I've covered Mozilla's long-standing feud with Microsoft for a couple of years, and it's safe to say the Firefox maker isn't exactly a fan of the tech giant's work. Now, Mozilla is throwing punches again, this time over Microsoft's push into AI.

In a new blog post titled "Old habits die hard," Mozilla argues that rather than offering Copilot in Windows 11, Microsoft pushed the AI offering to users by force. "The M365 Copilot app began auto-installing on any Windows device running Microsoft 365 desktop apps, with no prompt and no consent," Mozilla added.

Microsoft temporarily scrapped the forced rollout of the Microsoft 365 Copilot app on eligible Windows 11 PCs last month without much of an elaborate explanation. However, it will still be added to the Windows 11 Start menu and enabled by default.

Mozilla highlighted more examples of Microsoft pushing Copilot onto Windows users, including the dedicated Copilot key on Copilot+ PCs and its deeper integration into the Windows 11 Taskbar.

At the beginning of this year, Microsoft pledged to improve user sentiment around Windows 11 by bringing back fan-favorite features, like the vertical Taskbar, and reducing where Copilot and its integrations appear across the OS. Yesterday, Microsoft started reducing Copilot's appearance in Windows 11 by removing it from Notepad.

Mozilla argues that user backlash sparked Microsoft's abrupt shift in intent with Copilot — "they’re really admitting that they made repeated choices to serve their business over their customers."

Perhaps more concerningly, the company says this isn't Microsoft's first example of dark and deceptive design patterns fashioned to force behaviors that help the bottom line. In 2024, Mozilla released a report suggesting that Microsoft doesn't give Windows users real freedom of choice when selecting the default browser on Windows 11.

Since then, Mozilla says Microsoft has only escalated its use of dark patterns to further its cause and has provided a comprehensive list, as highlighted below:

• The Windows Search bar, embedded in the taskbar on both Windows 10 and Windows 11, is hardcoded to only open Microsoft Edge, regardless of your default browser.
• Windows has not implemented a true device migration system, like we see with Android, iOS, and MacOS, where your apps, settings and data are all reflected on your new device when you buy a new computer. Instead, the defaults are changed back to Microsoft’s own products. 
• Microsoft Outlook and Microsoft Teams by default ignore your default browser selection and open links directly in Edge.
• Windows does not offer a simple prompt that other browsers can trigger asking to become your default browser. Instead, other browsers have to direct you to Windows settings and hope you finish the multi-step process.

Should Microsoft introduce a killswitch for Copilot integrations?

Mozilla painted a vivid picture of what "genuinely useful" AI integrations should look like. Simply put, AI that works on your terms. The company pointed to Firefox’s AI enhancements, which, as it highlighted, are made for people, not just because they can increase profit.

Mozilla seemingly tooted its own horn, indicating that Firefox puts user choice first, which is why version 148 introduced an AI killswitch designed to block all artificial intelligence features from interfering with the browsing experience.

Mozilla warns that if tech giants like Microsoft keep controlling users and only respond when backlash becomes overwhelming, they’ll end up dictating the narrative and shaping public expectations of technology."It tells people that their only real move is to complain until, hopefully, the company relents," Mozilla added.

The company also indicated that this makes it harder for alternatives to compete on an even playing field. Windows Central has reached out to Microsoft for any comments.

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Mozilla Firefox just received an update that has me looking across my Start menu with wandering eyes. Firefox version 149 includes Split View, a free VPN when using public Wi-Fi, and improved PDF performance.

The update also adds security and privacy features, such as automatically blocking notifications and revoking permissions when viewing websites flagged as malicious.

It's also possible to add a Share button to the toolbar in the latest version of Firefox.

If you use Microsoft Edge, you may ask yourself why those features stand out. For example, Edge has had Split View for years.

You'd be right, of course. The reason I'm looking at Firefox isn't because the browser has added a bunch of exclusive features I can't get elsewhere, it's because Firefox has finally caught up to include almost all of my required features while also providing other benefits.

If you'd also like to try Firefox, you can grab it through the Firefox website or through the Microsoft Store.

