For the past twenty years, I’ve been vigilant about choosing an internet browser that values my privacy, one that doesn’t sell the data I create and collect through my browsing habits.

I’ve been using Firefox since its early days in 2002 when it was still called Phoenix. At the time, Microsoft's Internet Explorer reigned as the dominant browser, and it always left much to be desired. It was clunky, slow, and lacked the user experience we expected at the time. When Mozilla released Firefox, it felt like a breath of fresh air. The internet was still in its infancy, back when it was still known as Web 1.0, and though we hadn’t yet realized how much tech companies were tracking us, I instinctively knew that Firefox was the better option compared to Internet Explorer. It was a time when alternative browsers were emerging, and I tried nearly all of them, but Firefox always stood out to me.

Enshittification everywhere!

Fast forward twenty years. The internet is in a state of crisis: fake news is rampant, browser options are in shambles, and enshittification has infected nearly every piece of modern technology. While dozens of browsers exist, only three have emerged as true market leaders: Firefox, Chrome, and Safari. Most of the other browsers on the market are built on Firefox or Chrome’s engines (Gecko and Blink, respectively).

Unfortunately, my long-standing relationship with Firefox is now under threat. Mozilla recently stirred controversy with its updated Firefox terms of use. As Firefox users are known for caring deeply about online privacy and supporting free and open-source software, this move led to an uproar in the community. Many users, particularly those on Linux, abandoned Firefox in favor of other options. In response to the backlash, Mozilla revised its Terms of Use. However, the alternatives still don’t offer a better solution than Firefox, despite Mozilla’s recent missteps.

While there are alternatives, most are still based on either Firefox or Chrome’s engines. Google, with its immense market dominance, continues to shape the direction of these browsers, often in ways that benefit the company, not its users. Google has never been interested in prioritizing privacy, as its business model revolves around selling data—something it’s been doing since its early days, even when it had the motto "Don't Be Evil."

Brave, a browser based on Chromium, offers some privacy features like ad-blocking, but it still heavily relies on Google’s development choices. I personally use Brave at work because it’s a better alternative to Chrome. Then there’s Microsoft Edge, also built on Chromium, and Opera, which is another Chromium-based browser.

While there are several browsers built on Firefox’s Gecko engine, the reality is that if Firefox were to disappear tomorrow, most of its derivatives would likely follow suit. These include browsers like Librewolf, Floorp, Waterfox, Pale Moon, Zen, and Mullvad Browser, among others.

So, what now?

The situation in the browser landscape is dire, and I’ve almost given up hope. I continue to use Firefox for personal use and Brave for work, but it feels like I'm a digital orphan, neglected by the very companies that should be protecting my data. Mozilla’s new Firefox Terms of Use seem to be driven by a desire to sell user data to fuel their upcoming AI products, while Google has been doing the same (and much worse) for years. Using Firefox derivatives, which claim to be more privacy-conscious, is really just a small band-aid on a much larger issue.

I hold out hope for the Ladybird browser, which promises "performance, stability, and security" but is still in its alpha stage. The team behind it is promising, but time will tell. Until then, I’m sticking with Firefox, fortified with Betterfox settings.

I hope one day internet browsing will be both secure and stable again, but I can’t say I’m overly optimistic about that future.