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Mozilla to introduce really, really private browsing mode for Firefox

New Firefox mode will stop websites tracking your activity

18 Aug 2015

Mozilla is set to test new private browsing features for Firefox that promise to block websites' abilities to record your behaviour.

The experimental new features are being launched in 'pre-beta' versions of Firefox including Firefox Developer Edition on Windows, Mac and Linux and Firefox Aurora on Android, and could make the browser more secure than rivals' own private browser modes.

"All major browsers offer some form of experience that is labelled 'private' but this is typically intended to solve the 'local' privacy case, namely preventing others on a shared computer from seeing traces of your online activity," Mozilla wrote in a blog post outlining the plans.

"This is a useful solution for many users, but we're experimenting with ways to offer you even more control when they open Private windows.

"Our hypothesis is that when you open a Private Browsing window in Firefox you're sending a signal that you want more control over your privacy than current private browsing experiences actually provide."

Website elements that will be blocked by Mozilla's private Firefox software include those that pull information from social media, analytics and more that collect data surreptitiously from users.

With the new features, Mozilla also wants to make third-party add-ons safer by introducing a verification tool that would put an end to unwanted toolbars, adjusted search settings and malware.

For the future, the blog post mentions plans such as a feature to help parents gain more control of their children's browsing experience, and a full Firefox app for iOS.