Microsoft Edge is my primary browser. I use it for general web browsing and for work. I rely on several of its features, including the Sidebar, Read Aloud, and Split View. While some of those features are not exclusive to Edge, or can be replicated through extensions, I enjoy Microsoft's implementation of them and am comfortable with them.

But Edge has lost its focus over the years. AI is creeping into every crevasse, and it's even bumping out one of my favorite features. Firefox and Edge handle AI very differently.

In Firefox, there's a section in settings for AI Controls. There, you'll see an option to "Block all AI enhancements" prominently along the top. You can also toggle specific AI features on or off within the section.

In contrast, Edge's AI features are spread throughout the browser's settings page. To find all AI features, you'd have to search both "AI" and "Copilot" and click around for a while. There actually is an "AI Innovations" section in Edge's settings, but it's just to enable or disable "Copilot mode."

With Edge losing focus and AI creeping in, Firefox becomes an attractive alternative. Now that Firefox includes its own version of Split View, the gap between the browsers is even smaller.

The privacy and security features added in Firefox version 149 are also nice, though I admit I'm more concerned with usability when it comes to everyday web browsing. I wouldn't use a browser that was secure if it lacked the tools I needed to get work done.

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Microsoft ended security updates and technical support for Windows 7 on January 14, 2020, but the operating system still lingers with support in some apps, like Firefox. In 2024, Mozilla announced its plans to extend Firefox support on unsupported operating systems, including Windows 7, through its ESR (Extended Support Release) program.

The company argued that "enough" Firefox users are still running unsupported operating systems, including Windows 7, prompting it to extend support for the browser on old PCs.

While Mozilla was expected to drop support for Firefox on Windows 7 in February, the company has now postponed the end of support for Firefox 115 ESR to August 2026 (via Neowin).

This means that Windows 7 will continue receiving security updates for Firefox 115 ESR for an additional 6 months.

💬 Is upgrading to Windows 11 or switching to Linux becoming inevitable for Firefox users?

Technically, Mozilla has extended support for Firefox on Windows 7 for 24 months, and I suspect that we could see the company extend support even more. However, the company admitted that it's not an easy feat:

"Continuing to support it past October isn't going to be free (backporting security fixes is already getting increasingly painful due to the divergence which naturally happens over time as an ESR goes further into its lifecycle), but there's still enough users there that we felt it was worth doing for now at least."

In the long-run, it seems inevitable for users to upgrade to supported operating systems like Windows 10 or Windows 11 to continue using Firefox."Unsupported operating systems receive no security updates and have known vulnerabilities," Mozilla added. "Without official support from Microsoft, maintaining Firefox for outdated operating systems becomes costly for Mozilla and risky for users."

However, if your PC isn't able to upgrade to Windows 11 due to Microsoft's stringent hardware requirements, Mozilla recommends switching to Linux. Interestingly, this could play out in their favor since "the vast majority of Linux distributions come with Firefox as the default browser."

Do you think Firefox should continue supporting outdated operating systems like Windows 7, 8, and 8.1? Share your thoughts with me in the comments.

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There's a new phishing security vulnerability going around, and despite it being tied to a fake Google Account security page, it's affecting a wide range of web browsers and devices, including Microsoft Edge, PCs, and phones.

Discovered by Malwarebytes (via PCGamer), the bad actors are using a convincing Google Account security page that looks like a standard security check to deploy what is being referred to as "one of the most fully featured browser-based surveillance toolkits [Malwarebytes] have observed in the wild."

The attack does not rely on any sort of bug or exploit, which makes it particularly easy to get out into the wild. As Malwarebytes explains, each attack begins with a browser pop-up that asks you to install a Security Check app published by "google-prism.com." Of course, that is not a legitimate Google URL.

If a user opts to install the fake app, it arrives as a Progressive Web App (PWA) that looks surprisingly similar to a native Google app. It will then request specific push notification permissions disguised as the enabling of security alerts, which allows the bad actors to retain open communication even after the PWA is closed.

