LibreWolf is an open-source, privacy-focused browser gaining traction as a powerful alternative to mainstream browsers. This unique browser is based on Mozilla Firefox’s powerful engine, but it has been optimized to provide a more secure and private browsing experience. Here’s a detailed introduction to what sets LibreWolf apart from its competitors:
Key Features and Differences:
- Privacy-centric: LibreWolf has been designed with privacy as its top priority. This browser incorporates privacy-focused features and settings that minimize data tracking and protect user information.
- Enhanced security: LibreWolf includes numerous security enhancements, such as stronger encryption and protection against potential threats like fingerprinting and tracking cookies.
- Open-source: Being an open-source project, LibreWolf encourages community involvement and transparency. This means developers can contribute to its development, ensuring the browser remains cutting-edge and true to its privacy and security goals.
- Customizable: LibreWolf offers a high degree of customization, allowing users to tailor their browsing experience to suit their preferences. Users can add or remove features and tweak settings to create the best browser.
- Ad-free: LibreWolf has built-in ad-blocking capabilities, ensuring a clutter-free browsing experience without intrusive ads.
- Cross-platform: LibreWolf is available for multiple operating systems, including Windows, macOS, and Linux, making it accessible to many users.
- Independent updates: Unlike many browsers, LibreWolf’s updates are independent of its base (Firefox), meaning that the LibreWolf team carefully reviews and tests update to maintain its privacy and security focus.
With its commitment to privacy, security, and customization, LibreWolf has emerged as a popular choice for users seeking a more private and secure browsing experience. The following guide will demonstrate how to install the LibreWolf browser on Fedora Linux by importing the LibreWolf RPM and installing the latest version.
Table of Contents
Step 1: Update Fedora
To prevent system conflicts, we strongly recommend updating all existing packages on your system before proceeding. This will ensure that your system is up to date and ready for any new installations or updates.
sudo dnf upgrade --refresh
Step 2: Install LibreWolf Browser
The initial step is to import the GPG key to verify the authenticity of the packages. Open your terminal and run the following command:
sudo rpm --import https://keys.openpgp.org/vks/v1/by-fingerprint/034F7776EF5E0C613D2F7934D29FBD5F93C0CFC3
After importing the GPG key, proceed to import the LibreWolf repository.
sudo dnf config-manager --add-repo https://rpm.librewolf.net
To complete the installation process, execute the following command to install the LibreWolf browser on your system.
sudo dnf install librewolf
Step 3: Launch LibreWolf Browser
With the privacy-focused LibreWolf browser now installed on your system, launching it can be accomplished in several ways. If you prefer using the command line terminal, enter the following command to launch the browser quickly.
librewolf
The best way to use LibreWolf for desktop users that prefer not to use the command line terminal is to open the GUI of the application by following the path.
Activities > Show Applications > LibreWolf.
Example:
Once LibreWolf is installed, you can open the browser’s graphical user interface (GUI) and browse the web. Here are some tips for launching the browser and customizing it to your preferences:
- To open the LibreWolf browser GUI, search for “LibreWolf” in your system’s applications menu and select the icon. Alternatively, you can create a shortcut to the browser on your desktop or taskbar for quick access.
- Upon launching the browser, you will see a default window similar to Firefox. However, the interface is stripped down and designed to be more privacy-focused.
- The default search engine in LibreWolf is DuckDuckGo, known for its strong privacy protections and lack of tracking. However, you can change this to your preferred search engine in the browser’s settings.
- To access the browser’s settings, click on the three horizontal lines in the window’s top-right corner and select “Preferences.” Here, you can customize your homepage, change your default search engine, and modify various other settings to suit your browsing preferences.
- In the settings, you can also configure LibreWolf to enhance your privacy and security by enabling the built-in tracker and fingerprint protection, blocking cookies, and enabling DNS over HTTPS.
- As with any new browser, it’s important to familiarize yourself with the interface and settings to optimize your browsing experience. For example, you may want to enable or disable certain extensions, configure your privacy settings, and modify your homepage to your liking.
Example (Click to Expand):
Additional Commands for LibreWolf on Fedora
Remove LibreWolf
If you remove the LibreWolf browser from your system, execute the following command in the terminal to uninstall it completely.
sudo dnf remove librewolf
As a best practice, we recommend disabling the LibreWolf repositories if you no longer need them, and this will prevent unnecessary updates and potential conflicts with other repositories. However, you can easily re-enable the repositories if you decide to install LibreWolf again.
sudo dnf config-manager --set-disabled rpm.librewolf.net
For users who wish to re-enable the LibreWolf repositories for future installations, use the following command to enable them.
sudo dnf config-manager --set-enabled rpm.librewolf.net
Conclusion: Installing LibreWolf on Fedora
In conclusion, LibreWolf is a privacy-focused, free, open-source web browser that provides a robust browsing experience for those who prioritize their online privacy and security. By disabling features that may compromise users’ privacy and security, such as telemetry and data collection, LibreWolf ensures that users have greater control over their browsing data and is an excellent browser for those wanting privacy.