How to Configure Firefox for Maximum Privacy: Step-by-Step Guide

By Alex Rivera Jul 9, 2026 10 min read How-To Guides

Firefox is already a privacy-friendly browser, but with the right configuration, you can make it significantly more secure. This guide walks you through every setting to maximize Firefox privacy.

Set Enhanced Tracking Protection to Strict

Open Firefox Preferences, go to Privacy and Security, and select Strict under Enhanced Tracking Protection. This blocks all known trackers, third-party cookies, fingerprinting scripts, and cryptominers. Some websites may break with Strict mode, but you can add exceptions for trusted sites. Strict mode dramatically reduces data collection by advertising and analytics companies.

Enable DNS over HTTPS

DNS over HTTPS (DoH) encrypts your DNS queries so your ISP cannot see which websites you visit. In Firefox, go to Settings > Privacy and Security > DNS over HTTPS and select Increased Protection. Choose Cloudflare or NextDNS as your provider. This prevents DNS-level tracking and blocks DNS spoofing attacks.

Disable Firefox Telemetry

Firefox sends usage data to Mozilla by default. Go to Privacy and Security, scroll to Firefox Data Collection and Use, and uncheck all boxes. While Mozilla is privacy-focused, disabling telemetry ensures no data leaves your browser unnecessarily.

Install Essential Privacy Extensions

uBlock Origin in medium mode blocks all third-party scripts and frames by default. Privacy Badger learns which trackers to block as you browse. NoScript blocks JavaScript, Java, and other executable content on untrusted websites. HTTPS Everywhere forces encrypted connections on all supported sites. These four extensions provide comprehensive protection when used together.