Waterfox Web Browser
TL;DR
List of Firefox Based Browsers Waterfox
💧 Waterfox Browser – Full History
🏁 1. Introduction
Name: Waterfox
Developer: Originally Alex Kontos (UK-based developer)
Initial Release: March 2011
Based on: Mozilla Firefox (Gecko engine, now forked into an independent project)
Core Idea: A 64-bit, privacy-respecting, and customizable web browser that maintains compatibility with classic Firefox extensions.
🌱 2. Origins (2011–2013): The First 64-bit Firefox Fork
2011:
Waterfox was created by Alex Kontos, then only 16 years old.
It was built as a 64-bit version of Mozilla Firefox for Windows, at a time when Firefox only offered 32-bit builds.
This gave Waterfox a performance advantage, using full 64-bit CPU architecture for faster browsing and better memory use.
Key Goals in Early Versions:
Maintain full Firefox compatibility.
Optimize for speed using Intel’s compiler.
Remove unnecessary telemetry and startup services.
Features (2011–2013):
Identical interface to Firefox.
No data collection or auto-update telemetry.
Plug-in compatibility identical to Firefox.
⚙️ 3. Growth & Independence (2014–2017)
2014–2015:
Waterfox began gaining a user base among those who preferred Firefox’s older interface and wanted a faster, privacy-focused alternative.
Updated alongside Firefox releases but compiled separately with optimizations.
2016:
Gained major attention when Firefox started adding Telemetry, Pocket integration, and Australis UI (which many users disliked).
Waterfox retained:
The classic Firefox look (pre-Australis)
Legacy XUL/XPCOM extensions support
No telemetry or data collection
2017:
Mozilla launched Firefox Quantum (v57) — dropping legacy add-ons and moving entirely to WebExtensions.
Waterfox decided to preserve the old Firefox add-on ecosystem, leading to its fork from Firefox 56.
This decision marked the true birth of Waterfox as an independent browser, not just a recompiled Firefox.
🧭 4. Waterfox Classic & Modern Branch (2018–2020)
2018:
Waterfox split into two versions:
Waterfox Classic: Based on Firefox 56 — maintained for users of older XUL extensions.
Waterfox Current (later G3): Based on newer Firefox Quantum versions — with modern web support but with privacy modifications.
Key Goals:
Keep both legacy add-on support (Classic) and modern web compatibility (Current).
Remain telemetry-free and respect user choice.
2019:
Waterfox gained integration with Mozilla’s security patches, ensuring safety while remaining independent.
Adopted features like:
Tracking protection
Secure sandboxing
Sync compatibility (via Firefox Sync server)
💼 5. System1 Acquisition (2020)
Early 2020:
Waterfox was acquired by System1, a U.S.-based company focusing on privacy and advertising technologies.
System1 also owned the Startpage search engine.
Despite concerns about “corporate control,” Alex Kontos remained the lead developer, promising that Waterfox would continue to prioritize privacy and user control.
Post-acquisition focus:
Faster security updates
Cleaner build system
Better integration with modern web standards
2020–2021:
Introduced the Waterfox G series (G3, G4):
Based on newer Firefox ESR versions
Retained privacy enhancements (no telemetry, no Pocket, no studies)
Continued support for older extensions through limited backward compatibility
⚙️ *6. The G-Series Evolution (2021–2023)
2021:
Launch of Waterfox G3 (based on Firefox 78 ESR):
Modern interface similar to Quantum
Full support for WebExtensions
Privacy-respecting defaults (disabled telemetry, shield studies, sponsored content)
2022:
Released Waterfox G4:
Based on Firefox ESR 91+
Added Dark Mode, Enhanced Privacy Controls, and Unified Add-ons Management.
Continued support for both Classic (legacy branch) and G-series (modern).
2023:
Waterfox became fully independent from Mozilla services (though still uses Firefox’s open-source ESR as a foundation).
Focused on stability, modern performance, and sync without tracking.
🌍 7. Modern Development (2024–2025)
2024:
Waterfox G5 released — based on Firefox ESR 115.
Improved speed, hardware acceleration, and compatibility with modern web APIs.
Enhanced user privacy options, including:
Total cookie protection toggle
Script-blocking options
HTTPS enforcement
Classic branch still maintained by community developers for legacy users.
2025 (Current):
Latest version: Waterfox G6 (based on newer ESR, Chromium-independent).
Fully open-source and maintained on GitHub.
Compatible with Windows, macOS, and Linux.
Strong focus on privacy, user choice, and non-profit ethos — continuing independently of System1’s other projects.
🔒 8. Privacy Philosophy
Waterfox’s long-standing privacy commitments include:
No telemetry or background data collection.
No sponsored content, Pocket, or studies.
Optional Firefox Sync (disabled by default).
Open-source codebase (auditable).
Focused on user control and customization, not profit.
🧱 9. Key Features
Category —>Highlights
Engine —>Gecko fork (based on Firefox ESR)
Privacy —>No telemetry, tracking, or sponsored content
Customization —>Supports both XUL (Classic) and WebExtensions
Performance —>Optimized 64-bit builds, fast rendering
Compatibility —>Add-ons from AMO supported
Sync —>Optional, Firefox Sync-compatible
Platforms —>Windows, macOS, Linux
📊 10. Version Timeline Summary
Year—>Version—>Key Milestones
2011—>v1.0—>First 64-bit Firefox fork
2014—>v28—>Privacy features, no telemetry
2017—>v56—>Forked from Firefox 56 (pre-Quantum)
2018—>Classic & Current—>Split into two branches
2020—>G3—>System1 acquisition, modern rebuild
2022—>G4—>Improved privacy, UI redesign
2024—>G5—>Based on ESR 115, modern standards
2025—>G6—>Current build, independent updates
🏆 11. Legacy & Impact
Waterfox preserved the old Firefox experience and user freedom during a time when Mozilla moved toward a streamlined, telemetry-heavy design.
