Fingerprinting is a type of online tracking that’s more invasive than
ordinary cookie-based tracking. A digital fingerprint is created when a
company makes a unique profile of you based on your computer hardware,
software, add-ons, and even preferences. Your settings like the screen
you use, the fonts installed on your computer, and even your choice of a
web browser can all be used to create a fingerprint.
If you have a commonly used laptop, PC or smartphone, it may be
harder to uniquely identify your device through fingerprinting. However,
the more unique add-ons, fonts, and settings you have, the easier
you’ll be likely to find. Companies can use this unique combination of
information to create your fingerprint. That’s why Firefox blocks known
fingerprinting, so you can still use your favorite extensions, themes
and customization without being followed by ads.
Fingerprinting is bad for the web
The practice of fingerprinting allows you to be tracked for months,
even when you clear your browser storage or use private browsing mode —
disregarding clear indications from you that you don’t want to be
tracked. Despite a near complete agreement between standardsbodies and browservendors that fingerprinting is harmful, its use on the web hassteadilyincreased over the past decade.
Firefox blocks fingerprinting
The latest Firefox browser protects you against fingerprinting by
blocking third-party requests to companies that are known to participate
in fingerprinting. We’ve worked hard to enable this privacy protection
while not breaking the websites you enjoy visiting. (Read more here, if
you want the technical details.)
And it’s not a deep setting you need to dig around to find. In the
latest Firefox browser, fingerprint blocking is the standard, default
setting. Visit your privacy protections dashboard to see how you’re being tracked behind the scenes and how Firefox prevents it.
You probably wouldn’t appreciate someone tracking your moves in real
life. There’s no reason to accept it online. If you don’t already have
Firefox, download and protect yourself from digital fingerprinting.
Firefox blocks fingerprinting by limiting the information it shares with websites, which helps prevent them from creating a unique digital profile of users. This feature is part of its Enhanced Tracking Protection and is designed to enhance user privacy while browsing.
Overview of Fingerprinting
Fingerprinting is a tracking method that collects various details about your device and browser to create a unique profile. This profile can identify you across different websites, even when cookies are blocked or you are using private browsing.
How Firefox Blocks Fingerprinting
Firefox has implemented several measures to combat fingerprinting:
Enhanced Tracking Protection (ETP): This feature blocks known tracking scripts and limits the information shared with websites.
Phase 2 Protections: Introduced in Firefox 145, these protections reduce the number of users who can be uniquely fingerprinted to about 20%. Key measures include:
Adding random noise to images when read by sites.
Blocking local fonts, allowing only standard OS fonts.
Reporting a fixed number of processor cores (always 2).
Limiting screen resolution data.
Availability of Protections
These fingerprinting protections are available in:
Private Browsing Mode
Enhanced Tracking Protection (ETP) Strict Mode
Firefox plans to enable these protections by default in regular browsing after further testing.
User Control
Users can manage fingerprinting protections through Firefox settings. If a website does not function correctly due to these protections, users can disable them for that specific site while keeping them active elsewhere.
By implementing these features, Firefox aims to enhance user privacy and reduce unwanted tracking online.
Source: duckduckgo.com
New Firefox Protections Halve the Number of Trackable Users
Mozilla has implemented fresh fingerprinting protections to prevent hidden trackers from identifying Firefox users.
Mozilla has announced improved browser fingerprinting protections in Firefox 145 to make user tracking more difficult.
The new effort builds on an initiative launched over half a decade ago and tackles the pervasive and hidden tracking technique that sites have been employing to track users even if they block cookies or use private browsing.
To perform fingerprinting, websites collect specific details about the user’s machine, such as time zone, operating system settings, and graphics hardware information, creating an ID that can be tracked across web domains and browsing sessions.
“Having a unique fingerprint means fingerprinters can continuously identify you invisibly, allowing bad actors to track you without your knowledge or consent. Online fingerprinting is able to track you for months, even when you use any browser’s private browsing mode,” Mozilla explains.
