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Firefox about:config privacy settings

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Re: Firefox about:config privacy settings

#41

Post by nathancahill »

bmurphy1976 wrote: post #18
pcwalton wrote: post #8

I don't like encouraging mucking around in about:config, but I might as well mention this one. If you don't mind your window losing vibrancy and rounded corners, you should be able to significantly improve battery life on macOS by setting "gfx.compositor.glcontext.opaque" to true. This makes WindowServer stop drawing whatever is behind the Firefox window. This bug tracks the proper solution: https://bugzilla.mozilla.…

I have a new 2018 MBP with an i9. I've noticed I can squeeze upwards of six hours battery out of it using Safari. With Firefox I'm lucky to get three. I made this change just to see. So far it does appear to have lowered the energy impact score a bit, but I'm not sure it's enough to matter yet. I guess we'll know in a couple hours. Edit: 20 minutes in and I've watched my Time Remaining estimate creep up from 3 hours…

Yes, unfortunately true. I'm a Firefox user, as loyal as they come, but put me on a long flight without the ability to charge, and you bet I'll be using Safari the whole time. The battery life is amazing.

Re: Firefox about:config privacy settings

#44

Post by cpeterso »

ct0 wrote: post #4

config.trim_on_minimize = true Reduce memory usage when minimized. (Windows only) -This really helped for me

The config.trim_on_minimize preference no longer exists, as it was Windows XP's own behavior that Firefox was suppressing:

https://bugzilla.mozilla.org/show_bug.cgi?id=660367

  // Our internal trim prevention logic is effective on 2K/XP at maintaining
  // the working set when windows are minimized, but on Vista and up it has
  // little to no effect. Since this feature has been the source of numerous
  // bugs over the years, disable it (sTrimOnMinimize=1) on Vista and up.

Re: Firefox about:config privacy settings

#45

Post by satysin »

bmurphy1976 wrote: post #18
pcwalton wrote: post #8

I don't like encouraging mucking around in about:config, but I might as well mention this one. If you don't mind your window losing vibrancy and rounded corners, you should be able to significantly improve battery life on macOS by setting "gfx.compositor.glcontext.opaque" to true. This makes WindowServer stop drawing whatever is behind the Firefox window. This bug tracks the proper solution: https://bugzilla.mozilla.…

I have a new 2018 MBP with an i9. I've noticed I can squeeze upwards of six hours battery out of it using Safari. With Firefox I'm lucky to get three. I made this change just to see. So far it does appear to have lowered the energy impact score a bit, but I'm not sure it's enough to matter yet. I guess we'll know in a couple hours. Edit: 20 minutes in and I've watched my Time Remaining estimate creep up from 3 hours…

2018 MBP with i9 here as well. I am getting 10-11 hours battery life with Chrome. What exactly are you doing on your machine other than browsing as it isn't the browser causing such low battery life. Even when working in Xcode and IntelliJ I still easily get 7-8 hours.

Re: Firefox about:config privacy settings

#46

Post by kahnpro »

nerdponx wrote: post #24

I frequently see recommendations to disable "safe browsing" features. Why?

Because those features can involve uploading your browsing history to 3rd parties... does Microsoft check locally against malicious site lists, or does it upload every address you visit in order to tell you it's safe?

Re: Firefox about:config privacy settings

#47

Post by simongr3dal »

satysin wrote: post #45
bmurphy1976 wrote: post #18

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I have a new 2018 MBP with an i9. I've noticed I can squeeze upwards of six hours battery out of it using Safari. With Firefox I'm lucky to get three. I made this change just to see. So far it does appear to have lowered the energy impact score a bit, but I'm not sure it's enough to matter yet. I guess we'll know in a couple hours. Edit: 20 minutes in and I've watched my Time Remaining estimate creep up from 3 hours…

2018 MBP with i9 here as well. I am getting 10-11 hours battery life with Chrome. What exactly are you doing on your machine other than browsing as it isn't the browser causing such low battery life. Even when working in Xcode and IntelliJ I still easily get 7-8 hours.

Screen brightness makes a big difference.

Re: Firefox about:config privacy settings

#50

Post by forapurpose »

How do we, and more importantly how do adventurous end users, distinguish useful from useless from harmful configuration changes? Why should I trust this person? Why should I think it's worth my time?

I find that these accumulated lists of security ideas are usually dangerous - in any domain, not just Firefox or browsers. They collect information and misinformation and add a veneer of legitimacy. Some settings don't behave as you think; some aren't documented; some are poorly implemented or tested by the vendor, who didn't design them for end users, and their malfunctions can create more security holes. Some are implemented for reasons you don't understand ('before you tear down a fence, know the reason it was put there'). Some are dependencies for other settings, features, and subsystems.

It would have to be work by an expert in browsers or Firefox or security, such as a Mozilla engineer or someone like Giorgio Maone, for me to trust a list like this one.

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