Firefox Will Begin Blocking Trackers By Default

Every time you go online you’re tracked in some way. Usually by ad companies who are trying to find out more about you in order to serve you ads you’re likely to click on. Every website you visit and every link you click is tracked by browser cookies.

Firefox will now block third-party trackers by default. This is thanks to a new feature called Enhanced Tracking Protection (ETP) that was previously only available in private windows. Going forward, it will be the default setting for everyone using Firefox—It’s important to note that online trackers aren’t necessarily a bad thing. Without them, ad companies will serve you the least useful ads imaginable. With them, they’re at least able to zero in on the products and services that interest you—Still, most people still see third-party trackers as a bad thing. Which is why Firefox is rolling out Enhanced Tracking Protection.

The privacy protection arrived in Firefox 67.0.1.

“When it comes to privacy, default settings matter, ” Firefox product lead Peter Dolanjski wrote in a blog post. “We hope that the actions we are taking can ultimately compel change in the industry.”

“Because we are modifying the fundamental way in which cookies and browser storage operate, we’ve been very rigorous in our testing and rollout plans to ensure our users are not experiencing unforeseen usability issues,” Dolanjski wrote

How to Block Trackers in Firefox

Enhanced Tracking Protection is a new Firefox feature which prevents a long list of third-party trackers from tracking you. Mozilla, the developer behind Firefox, is using the list maintained by Disconnect, which currently runs to more than 1,000 trackers.

Once Enhanced Tracking Protection has been enabled, these trackers will be prevented from tracking you. From today, anyone installing Firefox for the first time will have ETP enabled by default. Existing users will follow suit in the coming months.

To enable Enhanced Tracking Protection early, open the Settings menu, then click on Privacy and Security. Under Content Blocking, click on the Custom option, tick the Cookies box, and make sure “Third-party trackers” is selected. And then you’re all set.

For now, the blocking will automatically occur for new users who download the latest Firefox release. You’ll notice the feature when you go to the browser’s preferences and check “Content Blocking.”—It will roll out for existing users in the coming months.