Mozilla Firefox - Free, fast and private web browser

What is Mozilla Firefox?

Mozilla Firefox is a free web browser for Windows and Mac operating systems. Released by the Mozilla Foundation in 2003, this open source program has gone through several name changes, upgrades, and updates to become the classy software it is today.

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Features of Mozilla Firefox

Web browser with main advantages

The US company behind Mozilla Suite had a browser running in 2002, but they wanted to escape Netscape's funding restrictions. Originally named Phoenix, the branding changed to Firebird and then Firefox in 2004 to avoid trademark complaints. Since then, Firefox has become one of the most popular browsers on Windows, Mac, Linux and mobile devices.

Originally running on 32-bit systems, Mozilla Firefox updated to the 64-bit MSI package for Windows in 2016. Key advantages include improved download protection, process separation, and specific customizations. possible on a web browser. While you can use the interface bar as a search engine, Google will appear as the default option.

Colorful, attractive themes appeal to most people using the platform, and ease of use and minimal menus are some of Firefox's top advantages. Firefox's speed rivals some of the best browsers available, using less memory and other Windows resources. However, what Firefox lacks are advanced tools for developers.

Firefox and safety protocols

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One of the biggest concerns for anyone using a browser is whether Mozilla Firefox is safe to download and use. In 2019, the German Federal Office for Information Security named Firefox the most secure web browser among browsers available worldwide. Among all the features analyzed, Firefox's list of trusted certificates is on top.

The platform also has strong security protocols for both 32-bit and 64-bit operating systems, protecting PCs from tracker cookies. Certificates that have passed both the Certification Revocation List and Online Certificate Status Protocol verification tests. In addition, Mozilla Firefox also presents full icons and color indicators to know whether a website is encrypted or not.

To further expand Firefox's safety features, the browser has HTTP Strict Transport Security and Same Origin Policy support. There's a password manager to keep all your data safe in one place, and you'll receive regular updates to ensure optimal performance. You can also block and delete cookies and clear your browser history if you wish.

Includes advanced technology for high speed and security

Firefox offers all the web browsing tools any user could need and even more. Its ability to open as many tabs as you want without sacrificing speed and low memory consumption is one of the best things Firefox does for its users. That means page loading is lightning fast, so you can instantly access all the websites you want.

Safe browsing is definitely not a problem with Firefox, thanks to the ability to surf the Internet through private windows, as well as switch to built-in tools to disable tracking in case you're worried about this problem. Additionally, ensuring that your browsing history is not accessed by unauthorized users is an option, and granting the necessary permissions to the websites you are visiting to use your location, camera, and microphone is complete. It's entirely up to you.

Allows you to customize each browsing session and provides synchronization capabilities

Needless to say, you can track downloads, organize bookmarks, and take screenshots without leaving your browser, which once again proves Firefox's focus on productivity. and collaboration. What's more, syncing everything from bookmarks to tabs, history, passwords, add-ons and other settings across multiple devices will help you work without interruption, no matter how you decide to do so. where and when.

Customizing the search options that best meet your needs takes no more than a few seconds and includes choosing a default search engine.

Integrates a wealth of developer tools and resources

There's a bunch of customizations available so that the browser's behavior meets any expectations you might have, and an extra menu is there for you to fill in all sorts of items (e.g. History, Find, Add- ons, Email Link, etc.) you use every day but don't want to display on the toolbar.

When it comes to developers, Firefox welcomes them with a series of tailor-made tools. Some of these options include Toggle Tools, Web Console, Network, Inspector, Performance, Style Editor, Page Source, WebIDE, Developer Toolbar, etc. ensuring that developers can thoroughly test pages , code execution and more.

One thing is for sure, Firefox is one of the top choices when it comes to browsers and is committed to providing a secure, responsive and modern environment for its users. Benefiting from constant updates has made Firefox one of the most reliable applications of its kind, and smooth web browsing is one of the things the browser is most proud of.

Sign up for a Firefox account

While you will get basic services when using a web browser, there are specific benefits to creating a Firefox account. At the top of the list is Firefox Sync, which allows you to access your account data on any Windows device. There's also a Pocket tool that helps save different websites to your reading list based on your interests.

If you enjoy helping other members with program-related issues, having an official account will give you the opportunity to answer help questions. You can also sync notes you've taken for easy access on desktop and mobile devices. For added security, you will be able to monitor any data breach information.