A legitimate Contact Picker API is fed into the PWA, and the user is asked to select contacts with whom they'd like to share the security update. The contact info is then sent back to the attacker's domain.

The last step, and perhaps the scariest, is a request for GPS location. Malwarebytes says that info, including "latitude, longitude, altitude, heading, and speed," is all sent back to the attacker's domain.

Closing the malicious PWA doesn't put an end to the vulnerability

Assuming a user falls for the trick and installs the PWA, closing it doesn't put an end to the vulnerability.

When the app is open, it can read clipboards to try and find passwords and wallet addresses, intercepting SMS codes used for verification at the same time. When the app is closed, this portion isn't active. However, a "service worker" remains active. Here's how Malwarebytes explains it:

So, while you can stop the clipboard and SMS data harvesting by closing the PWA, the service worker continues operating. With the right notification permissions, it's capable of waking, pushing new tasks, and triggering data uploads.

Bad actors can use your browser as if it's their own

The vulnerability goes from bad to worse, as Malwarebytes explains how bad actors can make it look like their web traffic is coming from your browser on your IP.

This is achieved via a connection to a WebSocket relay with the installed malware acting as a proxy. Not only is this a terrifying prospect in terms of blackmail or conspiracy, but it can also compromise corporate networks.

How to check if your Windows PC has been compromised

Malwarebytes lays out the steps required to check if your Android, macOS, iOS, and Windows devices have been compromised, with steps to help you remove the malicious PWA.

I recommend you run through the steps as soon as possible, even if you don't remember installing anything related to a Google Security Alert. It's better to be safe than sorry.

What do you think about this browser vulnerability affecting Edge users?

Were you affected by this new form of malware discovered by Malwarebytes? Are you concerned about how malware is evolving to not require any bug or exploit? Let me know in the comments section!

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Late last year, Mozilla's new CEO, Anthony Enzor-DeMeo, outlined plans to evolve Firefox into a modern AI browser, raising critical concerns among the browser's long-time users.

"I've never seen a company so astoundingly out of touch with the people who want to use its software," a user lamented. "Please don't turn Firefox into an AI browser," another user complained. "That's a great way to push us to alternatives."

But perhaps more intriguingly, the executive noted that the AI-powered features will be offered as an opt-in experience, remaining disabled by default. Now, Mozilla has rolled out Firefox 148, introducing several new features and improvements.

According to OMG Ubuntu (via XDA), the update ships with an AI kill switch, which will allow you to disable AI features and retain the classic browsing experience. For context, some of the AI-powered features include automatic language translations, AI-based tab group suggestions, summaries in link previews, and more.

• To access the AI kill switch in Firefox, navigate to the browser's Settings page and select AI Controls. Then, you'll see the Block AI Enhancements option. Once you click the toggle off, it'll disable all AI enhancements from your browsing experience, which includes ChatGPT and other chatbots in the sidebar.

If you decide to block all AI enhancements, Firefox won't try to compel you to keep interacting with the features. What's more, the browser will maintain your option to block all AI enhancements even if you upgrade to a newer version.

However, it is worth noting that you also have the option to select AI enhancements that you'd like to retain in your browsing experience. In essence, Firefox is allowing users to sort through the wide range of AI features available and manually select the ones they find useful while simultaneously allowing them to disable those that might not necessarily be as handy.

For instance, some users might consider the translation feature to be handy. It translates websites from other languages to your native language. The feature is considerably safer as it runs on-device rather than relying on the cloud.

• As such, if you want to enable this feature individually, you'll need to navigate through the Settings through the AI Enhancements page, then click on the drop-down button on the specific feature that says Blocked, and change it to Available.

Finally, Mozilla also addresses over 50 security vulnerabilities with the Firefox 148 update, including high-risk memory access errors and sandbox escape flaws.

🗨️ Is Mozilla doing the right thing with Firefox?

Rather than shoving AI down our throats with intrusive and deceptive techniques, Mozilla has seemingly chosen the high road and decided to give Firefox users more control over AI features via a kill switch. You can decide to block all AI Enhancements from your browsing experience or manually select the ones you'd like to use.

