ZDNET’s key takeaways
- Firefox Focus is a safety and privacy-focused cell browser.
- This browser affords a minimal UI and most privateness options.
- Firefox Focus is on the market for each Android and iOS.
I’ve run the gamut of web browsers on Android, and each time I believe I’ve discovered “the one,” I uncover a motive to not use it. That motive may be a cluttered UI, a scarcity of choices, or not sufficient safety.
Lately, nevertheless, I got here throughout a browser that checked all of the packing containers… particularly inside the realm of privateness and safety. No, it is not Tor or Courageous, it is Firefox Focus, which is ironic given I’d only recently sworn off Firefox browsers. Nonetheless, Firefox Focus is sweet sufficient to make me overlook that declare.
Firefox Focus has been round for a bit and is a mobile-only browser that goals to be a easy and personal internet browser. It delivers on that promise.
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Think about stripping a browser to its naked bones and leaving simply the options essential to render pages correctly (and rapidly) and stay personal and safe. That is what Firefox Focus is. The UI does not embrace all of the finery present in different browsers (the beginning web page affords a URL bar, a menu button, and the keyboard when you faucet the URL bar). That is it.
There are not any bookmarks, steered websites, information, or another bloated options you would possibly discover on different browsers. Firefox Focus is lean and able to do the one factor browsers ought to do… render pages securely and privately.
Firefox Focus is free and might be present in each the Google App Store and the Apple App Store.
What makes Firefox Focus so particular?
As you have most probably surmised, Firefox Focus is all about privateness.
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Should you open the Settings web page, you may discover solely 5 sections: Basic, Privateness and Safety, Search, Superior, and Mozilla. Faucet the Basic part, and you may see solely three choices: Theme, Language, and Make Firefox Focus default browser. It is not till you faucet the Privateness and Safety part that you simply lastly see what this browser is actually all about.
There are many choices within the Privateness & Safety part to make sure you’re getting essentially the most out of Firefox Focus.
Jack Wallen/ZDNET
Within the Privateness and Safety part, you may discover the flexibility to dam:
- Ad trackers
- Analytic trackers
- Social trackers
- Different content material trackers
- Net fonts (aka distant fonts)
- JavaScript
- Cookies
- Probably harmful websites
After which there’s the flexibility to make use of a fingerprint to unlock the app, a stealth mode, HTTPS-only mode, and a data-usage ping (to assist Mozilla estimate lively customers).
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As for engines like google, Firefox Focus defaults to Google, however you’ll be able to simply change it to DuckDuckGo or add one other search engine.
How does Firefox Focus carry out?
That is the large query you most likely wish to learn about. Effectively, I am completely happy to report that Firefox Focus is quick. Actually, I do not bear in mind seeing a cell browser that might render pages this rapidly. That characteristic alone ought to have your curiosity piqued. Once you add the blazing render pace to the privateness and security measures (together with the minimal UI), you get an internet browser that’s preferrred for cell units.
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I imagine there are two explanation why Firefox Focus can render pages so rapidly: it is stripped of so many further options, and the blocking options. As a result of Firefox Focus can block a lot, these parts aren’t given an opportunity to operate, which might assist in dashing up rendering. Firefox Focus is really a light-weight browser that feels as succesful as a typical app.
Making Firefox Focus my default
It took all of 10 minutes with Firefox Focus earlier than I made a decision to make it my default browser. To start with, I contemplate myself a minimalist, and the Firefox Focus UI is completely suited to that aesthetic. Second, the privateness is difficult to beat. Easy and safe are two key parts for my cell wants, and I’ve but to discover a browser that higher addresses these factors.
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Firefox Focus took me unexpectedly. After giving up on Mozilla, I assumed I would by no means contact one other internet browser from the group, however this browser has modified my thoughts, no less than on the cell entrance. That is additionally a kind of cell apps I can extremely suggest to only about any consumer sort. Safety and privateness are the 2 areas each cell consumer needs to be involved with, and having an internet browser that takes them severely needs to be positioned on the prime of your checklist of apps.
Give Firefox Focus ten minutes, and I am assured you may end up setting it as your default.
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