Firefox Users – Upgrade to Firefox 59 for Privacy Improvements

Firefox 59, the latest version of Mozilla’s popular web browser, has several privacy and security improvements that users may be interested in.  Our standard recommendation is always to use the newest browser versions, so upgrading to Firefox 59 should be a no-brainer.

Firefox 59 had added an option to block the most serious privacy concerns in a new Settings menu.  You can find the available options by opening the Settings menu (the “stack of pancakes” or three horizontal lines), selecting Preferences, and then opening the Privacy And Security panel.

Privacy improvements include:

  • Website notification pop-up blocking.  To enable this feature, check the box marked “Block new requests asking to allow notifications”, accessed through Tools > Options > Permissions.
  • Microphone and camera blocking.  Firefox will block the ability of a website to turn on your camera or microphone.
  • Blocking location data.  Another creepy intrusion, namely location information, will also be blocked in Firefox 59.
  • Improvements in Privacy Browsing Mode.  Firefox 59 also now plugs leaky referrers (aka cross-site tracking) in Private Browsing Mode.  A terrifying example of leaky referrer headers is  the US government’s healthcare.gov website (the sign-up system for the US Affordable Care Act) which could leak information about whether users were pregnant or a smoker; as well as their age, salary and zip code.  See the example below from Naked Security.
Referer: https://www.healthcare.gov/see-plans/85601/results/?
county=04019&age=40&smoker=1&pregnant=1&zip=85601&state=AZ&income=35000

If you currently user Firefox, make sure you have the new version.  You can check by clicking the menu button, click Help and select About Firefox. The About Firefox window will appear. The version number is listed underneath the Firefox name.

Naked Security reported Firefox has also released a security add-in for Facebook, too.

“Mozilla has released a new extension called the Facebook container extension for its Firefox browser. In Mozilla’s own words, the extension “prevents Facebook from tracking you around the web.” Essentially, it keeps all Facebook activity within the browser tab where you are actively looking at Facebook, and it slaps Facebook’s hand if it tries to do anything outside of that tab.”

I’m beginning to think I need to change browsers again.

More information:

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About the Author:

I am a cybersecurity and IT instructor, cybersecurity analyst, pen-tester, trainer, and speaker. I am an owner of the WyzCo Group Inc. In addition to consulting on security products and services, I also conduct security audits, compliance audits, vulnerability assessments and penetration tests. I also teach Cybersecurity Awareness Training classes. I work as an information technology and cybersecurity instructor for several training and certification organizations. I have worked in corporate, military, government, and workforce development training environments I am a frequent speaker at professional conferences such as the Minnesota Bloggers Conference, Secure360 Security Conference in 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, the (ISC)2 World Congress 2016, and the ISSA International Conference 2017, and many local community organizations, including Chambers of Commerce, SCORE, and several school districts. I have been blogging on cybersecurity since 2006 at http://wyzguyscybersecurity.com
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