However, be careful messing around with the about:config, you might eventually do more damage than good ;)
I usually suggest TorBrowser for when you want to be private. And add to that common sense, since a global adversary will hardly be defeated by Tor alone.
I will have to check those on my browser (I am running Debian). Actually, just wait a second...
I am checking them now, and number 1 is set to true. I would suggest that someone who wants to keep it true, to at least change the dom.storage.default_quota to a minimum. Mine has it at 5120, how much is yours?
number 2 doesn't really matters to me, so i will jump that one.
number 3... oh the old prefetch dillema. Always considered the "preloading" of anything to be a very delicate issue. How much is it worthy to gain in X and lose in Y? Anyway I have to say that mine had this set to true. So, I guess I will disable it and test it for a few days.
THANKS!

Again, when you want privacy, use TorBrowser. So far, is the best thing we have.

trisq

I am a member!

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Joined: 09/03/2013

Yes. There is no need to use a single browser for everything.

dadix
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Joined: 07/01/2013

about:config Name: network.http.sendRefererHeader
Default value in my Abrowser is 2 not 1.

Thank you for informations. It is very useful.