Do you think other companies should borrow a page from Mozilla's playbook when integrating AI across their tech stack?

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Surprisingly, Windows 7 support lingered in Firefox for a while, even though Microsoft ended its own support for the operating system in 2023. In the following year, 2024, Mozilla highlighted its plan to extend support for legacy versions of Windows (and macOS) through March, including Windows 7, 8, and 8.1, and macOS 10.12 to 10.14 by continuing to ship important security updates via an Extended Support Release (ESR) version of its browser.

Mozilla was initially supposed to extend support for Firefox 115 via its Extended Support Release (ESR) channel until September 2024. The company later pushed the timeline to 2025, then changed it again to March 2026.

"This extension gives users more time to transition while ensuring critical security protections remain available," Mozilla indicated. However, the company has now updated its official support document, indicating that it's poised to end support for Firefox 115 ESR later this month (via Neowin).

As such, Mozilla will no longer continue supporting Windows 7, Windows 8, or Windows 8.1 security updates via its Extended Support Release (ESR) channel.

As it stands, the best option is to upgrade to an officially supported version of Microsoft Windows (Windows 10 or later). This allows you to continue using mainstream browsers such as Google Chrome, Microsoft Edge, and now Firefox, while still accessing the latest features, security updates, and improvements.

"Unsupported operating systems receive no security updates and have known vulnerabilities," Mozilla added. "Without official support from Microsoft, maintaining Firefox for outdated operating systems becomes costly for Mozilla and risky for users."

Alternatively, Mozilla recommends switching to a Linux-based operating system if your PC can't upgrade to a supported Windows version for any reason. Besides, "the vast majority of Linux distributions come with Firefox as the default browser."

Over to you

Firefox is leaving Windows 7 behind in 2026. What’s your next move? Let me know in the comments.

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Late last year, Mozilla announced that it was evolving Firefox into an AI browser as part of new CEO Anthony Enzor-DeMeo's new plan to turn Firefox into a "broader ecosystem of software."

This announcement sparked considerable pushback from Firefox users, much in the same way that Microsoft received backlash when it announced that it was evolving Windows into an agentic OS.

Mozilla quickly dampened the outrage after its announcement by letting users know that the AI tools in Firefox would be optional, and that there would be something like an AI kill switch to make the toggle easy. That promise has now been realized in a new announcement from Mozilla.

In an upcoming Firefox 148 update, expected to arrive on February 24, users will now have access to a one-stop settings section, including a single toggle to block all AI enhancements, within the browser.

Wouldn't it be nice to have something similar in Edge?

Will Microsoft ever implement a similar AI kill switch in Edge?

It seems like every major web browser is increasingly integrated with AI, and Edge is no different. Microsoft's AI CEO, Mustafa Suleyman, has stated that the plan is to evolve Edge into a "true agentic browser," giving AI access to the same tools you use, rather than creating a new product for the AI age.

Under this direction, Copilot Mode arrived in July 2025 as an experimental way to let AI take over your browser completely. Copilot Journeys and Copilot Actions arrived with wider availability late last year.

More recently, it was revealed that Microsoft is killing Edge's Sidebar app list feature. As my colleague Sean Endicott noted, the Edge Sidebar coincidentally gets in the way of Copilot in your browser window.

And if you aren't yet totally convinced that Microsoft wants to go full AI with Edge, just remember that the app is currently undergoing a major UI refresh to make it look more like the Copilot app instead of Windows 11's Fluent Design.

Edge's evolution has resulted in a mash-up of classic and AI tools across the browser and its menus. While the AI additions are largely useful and, as some would argue, necessary in the modern online world, they certainly aren't popular with all users.

As it stands now, the process of disabling Copilot and other AI features in Edge isn't as straightforward as many would like it to be. The settings are spread out in sub-menus like Appearance, Languages, and AI innovations, making it difficult for the average user to effectively disable all AI, should they desire to do so. But, hey, at least we can now easily hide the Copilot button on the toolbar.

Seeing Firefox get a unified AI kill switch only makes me want one for Edge. Microsoft is desperate to drive adoption of its web browser, and giving users the ability to easily disable Copilot would undoubtedly earn some good favor.