Became one of the most recognized Firefox forks emphasizing privacy and legacy add-on compatibility.
Continues to stand as a strong open-source alternative for users who want modern features without corporate tracking.
Overview
Waterfox is an open-source web browser that is a fork of Mozilla Firefox, specifically designed to be a high-performance, privacy-focused alternative. Its primary historical distinction was its focus on supporting 64-bit systems and later, legacy Firefox extensions that used the original XUL/XPCOM technology.
The Founding Era: The Alex Kontos Project (2011 - 2020)
2011: The Origin
Founder: A 16-year-old student from the UK named Alex Kontos.
Motivation: At the time, Mozilla only offered a 32-bit version of Firefox, even on 64-bit Windows systems. The 32-bit version was limited to using ~4GB of RAM, which was inefficient for power users and those with modern hardware.
The Solution: Kontos created Waterfox by recompiling the Firefox source code for native 64-bit Windows. The name “Waterfox” is a play on “Firefox,” with water being a contrasting element to fire.
Key Features of this Era:
Pure 64-bit: Offered significantly better performance, stability, and memory handling on 64-bit machines.
No Telemetry: Removed all data-tracking and telemetry features that were being introduced into Firefox.
Support for Legacy Extensions: As Firefox moved to the new WebExtensions API, Waterfox continued to support the old, more powerful XUL/XPCOM extensions, making it a haven for users who relied on them.
2015 - 2020: Expansion and Growing Pains
Platform Expansion: Waterfox expanded beyond Windows, releasing versions for macOS and Linux.
Based on Firefox ESR: To ensure stability, Waterfox began basing its releases on Firefox’s Extended Support Release (ESR) cycle, which provided a more solid foundation for its modifications.
Growing Challenges: As a one-person project, keeping up with the rapid development pace of Firefox became increasingly difficult for Kontos. This led to slower update cycles and potential security vulnerabilities if the browser fell too far behind.
The Acquisition Era: The System1 Chapter (2020 - Present)
February 2020: The Major Turning Point
Acquisition: Alex Kontos announced that Waterfox was acquired by System1, an advertising technology company known for its search portals and partnership with the privacy-focused search engine Startpage.
Community Reaction: This news was met with significant skepticism and concern from the Waterfox user base. System1’s business model is based on targeted advertising, which seemed to directly contradict Waterfox’s core principle of privacy.
Reassurances: Both Kontos and System1 issued statements promising that Waterfox would remain open-source, would not compromise user privacy, and that the acquisition would provide the resources needed to accelerate development and improve security.
Post-Acquisition Developments (2020 - 2023)
Faster Release Cycles: The development team grew, and Waterfox began updating more frequently, staying much closer to the modern Firefox codebase, which improved security.
Introduction of “Search Partner” Features: The browser integrated more closely with System1’s products. The default search was set to a System1-owned search portal, and an optional “Search Highlights” feature was added to the new tab page, which was a form of advertising.
The Waterfox “Family”: System1 split the project into two main branches:
Waterfox Classic: The final version based on the old Firefox 56 codebase, preserved exclusively for users who desperately needed legacy XUL/XPCOM extensions. It is no longer developed or recommended for general use due to security risks.
Waterfox Current (G3/G4/G5): The main, actively developed version based on modern Firefox ESR. This is the version that receives regular updates and security patches.
Continued Privacy Claims: Despite the ad-related features, Waterfox continues to market itself as a privacy browser by removing Mozilla’s telemetry, pocket integration, and sponsored content from the original Firefox code. However, its own optional ad integrations have created a complex picture.
Key Historical Differentiators (What Made Waterfox Famous)
64-bit Pioneer: It was one of the first widely-used native 64-bit browsers on Windows, offering a tangible performance benefit.
Legacy Extension Savior: When Firefox phased out XUL/XPCOM, Waterfox became the go-to browser for users who refused to give up their powerful old extensions.
De-Googled & De-Mozilla’d: It removed many integrated services from Firefox (like Pocket, telemetry, and certain studies) by default, appealing to users who wanted a “cleaner” Firefox experience.
Present Day and Legacy
Current Status: Waterfox Current (now simply called Waterfox) is still actively developed, with its latest versions (G5.x) being based on Firefox ESR 115. It is available for Windows, macOS, and Linux.
The Privacy Paradox: Waterfox’s identity is now more nuanced. It removes tracking elements from Mozilla but is owned by an ad-tech company. Users must decide if this trade-off is acceptable.
Legacy: Waterfox’s historical impact is undeniable. It pushed Mozilla to prioritize and eventually release an official 64-bit version of Firefox for Windows. It also served as a lifeboat for a dedicated community of users during a turbulent transition in Firefox’s extension ecosystem. Today, it exists as a modified, privacy-tuned fork of Firefox, but its uniqueness has diminished as other forks like LibreWolf have emerged with a more hardline, community-driven privacy focus.
In summary, Waterfox’s history is a story of a passionate solo project that filled a crucial gap in the browser market, grew into a beloved niche product, and was eventually acquired by a larger company, leading to a new chapter filled with both progress and controversy.
