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IronFox

Dependency Patches

These patches remove dependencies on closed-source or third-party services/libraries, replacing them with open-source alternatives (where desired) to enhance transparency, privacy, and control over the software stack.

Patches

Remove Unwanted Libraries (Android Components)

Removes proprietary, tracking, and other unwanted libraries from Mozilla’s Android Components (and replaces them with suitable alternatives if desired, such as microG).

Reason
To remove unwanted libraries, and dependencies on related services.
Effect
Improves privacy and protects the freedom of users.

Remove Unwanted Libraries (Fenix)

Removes proprietary, tracking, and other unwanted libraries from Fenix (and replaces them with suitable alternatives if desired, such as microG).

Reason
To remove unwanted libraries, and dependencies on related services.
Effect
Improves privacy and protects the freedom of users.

UnifiedPush (Android Components)

Adds support for UnifiedPush to Mozilla’s Android Components.

Reason
To allow users to receive notifications without the use of a proprietary Google service.
Effect
Improves usability for users, by allowing them to receive push notifications if desired, and improves freedom, by allowing users to decide which push server/implementation they would like to use.

UnifiedPush (Fenix)

Adds support for UnifiedPush to Firefox for Android.

Reason
To allow users to receive notifications without the use of a proprietary Google service.
Effect
Improves usability for users, by allowing them to receive push notifications if desired, and improves freedom, by allowing users to decide which push server/implementation they would like to use.

Prioritize Credential Manager over microG/GMS

Prioritizes the use of Android’s standard Credential Manager API, instead of first attempting to use microG/Google Play Services (if they’re installed by the user).

Reason
Avoids unnecessary/unwanted use of Google Play Services.
Effect
Improves privacy and freedom for users, by avoiding the use of Google Play Services.

Remove GMP (Gecko Media Plugins) Sources

Removes Firefox’s default sources for installing Gecko Media Plugins (GMP: https://wiki.mozilla.org/GeckoMediaPlugins), such as OpenH264 and Widevine (the latter is proprietary).

Reason
To prevent the installation of unwanted/unnecessary plug-ins.
Effect
Improves security for users, by reducing attack surface, and protects freedom, by ensuring that proprietary plug-ins are not installed.