Mozilla Firefox is not just a browser anymore. It has become a growing suite of software and services. The latest update to the browser expands its’s myriad privacy features. For example. There’s support for Enhanced Tracking Protection (enabled by Default), updates to Facebook Container, Firefox Monitor, Lockwise and more. This post discusses Firefox Lockwise, Firefox Monitor, Facebook Container, Enhanced Tracking Protection features on Firefox.
New privacy features in Firefox
The makers of the browser seem to be establishing a new standard that puts people’s privacy first. This also underlines the commitment to help people stay safe whenever they use Firefox.
1] Enhanced Tracking Protection
Blocking cookies from known third party trackers in Firefox has remained one of the main objectives of the browser’s developers. As such, a new capability has been added to Firefox called, Enhanced Tracking Protection. The capability makes it harder for companies to track their user’s behavior or activities. Enhanced Tracking Protection is set to ‘On’ by default.
The feature lies hidden and is practically invisible to you. It becomes visible only when you visit a site and see a shield icon in the address bar next to the URL address and the small “i” icon.
Seeing the icon ensures you are safe as Firefox is blocking thousands of companies from your online activity. Users who do not see this feature in their browser can still try it by clicking the menu icon (three horizontal lines) at the top right of your browser and choosing Content Blocking.
Next, they can go to their privacy preferences and click on the Custom gear on the right side. Mark the Cookies checkbox and make sure that “Third-party trackers” is selected.
2] Facebook Container
Facebook Container is a browser add-on that helps you isolate your web activity from Facebook by preventing it from following and tracking you across the web. All you must do is add this browser add-on to Firefox.
When added, the add-on will close your Facebook tabs, delete your Facebook cookies, and log you out of Facebook. So, the next time you navigate to Facebook it will load in a new blue colored browser tab (the “Container”). You will know the blocking is in effect when you see the Facebook Container purple fence badge.
You can log in and use Facebook normally when in the Facebook Container. If you click on a non-Facebook link or navigate to a non-Facebook website in the URL bar, these pages will load outside of the container.
It is important to mention here that the browser add-on doesn’t prevent Facebook from mishandling the data that it already has about you. For example, Facebook will still have access to everything that you do while you are on facebook.com, including your Facebook comments, photo uploads, likes, any data you share with Facebook-connected apps, etc.
3] Firefox Monitor
This is yet another beneficial utility for Firefox users. The free service notifies people when they’ve been part of a data breach. Moreover, obliging to users’ request Firefox has rolled out a central dashboard to help them track and manage multiple email addresses.
Through this Dashboard, victims can get a quick summary of updates for all registered email accounts. They’ll also be able to identify
- Type of emails being monitor
- Number of data breaches that may have exposed your information
- Passwords compromised or leaked across those breaches if any.
4] Firefox Lockwise
Earlier known as Firefox Lockbox, Firefox Lockwise is an experimental feature that gives you access to passwords you’ve saved to Firefox. The feature works by works by syncing logins from the Firefox browser to the Firefox Lockwise app or browser extension/add-on.
To get started, simply sign in to a Firefox browser using the same Firefox Account you use for Firefox Lockwise.
Now, to enable the syncing between Firefox and the Firefox Lockwise app (available for iOS and Android), you’ll need to sign in to your Firefox Account on Firefox for Desktop.
If you already have a Firefox account, make sure you’ve selected the Logins checkbox in Sync Settings.
For iOS
Now, to complete the process of Syncing between Firefox for iOS and the Firefox Lockwise app, you’ll need to sign in to your Firefox Account on Firefox. You’ll find the sign-in screen under Settings (via the gear icon in the main menu). Sign-in and select ‘Sync Now’ to send your saved logins to Firefox Lockwise.
For Android
Similarly, if you have installed the Lockwise App for Android, access it, sign-in and select ‘Sync Now’ to send your saved logins to Firefox Lockwise. Make sure the Logins Firefox item within Sync Settings is checked in order to sync your logins to Firefox Lockwise.
What do you think of these new features?
