firefox

Firefox's Social API debuts with Facebook Messenger

Mozilla's Social API has activated in Firefox Beta today with its first partner, Facebook Messenger. The innovation has the potential to forever alter how browsers interact with social-networking sites, but the project is still in its infancy.

The Social API (turn it on here: Firefox Beta or Firefox Aurora) looks at the problem of how to integrate modern social networking into the browser, Johnathan Nightingale, Mozilla's director of Firefox Engineering, said during a phone conversation with CNET. "People don't use social like they use other parts of the Web. It's not task based; it's … Read more

Developers, Android users get early look at Firefox Marketplace

Mozilla has opened its Firefox Marketplace, with Android device owners and developers getting the first access to the browser's app store.

The access arrived yesterday in the release of the latest "Aurora" build of Firefox for Android. Aurora is meant for developers and early adopters, as it is the test stream of Mozilla's browser. The storefront lets people find and install Web applications delivered via the browser, and gives developers a place to publicize their apps.

"We're hoping that Aurora users, our awesome early adopters, will go experience the Firefox Marketplace on their Android … Read more

Three not so simple but necessary security tips

If you stick with your software's default settings, you're letting the programs' vendors determine how much security is right for your system. Those vendors have their best interests in mind, not yours.

As I pointed out in last week's post titled "Ten simple, common-sense security tips," PC security doesn't have to be complicated. However, not all important PC security measures are easy to implement. Follow these less-than-intuitive steps to block Flash cookies, lock down your browser, and test your Facebook profile's privacy.

Note that not everyone needs the level of protection offered by … Read more

Firefox Beta adds 'preliminary support' for Social API

Firefox is going social, at least in a tentative sort of way.

Mozilla announced today that its Firefox Beta for Windows, Mac, and Linux will support Social API, a framework designed to let developers integrate social-networking features directly into the browser. Mozilla was quick to point out that the Social API support is "preliminary" at this point, suggesting it isn't fully baked and ready for prime time.

Mozilla didn't offer many details on how the social features might be integrated into the browser. It did say that it envisions developers allowing the browser's users to &… Read more

Mozilla rereleases Firefox 16 after fixing critical flaw

Mozilla released a new version of Firefox (Windows, Mac) today, one day after yanking the Web browser to address security flaws.

Firefox 16 was pulled off Mozilla's installer page yesterday, just one day after its release, to fix a vulnerability that could have allowed a malicious site to identify which Web sites a user had visited, said Michael Coates, Mozilla's director of Security Assurance. The flaw was publicly disclosed yesterday by security researcher Gareth Heyes, who published proof-of-concept code to demonstrate the vulnerability.

Though Mozilla said it had no evidence that the vulnerability was being exploited in the … Read more

Mozilla 'temporarily' pulls Firefox 16 to address security flaw

Just a day after its debut, Firefox 16 has been "temporarily removed" from Mozilla's installer page while it addresses what is apparently a serious security flaw in the browser's latest version.

"The vulnerability could allow a malicious site to potentially determine which websites users have visited and have access to the URL or URL parameters," Michael Coates. Mozilla's director of Security Assurance, said on the company's security blog. "At this time we have no indication that this vulnerability is currently being exploited in the wild."

Mozilla is currently working on … Read more

How to enable Reader Mode in Firefox for Android

Web sites can look busy with distractions that prevent you from focusing on what you're actually trying to read. Seth Rosenblatt detailed the changes in version 16 of Firefox, including a new feature in the Android version called Reader Mode, which can display easy-to-read versions of Web sites.

Reader Mode in Firefox is similar to Safari Reader and Reading View on the Kindle Fire's Silk browser. It basically strips out all the ads, menus, and other Web page elements and reformats the page for easy readability.

To enable Reader Mode, wait for the Web page to load, then … Read more

PrivacyFix helps protect your privacy on the Web

Internet users can now better manage their privacy settings across the Web, courtesy of a new browser extension.

Released just yesterday, PrivacyFix supports Firefox and Google Chrome. The extension can automatically check your privacy settings across specific Web sites, including Facebook and Google. It then displays and explains your settings, giving you the opportunity to manage them directly.

After you install PrivacyFix, a window pops up in your browser showing you the default settings for Facebook to start. Can non-friends see your posts? Is Facebook sharing your profile with other sites? Is your name being used to "like" … Read more

Do Not Track proposal runs into more roadblocks

The Do Not Track proposal seems to be causing confusion and frustration among some W3C members charged with approving it.

Once ratified, the DNT policy would require advertisers and other third parties to turn off tracking for Internet users whose browser settings specifically restrict it.

The push for DNT has already created a chasm between advertisers, who naturally want the policy to be as lean as possible, and privacy advocates, who want tough standards.

Browser makers have also been caught in the furor. Firefox, Chrome, Opera, Safari, and Internet Explorer already include DNT settings. But Microsoft has caused waves by … Read more