Firefox 42 Arrives With Tracking Protection, Tab Audio Indicators

An anonymous reader writes: Mozilla today launched Firefox 42 for Windows, Mac, Linux, and Android. Notable additions to the browser include tracking protection, tab audio indicators, and background link opening on Android. The new private browsing mode goes further than just not saving your browsing history (read: porn sites) — the added tracking protection means Firefox also blocks website elements (ads, analytics trackers, and social share buttons) that could track you while you're surfing the web, and it works on all four platforms. The feature is almost like a built-in ad blocker, though it's really closer to browser add-ons like Ghostery and Privacy Badger because ads that don't track you are allowed through.

Comments

Firefox marketshare continues to decline

[QuietLagoon]

It looks like the current marketshare is under 12% and in a decline.

Re:Firefox marketshare continues to decline

[danbob999]

Who cares? It's still the best choice if you value privacy and don't like ads.

Re:Firefox marketshare continues to decline

[Sir Foxx]

I don't know how it seems everyone on slashdot has a problem with FF, when mine never crashes, ever and this is with 20 extensions running on it. What does chrome, chromium or any of the others offer better? None has the wide range of privacy, no tracking, etc extensions that FF has. We all know Chrome is spyware and now we've found out Chromium isn't better. Opera is decent but still not as customizable as FF. Palemoon is good if x64 means anything too you. I just don't see anything else better since nothing compares on having extensions running to protect your privacy than FF.

Windows 64bit stable

[Anonymous Coward]

The builds are available for anyone in the know. Just not yet directed from download page.

Waiting on partner before it gets publicised.

Re:Stop!

[Fire_Wraith]

I dunno, an indicator for which tab is playing that stupid audio is something I can definitely use.

Re:Why does every site try to open video now?

[nmb3000]

Yeah, audio indicators are a good first step, but can we just block all auto-playing videos outright?

You can try the about:config setting media.autoplay.enabled, but that seemingly-benign feature has it's own long sad story. As of version 41 this setting finally applies to HTML5 video, preventing the video from playing unless there's been "user interaction", but it makes some sites behave a little oddly (for example, YouTube thinks the video is playing even though it's not).