Are you a fan of Edge's AI integrations? Why or why not? Which ones do you use most? Let me know in the comments section!

Mozilla Firefox is one of the longest-running web browsers, first released in 2004 as an alternative to Internet Explorer, rest in peace. Over the years, Firefox has carved out a sizeable install base, with more than 200 million monthly active users drawn to its speed, deep customisation options, and privacy-focused approach.

Earlier this month, in December 2025, Mozilla appointed a new CEO amid ongoing financial pressure. Unfortunately for long-time fans of the browser, that leadership change comes with a strong push toward AI. Still, there may be a saving grace on the horizon, raising the question of whether Firefox can adapt without losing its identity, or if it is finally time for some users to look elsewhere.

Firefox as an AI browser

It seems like nobody can escape the pull of AI lately, and Mozilla Firefox is no exception. New CEO Anthony Enzor-DeMeo has outlined plans to evolve Firefox into what he describes as a modern AI browser, a direction that has alarmed many users and raised questions about whether it is time to look for an alternative that avoids AI altogether.

Fortunately, at least for now, Mozilla has confirmed that users will be able to disable all AI features within Firefox if they choose. This means AI functionality will be opt-in, rather than something forced on users by default.

That already puts Firefox in a better position than competitors like Microsoft Edge and Google Chrome, neither of which offers a clear, one-click way to disable AI features across the browser fully.

For the time being, Mozilla appears committed to user choice, and being a trusted software company, with the new CEO stating:

Mozilla is dubbing the opt-out of AI features an AI kill-switch internally, giving users a straightforward way to disable any and all AI features within Firefox, with the Firefox Web Developer account on Mastodon stating:

The bigger question is whether this will be enough for you, or if you have already decided to move elsewhere and adopt a different browser.

If you have made the switch, which browser did you choose? Let us know in the comments, and take part in the poll below to tell us whether you plan to stick with Mozilla Firefox, are considering a move, or have already left.

Mozilla has announced its new CEO, Anthony Enzor-DeMeo, and has today confirmed that under his leadership, Firefox will evolve into an AI browser over the next three years. The good news? Mozilla understands that AI should be a choice, and will allow users to turn it off.

"Every product we build must give people agency in how it works. Privacy, data use, and AI must be clear and understandable," says Enzor-Demeo. "Controls must be simple. AI should always be a choice — something people can easily turn off ... Firefox will grow from a browser into a broader ecosystem of trusted software. Firefox will remain our anchor. It will evolve into a modern AI browser and support a portfolio of new and trusted software additions."

Even with the confirmation that AI features will be optional, the internet is not pleased. Users online have expressed their disappointment in Mozilla focusing on AI features and capabilities. One post on X says "This is a good example of how management doesn't understand its own user base," which has amassed over 380K views so far.

Another post says "I've never seen a company so astoundingly out of touch with the people who want to use its software," highlithing how a lot of people choose to use Firefox to get away from the AI obsession that other browsers such as Edge, Chrome, Opera, and Brave have endured over the last year.

In fact, it seems the large majority of posts on social media are echoing this same sentiment. People aren't happy with Mozilla's direction of pushing into AI, and would rather the company focus its resources on building other things instead.

"Please don't turn Firefox into an AI browser. That's a great way to push us to alternatives," another user says as a direct response to Mozilla's announcement.

Mozilla is not the first company to come under fire for announcing an investment in AI features and capabilities in recent months. Microsoft recently came under the same fire for announcing that Windows would evolve into an agentic OS, which sparked major backlash and forced the current Windows president to address the fallout and promise to focus on other areas in addition to AI.

It seems Mozilla is aware of that fallout, which is why it was sure to mention upfront that any AI features it intends to add to Firefox will be optional. The problem is users don't think these companies should be building AI feature at all, which is why so many are disappointed in today's announcement from Mozilla.

With Mozilla also jumping on the AI bandwagon, users looking for an AI-free browser are going to have to look at more niche alternatives.

