Firefox Continues its Privacy Crusade, Adds Forget Button

Mozilla's Firefox browser has been on a very explicit crusade for user privacy for a long time. On November 10th, Mozilla punctuated that commitment by releasing Firefox 33.1 with, notably, a privacy tour (when you upgrade) and a new Forget Button.

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Have you ever visited a site you wish you hadn't? Perhaps it was a typing mistake or a an accidental click on the wrong place. Then you wonder, what kind of nasty Cookies have been left behind? Of course you could figure out the site name (now that you've quickly closed the tab) by looking at your History. And then rummage through your Cookies list and delete them.

Now there's no need to fuss with that scenario. Firefox 33.1, released on November 10, has added a nifty new feature called the Forget Button. Now you can, with one click, delete recent cookies and history for the last five minutes, two hours or 24 hours. Here's what it looks like.

Firefox 33.1 Forget Button options

This is just one reason why I am a big fan of Firefox. Mozilla, a non-profit organization, doesn't have corporate agenda like Apple (Safari), Google (Chrome) or Microsoft (Internet Explorer). Run by volunteers, Mozilla has one misson in life with Firefox. Make life better, more secure and more private for its users. In fact, they've just published a neat video that sums up the Firefox vision.

You can also get a feel for this philosophy by visiting the Mozilla support page on Firefox "Privacy and security settings."

Mozilla says it this way.

Ten years ago, a handful of passionate people gave the world something different—Firefox. Today, we stand proud as the only independent browser choice. We believe in an internet where the power is in your hands. Where you are in control of your online life.

Why Firefox is my Browser of Choice

I'm all over the Internet every day reading, learning, and collecting articles of interest. But that doesn't mean that I need more security than the average user. That's because I may be alert to things that the average user may not catch. A browser that does everything it can, from quickly released security fixes to built-in protections, is the perfect browser for a wide range of users, from beginners to pros.

This isn't to say that Apple's Safari isn't a great browser. I use it frequently. Apple, more than any company I know, works to protect its customers. But what I like about Firefox is that the Mozilla group is much more vocal and visible in its discussion of browser issues. Nothing is secret. There's no corporate image to protect or snafus to smooth over. There's no Apple-centric agenda. It's all plainly out there for the community to address and fix.

If you haven't used Firefox lately, give it a fresh try. Even if you're in love with Safari, it's always wise to have a backup browser handy, especially one you really trust. And the Mozilla group deserves all our support for the work they do. You can learn more at the Firefox support site.