Mozilla has launched the latest version of its web browser with Firefox 42 for Windows, Mac, Linux and Android. The new version brings along a slew of safety upgrades such as Tracking Protection along with tab audio indicator and integration with Android.
One of the most hyped features is its Tracking Protection in private browsing, whose core function is to block trackers that continuously monitor a user’s web searches and eventually spam them with ads. The feature is essentially a built-in ad blocker, very similar to the likes of other browser add-ons such as Ghostery and Privacy Badger.
“With the release of Tracking Protection in Firefox Private Browsing we are leading the industry by giving you control over the data that third parties receive from you online. No other browser’s Private Browsing mode protects you the way Firefox does—not Chrome, not Safari, not Microsoft Edge or Internet Explorer,” said Nick Nguyen, vice president at Mozilla in an official blog.
Firefox 42 also brings along a rather easy-to-use interface as all privacy and safety control features are housed in the ‘Control Center’. To try out the private browsing mode, just head over to hamburger menu icon on the top right corner of the browser, and just click on the New Private icon to start a new browsing session that activates the Tracking Protection feature.
Similarly on Android, users can safely browse the web by tapping the Firefox Menu button and then hit New Private Tab.
Besides these useful privacy features, Firefox 42 also brings new tab audio indicators on desktops. This feature displays a speaker icon if a particular tab is making sounds, which lets users mute a tab without having to switch by clicking on the speaker icon. While Android users will now be able to open links via Android apps in the background.
Hence, with these new features Firefox 42 certainly takes browser privacy a notch or two higher, along with performance improvements with faster load times and reduction in data usage.
