How to Disable Tor and Use the Tor Browser as a Privacy Hardened Firefox

Question

I know this question has been asked multiple times here, but they are all very outdated (5+ years old), and none of the answers work with the latest versions.

I am specifically asking for solutions to the latest stable release version of Tor Browser as I am concerned about Firefox bundling adware inside its browser, and I am unwilling to accept that.

Currently, Tor can be successfully disabled on Tor Browser 10.5.10 (after disabling automatic update) with these steps:

1. Setup the following environment variables - TOR_SKIP_LAUNCH=1 and TOR_TRANSPROXY=1.
2. Create a new file autoconfig.js with the following content:

pref("general.config.filename", "firefox.cfg");
pref("general.config.obscure_value", 0);

3. Create a new file firefox.cfg with the following content:

// Disable Tor Permanently
lockPref("extensions.torlauncher.start_tor", false);
lockPref("network.dns.disabled", false);
lockPref("network.proxy.socks_remote_dns", false);
lockPref("network.proxy.type", 0);

4. On macOS, copy autoconfig.js to Tor Browser.app/Content/Resources/defaults/pref
5. On macOS, copy firefox.cfg to Tor Browser.app/Content/Resources/

This works great with Tor Browser v10.5.10, but not with the latest Tor Browser v11.0.1.

What needs to be done to disable Tor in Tor Browser v11.0.1 (and above) completely?

Answer 1

I haven't checked, but you can try this https://www.ghacks.net/2018/11/26/can-you-use-the-tor-browser-without-tor-connection/#comment-4509260

Answer 2

This works in v11.0.11. Set the following in about:config

• network.dns.disabled = false
• extensions.torlauncher.start_tor = false
• network.proxy.socks = space " "