Mozilla has cooked up a new way to keep your browser habits safe from spying eyes: Firefox VPN. The latest Firefox VPN is currently in a Beta stage for testing, and Mozilla says that it's only available for a limited time to randomly selected users (via TechRadar).

Firefox VPN is a free addition to the web browser, and the wording in the Mozilla support document suggests that it will remain free after the testing period. Firefox has not placed any data limits, at least during the testing period.

Firefox VPN is designed to work within the Firefox browser only. Any web traffic that originates in the browser is directed through VPN servers managed by Firefox; any other web traffic originating elsewhere is not protected.

Mozilla says it works by "concealing your real IP as well as adding a layer of encryption to your communications" on the official Firefox VPN support page. Sounds like a standard VPN, albeit with limited scope.

Because the new VPN built into Firefox is invite-only while it's being tested, not everyone will get to give it a try. If you're one of the lucky users who is selected for testing, you'll see a prompt pop up when you launch Firefox asking if you'd like to try Firefox VPN.

If you don't see the prompt, well, you're out of luck for now.

This is Mozilla's second VPN to enter the market

A lot of Firefox users wondered why Mozilla called its first VPN "Mozilla VPN" and not "Firefox VPN" when it launched a few years ago. They now have an answer.

Yes, this is Mozilla's second VPN to enter the market. Mozilla VPN officially launched in 2020 following the retirement/rebranding of Firefox Private Network.

Mozilla VPN is a full-fledged VPN service that covers your entire PC or device, not just your data in Firefox. Mozilla VPN has a standalone app available for Windows 10 and Windows 11, as well as plenty of other devices.

As with most VPN services that cover all of your web traffic, Mozilla VPN is not free. You can subscribe on a monthly or yearly basis, and the lowest price you'll get is about $4.99 per month when you subscribe for a full year.

Not bad, especially as it allows you to use up to five devices under the same account.

But for those who don't want to pay a monthly subscription fee, Firefox VPN should be a tempting feature once it arrives (hopefully for free) for all Firefox users.

A free VPN? I thought I was supposed to avoid those...

VPNs are powerful tools that block third parties and bad actors from seeing the data you send out over the internet. It achieves this by shuttling your data through encrypted tunnels, with endpoint servers managed by the VPN company.

Because whoever is managing the servers can technically see what everyone is doing and where the data is coming from, you always want to select your VPN provider carefully.

Free VPNs are usually the worst offenders when it comes to selling your data that you thought was private. If a VPN service is free, it's often suspected that your data is being sold somewhere.

However, Mozilla says that its new Firefox VPN only collects technical data that's required to keep the service operating smoothly. Mozilla states:

Mozilla has been a popular browser for years, and it has a reputation for being secure and user-friendly. The sentiment among users, however, changed recently after a March 2025 update to data privacy in Firefox's Terms of Use.

The new terms suggested that Mozilla had a right to leverage user data in ways that would seriously damage its data privacy reputation. Mozilla was quick to update the ToU with clearer wording, and Firefox VP Ajit Varma was quoted as saying:

"Mozilla doesn’t sell data about you (in the way that most people think about ‘selling data’), and we don’t buy data about you. We changed our language because some jurisdictions define ‘sell’ more broadly than most people would usually understand that word."

Edge has had a built-in VPN since 2023 — how does Firefox VPN compare?

Much like the new Firefox VPN, Microsoft's Edge Secure Network is a VPN designed to protect web traffic originating in the browser only. It began rolling out in 2022 for Windows 11 and Windows 10 and remains available today.

Edge Secure Network is, of course, only available in Edge, but it's free for anyone who signs in to the browser using a personal Microsoft account. Users get 5GB of free data per month, up from the 1GB data allowance at launch.

👉 Related: How to increase privacy using built-in VPN on Microsoft Edge

Edge Secure Network has some intelligent settings that can help manage data usage. The default "Optimized" setting automatically enables the VPN if you're connected to public Wi-Fi (or other unsecured networks) or when you visit a site without proper certification.