Since 2020, Firefox has been blocking known trackers and other practices through Enhanced Tracking Protection (ETP) and Total Cookie Protection, and has constantly improved its anti-fingerprinting protections to minimize the information that can be collected about its users.
The newly announced improvements tackle fingerprinters that are not included in the list of known trackers, Mozilla says.
Recent browser releases have improved these protections by preventing websites from collecting specific hardware information, such as the number of processor cores, taskbar size, or the number of simultaneous fingers a touchscreen supports.
“Our research shows these improvements cut the percentage of users seen as unique by almost half,” Mozilla notes.
To ensure it does not break web usability, Mozilla has implemented a set of layered defenses in Firefox to target the most invasive fingerprinting vectors, while ensuring that websites retain the functionality they require to work normally.
“More aggressive fingerprinting blocking might sound better, but is guaranteed to break legitimate website features. For instance, calendar, scheduling, and conferencing tools legitimately need your real time zone,” Mozilla explains.
Firefox users who browse in private mode or use the ETP strict mode are benefiting from these smart privacy protections that work without the need for additional extensions or configurations.
Chrome, Edge, and Firefox are more bloated than ever, with AI are other features most of us don't want. This free tool is your ticket back to the good old days.
ZDNET's key takeaways
Just The Browser strips your browser of unwanted features.
Just The Browser can be used with Chrome, Edge, and Firefox.
This tool is free to use and open-source.
I
do not want AI in my web browser. I just don't. I also don't want
companies collecting information about me, or sponsored content and
product integrations. All those bits make me want to pull my hair out.
I like my privacy and want to browse, you know, the old-fashioned way.
I
do use AI (on occasion), but only locally-installed AI and only for
specific purposes (such as learning Python or researching a topic when I
don't want to use a standard search engine).
I
just want my tools to do what they're supposed to do and nothing more.
Bells and whistles are all fine and good, but when they start getting in
the way of efficiency and effectiveness, they become a problem.
That's why, when I heard about Just The Browser, I hoped I could jettison the cruft and get back to a more focused and efficient experience in my browser.
What is Just The Browser?
Just
the browser strips your web browser of the things you don't want, such
as AI and telemetry. It's free, easy to use, and works with the three
most popular browsers (Chrome, Edge, and Firefox).
I was skeptical at first, but after looking through the project's GitHub repository, I was convinced that Just The Browser was worth a try.
Essentially,
what Just The Browser does is apply configuration files to the browsers
mentioned above, stripping them of unwanted features.
OK,
so the reality is that you can manually disable those features in the
browser configuration. For example, you could open Microsoft Edge,
navigate to edge://flags, and comb through the massive list of options
to disable what you don't want.
Or,
you can simply download a script, run it, walk through the prompts, and
you're done. It's fast, it's easy, and it's effective.
I kicked the tires of Just The Browser and came away impressed. Here's how it went for me.
First, I want to talk about Edge, because I ran that from a clean installation, so I hadn't made any changes to the OS.
Living on the stripped-down Edge
I don't normally use Edge, so first I had to install it. During installation, I enabled Copilot Mode
to see how effective Just The Browser would be. After Edge was set up, I
checked to make sure Copilot was there and then closed it.
Then I downloaded the necessary script, which can be found using one of these links -- Google Chrome, Microsoft Edge, and Firefox.
With the script downloaded to my Downloads directory, I double-clicked
it and followed the directions (which are very simple). Depending on
whether you're using MacOS or Windows (there's no Linux option), the
instructions will be different.
On
MacOS, after you've double-clicked the script, you open System Settings
and go to General > Device Management, where you'll see a listing
for the browser in question. Double-click that listing, and you'll see
all the features Just The Browser disables (it's more than you think).
You can see what Just The Browser does in MacOS.
