

Using this list, Firefox is able to block scripts before they load, and given Disconnect periodically updates it with new entries, Firefox users are technically provided with up-to-date protections all the time.įingerprinting has been added to the Standard level in the Firefox Enhanced Tracking Protection feature. Mozilla says its fingerprinting protection is powered by Disconnect, the provider of a comprehensive list of companies that are known for turning to such trackers online. Then, it blocks them from collecting data that is typically revealed by a network request, including here the IP address or the user agent.
#Firefox for mac blocking everything install#
Mozilla Firefox 72, which is now available for download, protects users against fingerprinting by default, so once you install this latest version, the new feature is automatically enabled on the device.įirst and foremost, Firefox blocks JavaScript third-party trackers that attempt to collect information about the device, such as browser and operating system details. Until recently, that is, as modern browsers now come with anti-fingerprinting systems that take care of everything without the need for any kind of user input. Organizations across the world agree that fingerprinting shouldn’t happen, but at the same time, blocking scripts without breaking down sites has been quite a challenge.

In some cases, fingerprinting leads to profiles being stored for many months after their creation, and sometimes they are saved even if you turn to features that are supposed to boost your privacy, such as private browsing. Obviously, not everyone agrees to give up on this data when browsing the web, so such info is often collected without users to even know about it.įingerprint scripts are in many places on the web, and unless you run advanced protections to block them, your data is collected and then stored for longer than you can think. This profile contains super-detailed information about you, including not only the browser that you use, the operating system resolution, and things like that, but also fonts, screen size, and other unique data that is then used to make a difference between your profile and another. In essence a type of tracking, fingerprinting comes down to an entire profile that ad companies create about you. Your data is worth more than you can imagine, and this is why advertisers turn to all kinds of tactics to collect information about you, including a method that is known as fingerprinting.
