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Waterfox
Topic: Software
From HandWiki - Reading time: 6 min
.svg){kind=logo} | |
 Screenshot of Waterfox G6.0.5 running on Windows 10, showing the English Wikipedia. | |
| Original author(s) | Alexandros Kontos |
|---|---|
| Developer(s) | Waterfox Limited |
| Initial release | 27 March 2011 |
| Stable release | G3.2.6 (15 September 2021[1]) [±] |
| Preview release | G6.0 Beta 5
/ September 14, 2023 |
| Written in | C, C++, CSS, JavaScript, XUL |
| Engine | Gecko, SpiderMonkey |
| Operating system | Windows 7 or later, Mac, Android, Linux |
| Platform | x64, ARM64, PPC64LE |
| Type | Web browser, mobile web browser, feed reader |
| License | MPL-2.0 |
Waterfox is a free and open-source web browser and fork of Firefox. It claims to be ethical and user-centric, emphasizing performance and privacy.[2] There are official Waterfox releases for Windows, macOS, and Linux.[3] It was initially created to provide official 64-bit support, back when Firefox was only available for 32-bit systems.[4]
Divisions
Waterfox
Waterfox shares core features and technologies like the Gecko browser engine[5] and support for Firefox Add-ons[6] with Firefox. It is also compatible with Google Chrome and Opera extensions.[2] It disables telemetry and Pocket by default, which are present in Firefox builds. However, it collects technical information about the user's device to update properly.[4]
Waterfox Classic
Waterfox Classic is a version of the browser based on an older version of the Gecko engine that supports legacy XUL and XPCOM add-on capabilities that Firefox removed in version 57.[7][8] It is still partially maintained with fixes and patches from Waterfox and Firefox ESR releases. However, its development has been separated due to several changes from Waterfox that are otherwise unapplicable.[9]
Vulnerability
Waterfox Classic has multiple unpatched security advisories. The developer states that "changes between versions so numerous between ESRs making merging difficult if not impossible".[10][9]
History
Waterfox was first released by Alex Kontos[11][4] on March 27, 2011 for 64-bit Windows. The Mac build was introduced on May 14, 2015 with the release of version 38.0,[12] the Linux build was introduced on December 20, 2016 with the release of version 50.0,[13] and an Android build was first introduced on October 10, 2017 in version 55.2.2.[14]
From July 22, 2015 to November 12, 2015, Waterfox had its own search-engine called "Storm" that would raise funds for charity and Waterfox. Storm was developed with over £2 million of investor funding and powered by Yahoo! Search.[15][16][17]
In December 2019, System1, an advertising company which portrays itself as privacy-focused,[18] acquired Waterfox.[19][20] In July 2023, Alex Kontos announced that Waterfox had been turned into an independent project again.[21]
Logos
Waterfox logo used until 2015
Waterfox logo used from 2015 to March 2019
Waterfox logo used from March to June 2019
Waterfox logo used from May 2019 to August 2023
Waterfox logo used from August to September 2023
Waterfox logo used from September 2023 to present
.png){kind=logo}
See also
References
- ↑ "Waterfox G3.2.6 - Third Generation Release". https://www.waterfox.net/blog/waterfox-G3.2.6/.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 "What Is Waterfox and Is It Safe?" (in en). 2022-09-13. https://www.makeuseof.com/is-waterfox-safe/.
- ↑ "Waterfox, Free Web Browser" (in en). https://www.waterfox.net/download/.
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 Proven, Liam. "Waterfox: A Firefox fork that could teach Mozilla a lesson" (in en). https://www.theregister.com/2021/11/04/waterfox_firefox_fork/.
- ↑ "FAQ" (in en). https://www.waterfox.net/docs/faq.
- ↑ "Find and install add-ons to add features to Waterfox". https://www.waterfox.net/support/WINNT/find-and-install-add-ons/.
- ↑ Kev Needham (2015-08-21). "The Future of Developing Firefox Add-ons". https://blog.mozilla.org/addons/2015/08/21/the-future-of-developing-firefox-add-ons/.
- ↑ Villalobos, Jorge (2017-02-16). "The Road to Firefox 57 – Compatibility Milestones". https://blog.mozilla.org/addons/2017/02/16/the-road-to-firefox-57-compatibility-milestones/.
- ↑ 9.0 9.1 "Waterfox Classic development will continue, but as a separate project from G4". November 4, 2021. https://www.ghacks.net/2021/11/04/waterfox-classic-development-will-continue-but-as-a-separate-project-from-g4/.
- ↑ "Unpatched Security Advisories · WaterfoxCo/Waterfox-Classic Wiki" (in en). https://github.com/WaterfoxCo/Waterfox-Classic/wiki/Unpatched-Security-Advisories.
- ↑ "About Waterfox" (in en). https://www.waterfox.net/docs/.
- ↑ Kontos, Alex. "Waterfox 38.0 Release". https://www.waterfoxproject.org/blog/waterfox-38.0-release-download.
- ↑ Kontos, Alex. "Waterfox 50.1.0 Release (Windows, Mac & Linux)". https://www.waterfoxproject.org/blog/waterfox-50.0-release-download.
- ↑ Kontos, Alex. "Waterfox 55 Release (Windows, Mac, Linux and Android)". https://www.waterfoxproject.org/blog/waterfox-55.0-release-download.
- ↑ Kontos, Alex (12 May 2015). "4 Year Anniversary: Waterfox Charity and Storm Search". https://www.waterfoxproject.org/blog/waterfox-charity-storm-search.
- ↑ "New search engine from Waterfox founder aims to take a punch at Google". https://www.telegraph.co.uk/finance/businessclub/technology/11598207/New-search-engine-from-Waterfox-founder-aims-to-take-a-punch-at-Google.html.
- ↑ Lake, Howard (2015-08-07). "'Ethical search engine' Storm to generate funds for charities" (in en). https://fundraising.co.uk/2015/08/07/ethical-search-engine-storm-to-generate-funds-for-charities/.
- ↑ Brinkmann, Martin (14 February 2020). "Waterfox web browser sold to System1". https://www.ghacks.net/2020/02/14/waterfox-web-browser-sold-to-system1/.
- ↑ "Waterfox has joined System1". 14 February 2020. https://www.waterfox.net/blog/waterfox-has-joined-system1/.
- ↑ "Welcome Waterfox!". https://www.system1.com/press/system1-welcomes-waterfox.
- ↑ Kontos, Alex (2023-07-03). "A New Chapter for Waterfox" (in en). https://www.waterfox.net/blog/2023/07/03/a-new-chapter-for-waterfox.
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