this post was submitted on 20 May 2026
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Firedragon. Another firefox fork alternative. (lemmy.world)
submitted 1 week ago* (last edited 6 days ago) by PrivateNomad@lemmy.world to c/privacy@lemmy.world
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I am also someone who searches daily for apps that focus on privacy... At the moment, I have come across Firedragon.

It is yet another derivative of Firefox. But is it truly privacy-oriented? I hope I can discuss this with you.

What I have discovered is that Firedragon is actually a derivative of Floorp. Floorp is another browser that, as they claim, is privacy-oriented. But is that really the case? I also discovered that Firedragon originates from India. And I find that quite suspicious. I don't want to immediately say that every person from India who creates something is immediately suspicious. But things do often go wrong there when we talk about scamming. Anyway, let's leave that aside for now.

I would like to know your opinion and knowledge regarding this new browser.

Update notes:

  • Founder: Librewish?
  • Firedragon is open Open Source (MPL-2.0) and claims to be privacy focussed.
  • Firedragon is by: Garuda
  • Origin: India or maybe not?
top 23 comments
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[–] newton@feddit.online 1 points 4 days ago* (last edited 4 days ago)

Just tried to install AUR packet firedragon, got message dat download was deprecated after installing, and manual intervention is needed

[–] XLE@piefed.social 6 points 1 week ago (2 children)

Generally speaking, you shouldn't touch unvetted things. And this is worse than unvetted. It's straight up unknown. Floorp is probably better for your privacy, but it's still not one of the best forks available. You might want to go for something that's been around for several years... Including Floorp, or even better Waterfox, or better yet LibreWolf... Etc

[–] Keshara@piefed.blahaj.zone 6 points 1 week ago (2 children)

It's not an unknown browser? Firedragon was the default browser in Garuda Linux (not 100% sure if it still is), Garuda if you didn't know is quite a popular Linux distribution that has attracted a bit of attention over the years mostly for its OOTB theming.

[–] XLE@piefed.social 0 points 1 week ago (1 children)

Fair point, but I barely know about Garuda apparently, let alone what's inside it.

[–] Keshara@piefed.blahaj.zone 3 points 1 week ago (1 children)

So because you don't know about it, "it's straight up unknown"?

[–] teft@piefed.social 1 points 6 days ago (1 children)

I’ve been in the linux scene for more than 30 years and i’ve never heard of Garuda linux either. Why get up in arms about someone not knowing about some weird niche distro?

[–] Keshara@piefed.blahaj.zone 1 points 6 days ago

I'm not "getting up in arms" about it, but rather trying to understand a very confident double down on their comment in a public forum.

The advice to not touch something "unvetted", the fact they so confidently said it was "straight up unknown". Just because you haven't heard of something does not mean you can now confidently start telling people that it is unknown, don't touch it, etc. This isn't Reddit..

[–] PrivateNomad@lemmy.world -1 points 1 week ago* (last edited 1 week ago) (1 children)

its still on linux. and garuda is not privacy focussed. And firedragon seem to be by garuda. Hmmm intressting....

[–] Keshara@piefed.blahaj.zone 4 points 6 days ago (1 children)

Outside of something like TailsOS, what Linux distros are you regarding as "privacy focused"?

[–] PrivateNomad@lemmy.world 0 points 6 days ago (1 children)

Linux distros are you regarding as “privacy focused”?

that is kind of offtopic

[–] Keshara@piefed.blahaj.zone 2 points 6 days ago

You're the one that mentioned about Garuda not being privacy focused though? I don't really get why you wouldn't just answer the question if you were responding anyway?

[–] PrivateNomad@lemmy.world -1 points 1 week ago

i do research on privacy-oriented applications.

[–] hendrik@palaver.p3x.de 4 points 1 week ago* (last edited 1 week ago) (2 children)

Why India? Isn't it by the Garudalinux.org people? "Stefan" certainly doesn't sound like an Indian name to me at all. And some other names in the commits sound like the westernized version of Japanese names to me.

[–] harrys_balzac@lemmy.dbzer0.com 0 points 1 week ago

I've called tech support lines and had them answered by representatives with heavy south Asian accents introducing themselves with very Western names.

[–] PrivateNomad@lemmy.world 0 points 1 week ago (1 children)

the origin of Garuda Linux is india

[–] hendrik@palaver.p3x.de 1 points 1 week ago (2 children)

Sorry, I don't see it. Seems it was co-founded by a German dude and an Indian IT student. Other than that, their about page looks like the international collaboration, most Free Software projects are. It has its origins in Arch Linux, which was invented by a Canadian, and is an international collaboration as well. And regarding Firedragon in specific... Looks to me that project wasn't even started before Librewish (from India) went on a hiatus. Maybe I missed something? I mean I do see the name "Garuda". That's from Hinduism.

[–] PrivateNomad@lemmy.world 2 points 6 days ago

your information is important. thank you

[–] faintwhenfree@lemmus.org 3 points 1 week ago (1 children)

Misinformed people gonna misinform. As far as I see, I don't see a security risk as well.

FYI

Garuda is from Sanskrit just means eagle. It's a just a word from a language. Doesn't have anything to do with religion. Word exists in not just indic language but also austro asiatic languages like Thai, Bahasa, Vietnamese etc. Also used in south east Asia and even Korean Japan in some epics, although modern ones translate them.

Indonesia's national airlines is Garuda airlines. All I see is someone familiar with any of these languages just wanted to make eagle linux. I don't see a scam just people being people.

[–] PrivateNomad@lemmy.world 1 points 6 days ago

Garuda

yes Garuda is just their name

[–] faintwhenfree@lemmus.org 2 points 1 week ago

I think they can do more in terms of more hardening of the browser. Of course they can. But I don't see dishonesty here, plenty of Indian contributors across all varieties of projects. Even if it was of indian origin, which I don't think it is. I wouldn't be worried unless I see government interference or religious extremists involved.

Historically Indian government is least bothered with trying to undermine or put backdoors in projects like these. They're not great at privacy mind you, just unbithered, though lobbying from the giants is changing it but it's not as evident as the west at least for now.

[–] Duck@kbin.earth 2 points 1 week ago

persons name is Librewish

[–] Duck@kbin.earth 1 points 1 week ago (1 children)

Garuda is not privacy focused it claims to be but it is a blur vision of privacy

[–] faintwhenfree@lemmus.org 1 points 1 week ago

Sure, it's not the most hardened like some other privacy focused distros, but it's like any other distros. I don't see mal intention.

Maybe incompetence to some degree but we're better off with more projects attempting things independently than less. I don't see malicious actors here.