You can also set Edge Secure Network to run a VPN on all sites, or you can set a custom list of sites on which you'd like the VPN to work. Like Firefox VPN, Edge only collects some diagnostic and support data, which is deleted every 25 hours.

Overall, Edge Secure Network is essentially the same as Firefox VPN, albeit with some data restrictions. It will be interesting to see if Mozilla places a similar data limit on Firefox VPN once it arrives for all users.

If there's one thing I'd like to change about my PC gaming habits, it's to stop buying the same game multiple times on different platforms.

Yes, this is about as "first-world" of a problem as it gets, but I know I'm not the only gamer out there who has found a great deal, checked out, and only then realized it's a title that you already own.

While this has long been an issue for many gamers with launchers like Steam, GOG, Epic, Ubisoft, EA, etc. (many selling the same games), the arrival of an active PC Game Pass membership on my system a few years ago really ramped up the overspending.

The PC side of Game Pass is home to hundreds of games that are available to play anytime. Games arrive, games depart, and it's tough to keep tabs on the current selection.

"Hey, just do a quick search of Game Pass whenever you buy a game!" is the natural reaction here, but do you think I'm smart enough to do that?

No. I'd rather rely on my instincts, which have been seriously blunted after years of staring at a screen full of game launchers and storefronts.

The recent Steam Summer Sale, which ran from June 26 until July 10, was chock-full of enticing deals, and I'd be lying if I said I didn't take advantage of some of those sweet, sweet Under $6 offerings.

As it turns out, I could have saved my lunch money and played a couple of the titles on Game Pass rather than buying them directly through Steam.

Is it on Game Pass? A new browser extension intends to find out.

(Nearly) right on time, there's a new browser extension that can stop the double-buying from happening in the future.

Is It On Game Pass, an extension created by Reddit user Orion_DEIL, isn't the first of its kind — alike03's Subscription Info on Steam is another great option — but it is the most complete that I've seen.

It was built for Firefox and Chrome, and the latter compatibility means that it'll also work on Microsoft's Edge browser. With the Is It On Game Pass extension installed, browsing the Steam website becomes a lot more intuitive.

The extension primarily throws up a big flag on game listings, letting you know if the title is currently available on Game Pass, coming soon to Game Pass, leaving Game Pass, or not on Game Pass at all.

Beyond that, it'll also tip you off to better deal pricing, should it exist, at the GG.deals store, all alongside the Steam regular and discount pricing listings.

Even if you don't buy from key resellers (like me) due to their gray market reputation, you can get an idea of what a game is selling for elsewhere.

It's pretty uninvasive and, for the most part, seems to be working as intended. I haven't been using it for long, but I'm enjoying browsing Steam and seeing actually how many great games are on Game Pass.

You can choose which indicators show up, you can pick where deal prices show up, and you can also set your region.

How to use the Is It On Game Pass browser extension

The Is It On Game Pass browser extension works like any other for Edge, Chrome, and Firefox.

Simply visit the appropriate link I've listed below and choose to add the extension to your browser.

• Add the Is It On Game Pass extension to Chrome / Edge
• Add the Is It On Game Pass extension to Firefox

I added it to Edge, my browser of choice, and when you do the same, you might notice a suspicious address — xccczvjplndatsirjahb.supabase.co — listed under permissions.

This was also called out in the extension creator's Reddit thread, and it was explained away as being the backend API used to pull data from Game Pass and GG.deals.

Don't want to install any more extensions? You're not completely out of luck.

As another user pointed out in the Reddit thread, you can also use the PC Game Pass curator page on Steam to see which games are coming soon, which games are currently on Game Pass, and which games are soon leaving.

It's the same idea, but it's not as convenient as having a small indicator everywhere you travel in Steam's storefront.

Last week, Mozilla was trapped between a rock and a hard place after making a controversial update to its developer's Terms of Use (via PCGamer).

The update received backlash from Firefox users, especially because of a section indicating that Mozilla had the right to leverage user data, including "a nonexclusive, royalty-free, worldwide license for the purpose of doing as you request with the content you input in Firefox."

