WebProNews

Tag: Firefox Better Web

  • Apple Safari Now Blocking All Third-Party Cookies

    Apple Safari Now Blocking All Third-Party Cookies

    Apple’s Safari web browser joins the Tor browser as one of only two that fully block all third-party cookies.

    The move has been a long time coming, and Safari has been gradually adding more features that limit the overall effectiveness of third-party cookies for tracking. As a result, in a WebKit blog post, the developers downplay the change as not a big deal, although they do highlight some of the significant benefits the move brings.

    One of the biggest advantages is disabling login fingerprinting. Login fingerprinting is a technique that “allows a website to invisibly detect where you are logged in and is viable in any browser without full third-party cookie blocking.”

    Similarly, the move “disables cross-site request forgery attacks against websites through third-party requests,” and “removes the ability to use an auxiliary third-party domain to identify users. Such a setup could otherwise persist IDs even when users delete website data for the first party.”

    There are a number of additional benefits, including paving the way for other browsers to adopt a similar approach, and simplifying things for developers. Overall, this is a good move for customers, helping protect their privacy. It will hopefully motivate site admins to adopt other ways of monetizing their content, such as the Firefox Better Web initiative.

  • Mozilla Launches ‘Firefox Better Web with Scroll’ Test Pilot

    Mozilla Launches ‘Firefox Better Web with Scroll’ Test Pilot

    Firefox has announced the launch of a new Test Pilot program, Better Web with Scroll, aimed at improving the web experience for both publishers and users.

    Firefox is one of the most privacy-oriented companies in the world, and is constantly working to tackle problems related to privacy and the overall health of the web. Its latest initiative is designed to help publishers who have been hard hit by various privacy features, while at the same time incentivizing them to focus on quality content, rather than ad-driven quantity.

    “If we’re going to create a better internet for everyone, we need to figure out how to make it work for publishers,” writes Matt Grimes. “Last year, we launched Enhanced Tracking Protection by default and have blocked more than two trillion third-party trackers to date, but it didn’t directly address the problems that publishers face. That’s where our partner Scroll comes in. By engaging with a better funding model, sites in their growing network no longer have to show you ads to make money. They can focus on quality not clicks. Firefox Better Web with Scroll gives you the fast, private web you want and supports publishers at the same time.”

    The new initiative is based on Mozilla’s previously announced efforts to find alternative ways for publishers to monetize their content, without relying on ads. This is what led the non-profit to partner with Scroll. To join Firefox Better Web, users need to sign up for a Firefox account and install an extension. For the first six months, the service is discounted 50%, costing $2.50 a month. The money goes into a fund that is used to compensate writers and publishers. According to Mozilla, early tests show sites make at least 40% more than they would relying on ads.

    “Firefox Better Web combines the work we’ve done with third-party tracking protection and Scroll’s network of outstanding publishers,” adds Grimes. “This ensures you will get a top notch experience while still supporting publishers directly and keeping the web healthy.”