Screenshot by Jack Wallen/ZDNET
You can't change any of these settings, so just click OK.
With that taken care of, I opened Edge and found it to be remarkably stripped of Copilot.
However,
not all was perfect. Although Edge was stripped of Copilot mode, I
could open a new tab and see the AI box right there. After looking
through the Just The Browser site, I found a specific list of what it
removes, which is:
Features that use generative AI models
Edge or tab group suggestions in Firefox
Price tracking, coupon codes, loan integrations, etc.
Suggested articles on the New Tab Page, sponsored site suggestions, etc.
Pop-ups or other prompts that ask you to change the default web browser
Browser welcome screens and related prompts to automatically import data from other web browsers
Data collection by web browsers
Features that allow web browsers to start with the operating system without explicit permission
OK,
that's a fine list, but what I experienced didn't match the list. With
Edge on MacOS, I found the Copilot query box and suggestions were still
on the New Tab Page.
The Start Page still contains some AI features.
Screenshot by Jack Wallen/ZDNET
This is disappointing.
However,
combing through the edge://policy/ page makes it clear that Just The
Browser stripped Edge of a lot of features, and the Copilot mode is no
more, so I call that a big win.
Stripping off the chrome
Next,
came Chrome. I'd already had Chrome installed, so I opted to see what
this tool would do. This time around, I ran the test on Linux. The steps
for this are a bit different. Here's what I had to do:
Create a new directory with the command - sudo mkdir /etc/opt/chrome/policies/managed.
Move the config file into the new directory with - sudo cp ./managed_policies.json /etc/opt/chrome/policies/managed.
Open Chrome.
Prior to running the steps above, Chrome included the AI Mode in the URL bar.
Chrome with AI on board.
Jack Wallen/ZDNET
The first thing I noticed was that the AI Mode had indeed been removed.
The AI Mode has been stripped away.
Jack Wallen/ZDNET
I dug a bit deeper and found there was zero indication that AI was found anywhere on the browser.
Good job.
What about telemetry?
But what about the claim that Just The Browser removes telemetry? That's a much trickier bit.
After
running Just The Browser, I opened Chrome's settings and noticed that
there were several sync options still enabled, such as "Make searches
and browsing better" and "Improve search suggestions." Those two bits
alone send data to Google, so it seems to me that Just The Browser isn't
as good at stopping telemetry with Chrome, but it's very good at
disabling AI functionality. Given that you can manually disable some of
those telemetry options, I still think Just The Browser is a worthy
tool.
In
the end, if you don't want to get rid of your default browser but do
want to jettison features that could invade your privacy or use your
data for third-party purposes, I would recommend giving Just The Browser
a try.
A free useful tool for drawing or marking up web pages for teaching or online presentations, is Page Marker. See the below link where to get it in the Chrome Extensions store.
Draw or highlight on any website in real time. Add text, lines, and shapes. Move, undo, or redo anything you draw.
Draw on any website, add text, add lines, and highlight! With Page Marker, you can use your mouse or touchscreen to draw on the web or on PDFs and save it to your computer. Paint, draw, and mark on any webpage or website.
Instructions:
1. Click the puzzle piece-shaped extensions icon in the top right corner of your browser. Pin the Page Marker red marker icon for ease of access.
2. Begin drawing on any webpage with your mouse or touchscreen.
3. To change the color of the marker, click on the color selecting box.
For Firefox, Draw on Page is a similar extension that allows drawing and highlighting a web page:
Draw on Page is a browser add-on that lets you draw on any website. Please first navigate to a website, then press on the toolbar button to activate the add-on. Once the interface appears on the page, please choose the desired mode.
Currently, there are two modes available, Drawing Mode and Brushing Mode. Brushing mode is for drawing with mouse or pen (touch-enabled devices) on the page. You can choose a pencil, circle, or spray brush in this mode. There is also an option to change the color and width of the brushing tool from the UI. The other mode is for drawing shapes (Drawing Mode). When you select this mode, five different primitive shapes are available to choose from the UI. Once you click on a shape, it will be added to the screen.
