14 DAY TRIAL // Mozilla has just released Firefox 86 for all supported desktop platforms, and since it’s a major update, there are several notable improvements this time.
The first of them is called Total Cookie Protection, and it’s a new feature that blocks websites from sharing cookies with each other, thus guaranteeing better privacy and blocking tracking from site to site.
“Our new feature, Total Cookie Protection, works by maintaining a separate “cookie jar” for each website you visit. Any time a website, or third-party content embedded in a website, deposits a cookie in your browser, that cookie is confined to the cookie jar assigned to that website, such that it is not allowed to be shared with any other website,” Mozilla explains.
“In addition, Total Cookie Protection makes a limited exception for cross-site cookies when they are needed for non-tracking purposes, such as those used by popular third-party login providers. Only when Total Cookie Protection detects that you intend to use a provider, will it give that provider permission to use a cross-site cookie specifically for the site you’re currently visiting. Such momentary exceptions allow for strong privacy protection without affecting your browsing experience.”
More security improvements on desktop platforms
In addition, Firefox 86 also comes with support for opening multiple videos at the same time in PiP mode, as well as an improved printing functionality, with a new UI design and better integration with the printing settings available on the computer.
Mozilla says this update also improves performance and stability, while for Canadian users, it enables credit card management and auto-fill features.
Of course, there are several other improvements and bug fixes, as well as security patches that address the known vulnerabilities in the browser. For example, on Linux and Android, this new version enables the protection to mitigate the stack clash attack.