{
  "slug": "icecat",
  "category": "browsers",
  "name": "IceCat",
  "description": "GNU's build of Firefox ESR containing only free software. Removes non-free components such as DRM and bundles LibreJS and JShelter to restrict JavaScript and fingerprinting.",
  "website": "https://www.gnu.org/software/gnuzilla/",
  "source": "https://cgit.git.savannah.gnu.org/cgit/gnuzilla.git",
  "license": null,
  "platforms": [],
  "jurisdiction": null,
  "pick": false,
  "pick_reason": null,
  "disclosure": null,
  "grade": "B",
  "score": 83,
  "coverage": 100,
  "summary": "IceCat scores 83 out of 100 (grade B) on the browsers criteria. It meets 6 of 8 criteria: open source, no trackers or telemetry, no ads or data sales, blocks trackers by default, fingerprinting protection and no calls to big-tech services. It partly meets timely security updates. It does not meet independent audit.",
  "url": "https://privacyratings.com/browsers/icecat/",
  "markdown": "https://privacyratings.com/browsers/icecat/index.md",
  "answers": {
    "open_source": {
      "title": "Open source",
      "weight": 3,
      "answer": "yes",
      "evidence": "https://cgit.git.savannah.gnu.org/cgit/gnuzilla.git/tree/COPYING",
      "note": "Build scripts under GPL-3.0; the browser code is MPL-2.0 from Firefox."
    },
    "no_trackers": {
      "title": "No trackers or telemetry",
      "weight": 3,
      "answer": "yes",
      "evidence": "https://cgit.git.savannah.gnu.org/cgit/gnuzilla.git/tree/data/settings.js",
      "note": "Telemetry and health reports are disabled in the default settings."
    },
    "no_ads": {
      "title": "No ads or data sales",
      "weight": 2,
      "answer": "yes",
      "evidence": "https://www.gnu.org/software/gnuzilla/",
      "note": "GNU volunteer project with no ads or data sales."
    },
    "independent_audit": {
      "title": "Independent audit",
      "weight": 2,
      "answer": "no",
      "evidence": null,
      "note": "No independent audit is published."
    },
    "transparency_report": {
      "title": "Transparency report",
      "weight": 2,
      "answer": "n/a",
      "evidence": null,
      "note": "Only applies to hosted services with a website to test."
    },
    "user_notice": {
      "title": "Tells users about requests",
      "weight": 1,
      "answer": "n/a",
      "evidence": null,
      "note": "Only applies to hosted services with a website to test."
    },
    "tls": {
      "title": "TLS configuration",
      "weight": 2,
      "answer": "n/a",
      "evidence": null,
      "note": "Only applies to hosted services with a website to test."
    },
    "security_headers": {
      "title": "Security headers",
      "weight": 1,
      "answer": "n/a",
      "evidence": null,
      "note": "Only applies to hosted services with a website to test."
    },
    "web_standards": {
      "title": "Modern web standards",
      "weight": 1,
      "answer": "n/a",
      "evidence": null,
      "note": "Only applies to hosted services with a website to test."
    },
    "tracker_blocking": {
      "title": "Blocks trackers by default",
      "weight": 3,
      "answer": "yes",
      "evidence": "https://cgit.git.savannah.gnu.org/cgit/gnuzilla.git/tree/data/settings.js",
      "note": "Tracking protection is enabled for all windows by default."
    },
    "fingerprinting_protection": {
      "title": "Fingerprinting protection",
      "weight": 2,
      "answer": "yes",
      "evidence": "https://cgit.git.savannah.gnu.org/cgit/gnuzilla.git/tree/data/settings.js",
      "note": "Resist Fingerprinting is enabled by default, and JShelter is bundled."
    },
    "no_google_services": {
      "title": "No calls to big-tech services",
      "weight": 2,
      "answer": "yes",
      "evidence": "https://cgit.git.savannah.gnu.org/cgit/gnuzilla.git/tree/data/settings.js",
      "note": "Google Safe Browsing and its update URLs are disabled."
    },
    "security_updates": {
      "title": "Timely security updates",
      "weight": 3,
      "answer": "partial",
      "evidence": "https://www.gnu.org/software/gnuzilla/",
      "note": "Source updates follow Firefox ESR releases within days, but no official binaries are published, so updates come through GNU Guix or distribution packages."
    }
  },
  "tests": {
    "ssllabs": null,
    "observatory": null,
    "internetnl_web": null,
    "internetnl_mail": null,
    "trackers": [],
    "tested_at": "2026-10-01T10:59:35.808Z"
  },
  "last_modified": "2026-10-01T11:14:42Z"
}