You can drag and drop, remove, resize, or rotate and zoom objects on the screen. To print the page with your drawings on it, please press on the print button at the top left corner of the screen. Once you are done with the drawing, please close the interface by pressing on the close button at the top left corner or pressing on the toolbar button once. Before closing, you can save your drawings by pressing on the - Save - button at the bottom of the UI.
Note: this extension uses fabric.js (https://github.com/fabricjs/fabric.js) open-source JavaScript project for drawing on the HTML5 canvas element.
To disable AI features in Firefox, you have a few options depending on whether you want to just hide the visual clutter or completely deactivate the backend settings.
1. The "Quick Fix": Hide the Sidebar & Shortcut
If you just want to remove the AI Chatbot icon from your sidebar or the right-click menu:
Sidebar: Open the sidebar, click the Settings (gear) icon at the bottom, and uncheck AI chatbot.
Settings Menu: Go to Settings > Firefox Labs and uncheck AI Chatbot. This will also remove the prompt suggestions that appear when you highlight text.
2. The "Deep Fix": Using about:config (Recommended)
To fully disable the underlying machine learning (ML) and AI modules, you can toggle the internal flags.
Warning: Be careful in this menu, as changing the wrong setting can affect browser stability.
Type about:config in your address bar and press Enter. Click "Accept the Risk and Continue."
Search for the following terms and double-click them to set them to false:
browser.ml.enable (The master switch for machine learning features)
browser.ml.chat.enabled (Disables the chatbot integration)
browser.ml.chat.shortcuts (Disables the Ctrl + Alt + X shortcut)
browser.ml.linkPreview.enabled (Disables AI-powered link previews)
browser.tabs.groups.smart.enabled (Disables AI tab grouping)
3. The Future "AI Kill Switch"
Mozilla has officially announced a dedicated "AI Kill Switch" coming in Q1 2026 (expected in Firefox version 147 or later). This will be a single toggle in the main Settings menu designed to completely opt-out of all AI-driven features with one click, without needing to use about:config.
4. Privacy Alternative: Firefox ESR
If you prefer a version of Firefox that doesn't include experimental features like AI by default, consider switching to Firefox ESR (Extended Support Release). It is intended for organizations and focus purely on stability and security updates, often omitting the "trendy" features added to the standard version.
Chrome’s new Split View feature allows me to
have two tabs open simultaneously, side by side. We first heard about it
at the beginning of the year, with users able to test it out in the
browser by enabling a Chrome flag a few months ago.
It
looks like the feature is now live, as it popped up in my browser a few
days ago. I’ve been testing it out and am pleased to say it fits into
my workflow perfectly. Despite being a simple feature, it has become my
favorite Chrome productivity hack by far, helping me get stuff done faster.
It fits perfectly
I
use split-screen mode on Windows for the better part of my workday, as I
usually have two windows open side by side. I have a browser in one and
an app of choice in the other. The apps I use daily include Notion, Slack, Asana, Airtable, and a bunch of others.
However,
I sometimes need two browser tabs open at the same time, and here’s
where the problem lies. The only way to do it previously with Chrome was
to have two browser windows open simultaneously and then snap them
together in Windows so they were side by side. It’s not the most optimal
solution since it creates additional clutter and causes an issue
whenever I want to open a browser tab in full screen. I then have to
expand one of the browser windows and resize it back when I want two of
them side by side again. First-world problems, I know, but it’s a pain
when you have to do that multiple times throughout a workday. I could
technically open up a third browser window that’s full screen at all
times, but that would just add to the clutter, so it’s not a better
solution for me.
Chrome’s new Split View feature makes things easier, as I can just
snap two tabs together with a few clicks. I can easily reverse their
position, so the left one goes right and the right one left, or make one
bigger and the other smaller by clicking and dragging. What’s even
better is that I can open a new tab that takes up the whole screen and
then switch back to split mode with ease.
