HackerReposA FIELD GUIDE TO OPEN SOURCE
ProSponsor the shelf♧ 0
← Back to top all-time
arkenfox
user.js
JavaScript2018–2026
arkenfox / user.js

user.js

Firefox privacy, security and anti-tracking: a comprehensive user.js template for configuration and hardening

78Distinct people
110Mentions
5Explicit recommenders
13KGitHub stars
REPOSITORY AT A GLANCE

What to know before exploring

What it is

Firefox privacy, security and anti-tracking: a comprehensive user.js template for configuration and hardening

GitHub

Where it is used

No documented product use was verified in the last source check.

What people are saying

For extensions, I recommend people follow the recommendations[1] in the arkenfox repo and either harden their firefox or use librewolf. Umatrix is unmaintained since 2019. [1]…

bmikaili used a recommendation phrase. 5 indexed comments match. This is a phrase match, not a verdict.

No classified warning is attached to this page. Read the discussions before treating silence as approval.

Also in these discussions

Mentioned in the same Hacker News threads. That is not proof they are substitutes.

This week on Hacker News

Nov 8–Nov 15 UTC · Direct repository links and separately labeled related project stories. Indexed through 11/15/2026, 4:01:40 AM UTC.

No direct repository links were found in the indexed HN discussions over the past seven days. Older discussions are available below.

Mentions over time

HN mentions by year110 dated mentions

Observed mentions: 2018-09-14 13:37:15 UTC to 2026-03-07 01:03:43 UTC.

05101520252018-01-01 00:00:00 UTC to 2019-01-01 00:00:00 UTC (exclusive): 1 mentions; 0 submissions, 1 comments20182019-01-01 00:00:00 UTC to 2020-01-01 00:00:00 UTC (exclusive): 13 mentions; 1 submissions, 12 comments2020-01-01 00:00:00 UTC to 2021-01-01 00:00:00 UTC (exclusive): 8 mentions; 0 submissions, 8 comments2021-01-01 00:00:00 UTC to 2022-01-01 00:00:00 UTC (exclusive): 11 mentions; 1 submissions, 10 comments2022-01-01 00:00:00 UTC to 2023-01-01 00:00:00 UTC (exclusive): 25 mentions; 1 submissions, 24 comments20222023-01-01 00:00:00 UTC to 2024-01-01 00:00:00 UTC (exclusive): 20 mentions; 0 submissions, 20 comments2024-01-01 00:00:00 UTC to 2025-01-01 00:00:00 UTC (exclusive): 10 mentions; 1 submissions, 9 comments2025-01-01 00:00:00 UTC to 2026-01-01 00:00:00 UTC (exclusive): 20 mentions; 0 submissions, 20 comments2026-01-01 00:00:00 UTC to 2027-01-01 00:00:00 UTC (exclusive): 2 mentions; 0 submissions, 2 comments. Incomplete calendar period.2026*

* An incomplete calendar period is marked with an outlined bar. Its count is not directly comparable with a full period.

Counts come from the repository’s dated source evidence. Index cutoff: 2026-11-02 08:16:59 UTC.

View mention counts and date ranges
UTC ranges include their start and exclude their end. Select a period to filter the source evidence.
PeriodStart (UTC)End (exclusive, UTC)MentionsSubmissionsComments
20182018-01-01 00:00:00 UTC2019-01-01 00:00:00 UTC101
20192019-01-01 00:00:00 UTC2020-01-01 00:00:00 UTC13112
20202020-01-01 00:00:00 UTC2021-01-01 00:00:00 UTC808
20212021-01-01 00:00:00 UTC2022-01-01 00:00:00 UTC11110
20222022-01-01 00:00:00 UTC2023-01-01 00:00:00 UTC25124
20232023-01-01 00:00:00 UTC2024-01-01 00:00:00 UTC20020
20242024-01-01 00:00:00 UTC2025-01-01 00:00:00 UTC1019
20252025-01-01 00:00:00 UTC2026-01-01 00:00:00 UTC20020
2026 (partial)2026-01-01 00:00:00 UTC2027-01-01 00:00:00 UTC202

From the project README

An excerpt from the repository, fetched Nov 13, 2026.

Read the project’s introduction
This repo and the interactive webpage linked below are the only official sources - do not trust any other sites claiming to be Arkenfox 🟪 user.js A user.js is a configuration file that can control Firefox settings - for a more technical breakdown and explanation, you can read more in the wiki 🟩 the arkenfox user.js The arkenfox user.js is a template which aims to provide as much privacy and enhanced security as possible, and to reduce tracking and fingerprinting as much as possible - while minimizing any loss of functionality and breakage (but it will happen). Firefox's built-in profile feature (enabled since FF150) can copy some preferences across profiles, including data-reporting and Health Reports preferences set by this template. Do not assume these settings are independent per profile; review Permissions and data > Firefox data collection and use in Firefox Settings and verify the shared behavior. The exact shared-preference list is Firefox-version-dependent. See 1933264 and permanentSharedPrefs. Everyone, experts included, should at least read the wiki, as it contains important information regarding a few user.js settings. There is also an interactive current release, thanks to icpantsparti2. Note that we do not recommend connecting over Tor on Firefox. Use the Tor Browser if your threat model calls for it, or for accessing hidden services. Also be aware that the arkenfox user.js is made specifically for desktop Firefox. Using it as-is in other Gecko-based browsers can be counterproductive, especially in the Tor Browser. 🟧 sitemap releases changelogs wiki stickies diffs common questions and answers 🟥 acknowledgments Literally thousands of sources, references and suggestions. Many thanks, and much appreciated.
Read the full README on GitHub

What Hacker News says

1 sources
So that's you, but don't say that they should not share their knowledge because it does not follow your standards. I'm more than happy to see someone experience on this, what what worked for them, compare with mine. Better have something than nothing, not everyone have time to write a blog post every time they change one setting. You change it. Have issues. Realize it does not work for you. Change it back. If you're not sure or don't have time to deal with it, don't do it. Not difficult is it? Ans a said previously the responsibility is in the person making the change to their browser, no one is forcing them. This is my preferred approach: https://github.com/ghacksuserjs/ghacks-user.js https://github.com/pyllyukko/user.js
In Firefox about:config privacy settings

MAKE YOURSELF AT HOME

A few shortcuts

/
Search the collection
?
Open this guide
Esc
Close dialogs and navigation

Your saved repositories and interests stay in this browser.