Mozilla, privacy focussed company behind open source browser Firefox, now blocks website cookies that can let advertisers and publishers track you across the web. Cookies are small text files that websites can store in the users’ browser — either first-party cookies from the operator of the website or third-party cookies that can come along for the ride from advertising and analytics firms.
Mozilla able to do this by enabling a feature called Enhance Tacking Protection, that they introduced back in 2018. Newly installed versions of Firefox will block trackers by default, Mozilla said. If you already have it installed, Firefox will enable blocking in the coming months automatically. You can disable the feature and opt for different levels of blocking.
“Today, Firefox will be rolling out this feature, Enhanced Tracking Protection, to all new users by default, to make it harder for over a thousand companies to track their every move. Additionally, we’re updating our privacy-focused features including an upgraded Facebook Container extension, a Firefox desktop extension for Lockwise, a way to keep their passwords safe across all platforms, and Firefox Monitor’s new dashboard to manage multiple email addresses,” the company wrote in a blog post late on Tuesday.
There is a war happening between many browser makers. Some browser makers see privacy as a way to stand out against Chrome. But every company is taking steps to present its browser as the best in this category. As from a user perspective, any steps towards securing privacy is welcomed.