The
whole thing works flawlessly and looks a lot better than snapping two
browser windows together, as there’s no ugly separation between the two.
There’s separation, of course, but it looks a lot more seamless.
Snapping two windows together also meant looking at two address bars and
duplicates of my bookmarks and extensions — a problem Chrome’s new
Split View feature solves.
As an Editor here at Android Authority,
the primary reason I have two tabs open side by side is so I can write
or edit a post in WordPress in one tab and see the preview of the post
in the second, making sure there are no formatting or other issues.
It’s
also great when doing research. When I’m reading a press release that’s
full of various links, for example, I can open those links in the
second tab so the press release is always in my view. That way, I don’t
have to switch back and forth between tabs. These are just two of the
many examples that illustrate the power of split-screen mode within
Chrome.
For me, Chrome’s Split View
feature allows me to focus more, and it speeds up my workflow. It’s a
stark difference to the old way of doing things, which quickly becomes a
chore and a distraction. It’s quite interesting how a small feature
like this can improve my workday so much. Thanks, Google.
So, how does it work exactly?
I’ll
guide you through the process of how to set it up and use it if you
want to take it for a spin. First things first, though: the feature may
not be available yet since it looks like it’s a gradual rollout. To
check, open a tab in Chrome and then right-click on it. If you see a
“New split view with current tab” option, then it’s available for you.
If you don’t, you’ll have to turn on a Chrome flag to try it out until
it officially makes its way to your browser. Here’s how to do it:
Type chrome://flags/#side-by-side into the address bar.
Select Enable from the drop-down menu next to the Split View option.
Click the Relaunch button that shows up.
The feature should now be available to you. To use it, right-click on
a tab and select the “New split view with current tab” option, and then
go ahead and open the website of choice in the second tab that pops up.
If you have multiple tabs already open, you’ll be able to select one of
them with just a click, which speeds up the process.
Once
Split View is activated, you can click the blue Split View icon up top,
which will present you with a few options. You can close the left or
the right tab, reverse them, or separate them with just a click. The
default size ratio between the two is 50/50, but you can drag and drop
the UI to give more space to one or the other.
And
if you want to change either of the two websites you have opened, click
on either window and just type in a new URL. It’s simple.
Is Chrome the only one?
While
I’m happy that this feature is now available, the truth is that Chrome
is late to the party. Several other browsers already have this,
including Edge, Vivaldi, and even Brave, while other browsers like Firefox are still testing it out.
So
if the feature hasn’t rolled out to your Chrome browser yet, or you are
just looking to make the switch away from Google, there are several
competitors that have this feature. Vivaldi’s implementation seems like
the most advanced one since you can split the tabs vertically and
horizontally. You can also have more than just two tabs open, which is
what Chrome limits you to.
I enjoy both browsers but was curious what are the major differences between the Chromium and Ungoogled Chromium? Here is what chatgpt provided:
Here’s a clear comparison between Chromium and Ungoogled Chromium — two browsers that look similar on the surface but have very different goals and privacy behaviors:
Provide a clean, open base for Chrome and other Chromium-based browsers (Brave, Edge, Opera, etc.).
Remove all Google web services and tracking features from Chromium.
🔒 2. Privacy and Google Integration
Aspect
Chromium
Ungoogled Chromium
Google connections
Still includes Google APIs and background services (Sync, Safe Browsing, etc.).
All Google web service calls removed or disabled.
Default search
Google Search.
No default; user must set their own.
Autocomplete / Prediction
Connects to Google servers for suggestions.
Disabled by default; no network calls for suggestions.
Crash reporting / Metrics
Sends optional usage and crash data to Google.
Removed completely.
Sync with Google Account
Supported.
Disabled/removed.
⚙️ 3. Functionality
Aspect
Chromium
Ungoogled Chromium
Extensions
Full Chrome Web Store support.