A Firefox account lets you watch content on Fire TV by receiving tabs from other Windows devices. If you have installed add-ons and themes for your web browser, the only way you can save it is through your registered account.

Compare with other Windows browsers

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When it comes to searching the Internet, Google Chrome quickly comes to anyone's mind. It rivals Mozilla Firefox in terms of speed, slightly ahead of the competition when it comes to desktop computing. Mozilla Firefox wins in terms of performance when opening several tabs, because it does not consume as many resources as Chrome.

Microsoft Edge is another leading competitor in the industry, designed and built for the Windows environment. This is the internal web browser that receives updates as the operating system does. However, since Edge is still quite new, it has a long way to go to catch up with Firefox's huge market and security features.

Finally, many businesses have praised Opera as one of the most innovative web browsing platforms. Opera's instant search and advanced tools build on the success of Chrome. Opera's latest features set benchmarks for other services, including cryptocurrency wallets, Web 3 support, and VPN services to enhance online safety.

How to download and install Mozilla Firefox

Downloading the software is very easy. When opening, you will need to indicate where to install the program. You won't be able to sync your files with your Firefox account until the browser is set up.

The main problem is that you will need to spend some time after installation working through all the available options. However, it's best to do so to ensure enhanced security measures are in effect. Once installed and running, you can click the Menu tab to see all the privacy settings and controls.

Browse securely on Windows

Mozilla Firefox has come a long way since its Phoenix and Firebird days. It has strong safety systems to protect user privacy and passwords, cementing its title as the most secure browser in 2019. You can also access additional tools and settings with your registered account.

Among all the features, Mozilla Firefox's performance stands out above the rest. Speed ​​is a result of requiring less resources (unlike other browsers), which gives you a better experience. It also hosts several new updates, such as blocked coder notifications, improved warnings, and extended support release upgrades.

What's new in Firefox 116?

Navigating through browser features needs to be as streamlined as possible, and that's what the latest Firefox update brings. When you open the Mozilla Firefox browser and let it update to version 116, you'll notice some quality improvements.

Mozilla released Firefox 116 on August 1, 2023, which is the first Firefox version that does not support Windows 7, Windows 8, Apple macOS 10.12, 10.13 and 10.14.

The most notable improvement is accessibility and sidebar management. However, this latest update also has other useful features, such as easier switching between your operating system and browser, and additions to Picture-in-Picture mode .

Firefox 116 makes accessing the sidebar more keyboard-friendly

Before patch 116, users could access the sidebar via keyboard commands, thus gaining access to the Bookmarks , History , and Synced Tabs panels . However, navigating between panels and changing sidebar positions is quite complicated, especially for those who like to use keyboard shortcuts.

That's why the latest update introduces a sidebar switcher. Users are now allowed to open the sidebar with Shift+Tab , navigate through menus and panels with the arrow keys, and access specific panels or menus using the Enter key. Currently, all sidebars fully support this feature.

The latest Firefox update will improve performance on Raspberry Pi devices

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Prior to patch 116, Mozilla had issues with video decoding on Raspberry Pi 4 devices, causing high CPU usage. Simply put, watching HD videos or high frame rate videos on Raspberry devices often results in stuttering, lag, and skipped frames.

Raspberry Pi 4 supports hardware-accelerated video decoding and encoding. This in turn requires a Linux kernel API called V4L2-M2M (Video4Linux Memory-to-Memory), which Firefox lacks.

This led Firefox developers to focus on introducing V4L2-M2M support to the ARM build of Firefox. According to Firefox's own bug report, these changes were finally implemented with patch 116.

More improvements and changes in Firefox 116

Firefox introduced enhanced Picture-in-Picture back in patch 113, allowing users to rewind videos and check video duration. With patch 116, Firefox's Picture-in-Picture mode comes with a volume slider.

Another great addition that can significantly increase productivity is the ability to copy any file from your operating system and paste it into Firefox.

Finally, a notable change that many users have requested is the reopening of closed tabs. With patch 116, pressing Ctrl+Shift+T on Windows and Linux or Command+Shift+T on Mac will now reopen the last closed tab or window in order of closure.

If there are no eligible tabs or windows to open, Firefox will only restore the last session you closed.

Advantage

1. Many safety features
2. Synchronize with registered account
3. Easy to install and use
4. Colorful themes and icons
5. Fast and reliable search performance

Defect

1. There are few advanced tools available to developers
2. Account required for advanced settings

Marvin Fry

Update 04 October 2023