this post was submitted on 22 Mar 2025
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Zen browser had a backdoor enabled by default (github.com)
submitted 2 months ago* (last edited 2 months ago) by cyrano@lemmy.dbzer0.com to c/technology@lemmy.world
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[–] async_amuro@lemm.ee 30 points 2 months ago (4 children)

Fucks sake, reading through these comments it appears the Zen browser developer doesn’t know what they are doing.

What alternatives are people using? I’m on Mac, iOS and Linux, avoiding Chrome/Safari and not looking to go back to Firefox, is there anything reliable/secure available?

[–] FreeBird@lemmy.dbzer0.com 29 points 2 months ago (1 children)

LibreWolf

[–] Wildly_Utilize@infosec.pub 9 points 2 months ago* (last edited 2 months ago) (4 children)

https://github.com/arkenfox/user.js/issues/1906

Not sure about the health of librewolf either, this thread suggests it's 3 overworked parttimers unable to keep up

"Hey all, I'm on the LibreWolf team, and it's true that since the departure of @fxbrit the project has taken a total nosedive when it comes to keeping up to date with Arkenfox and settings in general. We're still making releases, but settings did not get updated."

"As @threadpanic said, since fxbrit left we have been in a kind of "maintenance" mode in terms of settings. Mainly because we are really only three people left"

"LW since fxbrit left/died/who-knows has gone to shit - I worked with him behind the scenes to make the right choices and while he would do his own analysis, we always agreed, and his voice influenced them. Now they don't know what they are doing, and in fact have compromised security and make really stupid decisions. Same goes for all the other forks - really dubious shit going"

I use mullvad browser as it's maintained by mullvad and tor project and avoid stuff like Zen/floorp completely

[–] FreeBird@lemmy.dbzer0.com 7 points 2 months ago* (last edited 2 months ago) (1 children)

Jesus fucking Christ. I am tired man. I'm tired. It's the second time I switch browsers today.

[–] gruhuken@slrpnk.net 4 points 2 months ago

Crazy that there's pretty much nothing we can fully trust as consumers 🥲

[–] FreeBird@lemmy.dbzer0.com 2 points 2 months ago (1 children)

How about waterfox?

[–] Wildly_Utilize@infosec.pub 3 points 2 months ago* (last edited 2 months ago) (3 children)

Way worse afaik, not security focused at all

[–] FreeBird@lemmy.dbzer0.com 4 points 2 months ago

😭😭😭 Alright. Time to try mullvad ig.

[–] FreeBird@lemmy.dbzer0.com 2 points 2 months ago (1 children)

What do you recommend for android? Is Fennec OK?

[–] Wildly_Utilize@infosec.pub 7 points 2 months ago (1 children)

Ironfox is a better choice if you want something hardened/security focused

[–] gruhuken@slrpnk.net 1 points 2 months ago (1 children)

I mean, they do CLAIM to be. Idk how truthful that is tho

[–] Wildly_Utilize@infosec.pub 3 points 2 months ago

Privacy =/= security

[–] mac@lemm.ee 2 points 2 months ago

Oh man Thorin was PISSED haha

[–] swelter_spark@reddthat.com 1 points 2 months ago

Librewolf updates follow FF updates pretty quickly. Arkenfox settings haven't changed much in a long time, so I don't see that as an issue, personally.

[–] rando@lemmy.ml 3 points 2 months ago (1 children)

I'm looking at librewolf and firedragon. Librewolf to replace Firefox and firedragon to replace zen. Both are on flathub.

https://librewolf.net/ https://firedragon.garudalinux.org/

[–] Akip@discuss.tchncs.de 3 points 2 months ago (1 children)

throw some waterfox on your firedragon

[–] rando@lemmy.ml 1 points 2 months ago

Haha that's funny. Will try waterfox as replacement for Firefox. Firedragon (zen) is for vertical tabs.

[–] cek_cek@lemm.ee -3 points 2 months ago (1 children)

Vivaldi is a very mature product

[–] mzesumzira@leminal.space 15 points 2 months ago (1 children)

Vivaldi is Chrome based

[–] cek_cek@lemm.ee -1 points 2 months ago (2 children)

Thank you for the uninformed downvotes. Vivaldi is Chromium based with advanced adblocking and privacy features and other superior bells and whistles. OP wanted to avoid Chrome (for obvious reasons) while looking for a well-working multiplatform browser.

[–] Blisterexe@lemmy.zip 11 points 2 months ago (1 children)

people are down-voting you because they don't want chromium either

[–] mzesumzira@leminal.space 3 points 2 months ago

Jesus. I didn't downvote you, and I was referring to people not wanting the engine, Chrome and Chromium.