Chrome Web Store access must be manually enabled.
Automatic updates
Yes (depends on OS).
No built-in auto-updater — must update manually.
Media codecs
Includes support for proprietary codecs (in some builds).
May exclude proprietary codecs (like H.264, AAC) unless manually added.
Google Sync / Translate
Works out of the box.
Removed for privacy.
🛡️ 4. Security
Aspect
Chromium
Ungoogled Chromium
Sandboxing
Yes
Yes (same as Chromium).
Privacy enhancements
Minimal (depends on settings).
Enhanced — all connections to Google disabled.
Update frequency
Fast and automatic.
Manual — user must update often to stay secure.
⚡ 5. Who Should Use Which
Type of User
Recommended Browser
Regular user who wants Chrome-like experience without Chrome branding
Chromium
Privacy-focused or advanced user willing to manage updates manually
Ungoogled Chromium
Developer building or testing Chrome-based apps
Chromium
🧠Summary
Chromium → Open-source, but still “Google-connected.”
Ungoogled Chromium → Privacy-first, but less convenient.
Source: https://chatgpt.com/
Key Features of UnGoogled Chromium
Ungoogled Chromium doesn’t try to reinvent the wheel; instead, it refines it. Here are its standout features:
No Google Dependency
Every trace of Google’s ecosystem is removed, including Safe Browsing, Cloud Messaging, and URL tracking.
Runtime requests to Google domains are blocked by substituting them with non-existent alternatives. Think of it as the browser equivalent of ghosting Google.
Granular Privacy Controls
Offers a comprehensive range of manual privacy and control tweaks through chrome://flags and command-line switches.
Features like disabling omnibox URL formatting and intrusive DNS requests give users unparalleled transparency.
Resource-Friendly Design
Without the background telemetry and Google’s binaries, the browser is remarkably lightweight and responsive. Tasks like loading complex web pages or streaming videos are done faster compared to heavier browsers like Firefox.
Extension Support Without Google Accounts
Installing extensions might seem tricky at first, but the Chromium Web Store extension makes it seamless. Drag, drop, and you’re good to go, no Google login required.
Cross-Platform Compatibility
With support for Linux, macOS, and Windows, it’s a powerful and attractive option to a diverse range of users. Whether through distro-specific builds or universal package managers like Flatpak, Ungoogled Chromium is accessible almost everywhere.
Enhanced Transparency
Binary pruning makes sure that only alternatives provided by users replace pre-compiled binaries. This way, there are no unexpected surprises in the code.
Pros and Cons of UnGoogled Chromium
Pros:
Privacy First: Removes telemetry and blocks runtime requests, which gives users peace of mind.
Speed Demon: Stripped of unnecessary processes, it feels faster and more efficient than many alternatives.
Customizability: The wealth of flags and switches ensures you can tailor the browser to your specific needs.
Open Source: Transparent development encourages trust and encourages community contributions.
Versatile: Runs well on a variety of platforms with numerous installation options.
Cons:
DIY Setup: Many features require manual activation, which could be challenging for beginners.
Sacrifices Convenience: Features like automatic syncing or seamless extension updates are missing without extra effort.
Privacy Shortcomings by Default: It doesn’t compete with privacy-first browsers like Brave or Firefox until additional flags are configured.
Reduced Functionality: Some Google-dependent features like Safe Browsing and automatic formatting are intentionally disabled, which might displease certain users.
Common Use Cases of UnGoogled Chromium
Privacy Enthusiasts: Perfect for users seeking to minimize their digital footprint without sacrificing speed.
Developers and Testers: A solid choice for testing web apps in a clean, Google-free Chromium environment.
Performance Seekers: Its lightweight design makes it ideal for older systems or users frustrated by resource-intensive browsers.
Privacy-Minded Casual Users: Those who like Chrome’s interface but dislike its data-hungry nature will feel at home here.
