Firefox Now Blocks Tracking Cookies for Everyone

Firefox now blocks third-party tracking cookies by default for all users. Mozilla’s web browser will also block cryptominers by default. The idea being to stop malicious entities from following you around the web, therefore making it safer to browse the web.

In June 2019, Firefox started blocking third-party tracking cookies by default for new users. This meant that anyone installing Firefox for the first time was protected by Firefox’s Enhanced Tracking Protection (ETP). Now, this is being expanded to all users.

How Firefox’s Enhanced Tracking Protection Works

Mozilla, the developer behind Firefox, announced the move in a post on the Mozilla Blog. The company called it “a major step in our multi-year effort to bring stronger, usable privacy protections to everyone using Firefox.”

Firefox is blocking trackers and cryptominers using Enhanced Tracking Protection. Currently, around 20 percent of users have ETP enabled. Enabling it by default means 100 percent of users will be protected unless they choose to disable it.

Engage all defenses and get these people a shield! ??

Enhanced Tracking Protection is now on by default for ALL Firefox users.

Check it out: https://t.co/oQItjMVgpS pic.twitter.com/yQBGtH36nI

— Firefox ? (@firefox) September 3, 2019

Enhanced Tracking Protection uses a list of third-party trackers maintained by Disconnect. With ETP enabled, Firefox prevents these cookies from tracking you around the web. You’ll know when ETP is working when you see a shield icon in the Firefox address bar.

As well as blocking cookies, Firefox now also blocks cryptominers (which use your CPU to mine cryptocurrency) by default. Firefox users now also have the option to block fingerprinting scripts as well by switching up from “Standard Mode” to “Strict Mode”.

How to Delete Cookies in Your Web Browser

Enhanced Tracking Protection is enabled by default for all users in Firefox 69. This, the latest version of Firefox, also comes with other improvements such as the ability to block autoplaying videos. You can see all of the changes in the Firefox 69 release notes.

It should be noted that not all cookies are bad. In fact, they can help you see ads you may actually be interested in, which is a good thing. Still, if you hate all ads, period, here’s how to delete cookies on Chrome, Firefox, Edge, and Safari.

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from MakeUseOf
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