Firefox comes with a range of features you might never use—and may even find annoying. While some nuisances can be turned off in the regular settings menu, others require adjustments on the about:config page—and that approach is often quicker too. Here are a few settings I’ve turned off using it.
Stop Auto-Playing Media
Do you hate it when videos or audio start playing without your consent the moment you open a website? This not only interrupts your browsing but also eats bandwidth and slows down page loading. If you want your browsing to stay distraction-free, Firefox lets you disable the autoplay of media, both video and audio, through the about:config preferences.
To adjust how Firefox handles media playback, type about:config in the browser’s address bar and open the preferences page. Then, type media.autoplay.default in the search box to locate this preference. Click the pencil icon next to it and change the value from 1 to 5, which instantly prevents videos and audio from playing automatically.
Should you wish to revert this change, you can return here anytime and set the value from 5 to 1 again.
Disable Search Suggestions
When you type something into the address bar, Firefox shows search suggestions pulled directly from your default search engine. While this can save a few keystrokes by predicting what you’re about to type, it also means your data is sent to that engine before you even hit enter—a potential privacy risk. I personally find this concerning.
On top of that, suggestions can become a distraction, pulling you toward unrelated queries instead of the task you actually opened the browser for. That’s why I prefer keeping this feature turned off. To turn it off, go to the preferences page, type browser.search.suggest.enabled, and click the switch icon to set it to False.
Get Rid of Extra Animations
Firefox includes built-in animations and effects like tab fade-ins or menu slide-outs, which give the interface a smooth, polished look. While these visuals improve aesthetics, they can also slow down navigation. On lower-end devices, especially, such animations can put extra strain on hardware, making browsing feel sluggish.
For a faster, more responsive experience where pages, menus, and tabs appear instantly, you should turn these animations off. To do this, open the about:config page in Firefox, search for toolkit.cosmeticAnimations.enabled, and double-click it to switch the value from True to False. Once disabled, you’ll notice a clear improvement in performance.
Turn Off Telemetry and Data Collection
Like most browsers and operating systems, Firefox collects some diagnostic and usage data, often referred to as telemetry. It does this to troubleshoot existing bugs, improve the performance of the browser, and add new features.
Although it's claimed that this data is anonymized, I'm not comfortable sharing details about my browsing habits. If you're a privacy-conscious user, you should turn off this feature to gain better control over the data leaving your system.
Additionally, check the toolkit.telemetry.server preference. If it contains any string, clear it out. This ensures Firefox no longer sends tracking data.
Stop Prefetching of Links
Firefox has a link prefetching feature that preloads pages in the background before you click them, allowing destination pages to open more quickly. While this can save time, the downside is that it uses extra bandwidth and system resources, which may slow down both your browsing experience and your device.
It can also trigger unwanted connections to sites you never planned to visit, and in the process, those servers might log your IP address even though you didn’t actually open the page. To improve your browsing privacy, go to the about:config page and search for network.prefetch-next, then double-click it and change its value to False.
Once disabled, Firefox will only load pages when you actually click on them, helping conserve bandwidth and boosting performance by cutting out unnecessary background tasks.
Disable Web Notifications and Push Services
Like other browsers, Firefox often lets websites request permission to send you push notifications, such as news alerts or promotional messages. If you accidentally allow an unknown site, you may end up with constant spam and distractions. These background push services also consume system resources and create potential privacy risks.
To block these requests, open the about:config page, search for the dom.webnotifications.enabled preference, and switch its status to False. This stops Firefox from keeping background connections for push services, making your browsing experience faster, lighter, and free of interruptions.
Thanks to the flexibility Firefox offers, you have the freedom to tailor it into the browser you truly want. Its config settings let you minimize distractions, remove unnecessary extras, and focus on features that make browsing faster and more efficient. If you find the browser annoying, apply these tweaks—you’ll notice the difference just as I did.