Perhaps more concerning, the company scrapped a section of its Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) that highlighted its promise to keep user data safe and private, away from third-party vendors.

The highlighted changes enraged users, prompting the company to update its documentation once again as an attempt to mitigate the arising issues and concerns about its dramatic data privacy shift.

Consequently, Mozilla issued an update addressing the issue. The company seemingly shifted blamed to a "confusion about the language regarding licenses."

Ajit Varma, VP of Firefox Product, indicated that the update was designed to introduce a new Terms of Use (TOU) and Privacy Notice for Firefox. However, the update seemingly brewed confusion among users about the company's Terms of Use, specifically on licensing.

According to Varma:

"Our intent was just to be as clear as possible about how we make Firefox work, but in doing so we also created some confusion and concern.”

The new update to Mozilla's documentation seemingly addressed the privacy concerns raised by users, but it might be a little for the company to salvage the situation.

While the controversial changes to Mozilla's documentation can be attributed to miscommunication on the company's part and misunderstanding on the user's end, the wording on some of the changes made was highly alarming.

For instance, the answer to "What is Firefox?" in Mozilla's FAQ section previously indicated:

"The Firefox Browser is the only major browser backed by a not-for-profit that doesn’t sell your personal data to advertisers while helping you protect your personal information."

But the section has since been updated and now reads:

"The Firefox Browser, the only major browser backed by a not-for-profit, helps you protect your personal information."

While it might be an assumption and misinterpretation of the updated terms, it seems Mozilla is no longer committed to not sell personal user data to third-party advertisers.

A thorough look and analysis of Mozilla's updated documentation, reveals that the company is seemingly shying away from affirming its stance on data privacy.

However, Firefox's VP claims the omission of "sell" is a result of the fluid definition of the term when it comes to data sharing and privacy.

According to the VP:

“Mozilla doesn’t sell data about you (in the way that most people think about ‘selling data’), and we don’t buy data about you. We changed our language because some jurisdictions define ‘sell’ more broadly than most people would usually understand that word.”

Users are less-than-pleased with Firefox

While Firefox has seemingly attempted to address the recent changes made to its documentation and affirm its data privacy and sharing stances, users are throwing a deaf year to its plea.

"People aren't upset about how transparent they're being, they just want to use a browser that doesn't collect and distribute their data," an enraged Reddit user indicated. "I'm no lawyer, but for example, it sounds like they have license to distribute the data below without contest."

Some used the opportunity to throw jabs at Microsoft, branding Windows as "the biggest data-mining operating system."

On the other hand, some users speculate that the controversial changes might be an attempt to bolster Mozilla's, and by extension, Firefox's AI efforts.

According to another Reddit user:

"Yes. Crazy stuff. I read recently that the new CEO wants to get into AI and ads. They'll no doubt claim that they're going to do it differently and "respectfully". Personally, I have mozzilla.org, net and com in my Acrylic HOSTS file. If you go to about:config and search for "url" you may be surprised at all the ways that Firefox claims the right to call home without asking."

It will be interesting to see how the controversial changes affect Firefox's user base, and whether Mozilla will be dabbling its foot deeper into the AI landscape.

Elsewhere, Mozilla has placed Microsoft under fire for using harmful designs and deceptive tactics to give Edge a competitive edge over other browsers in Windows 11.

As you may know, Microsoft cut support for Windows 7 in 2020, forcing users to upgrade to a newer operating system for critical security updates and technical support. However, Windows 7 still lurks in Firefox.

Last year, Mozilla highlighted its plan to extend support for legacy versions of Windows and macOS until March 2025, including Windows 7, 8, and 8.1, and macOS 10.12 to 10.14. The company has been shipping important security updates via an Extended Support Release (ESR) version of its browser — Firefox 115.

This means users running Firefox on unsupported Windows operating systems like Windows 7 have until March 4, 2025 to upgrade to supported software.

Mozilla initially planned to cut support for Windows 8.1 and Windows 7 in September 2024 but abruptly changed its plans, leading to the shipment of two ESR releases, including 115 for unsupported operating systems and 128 for Windows 10 and newer.

According to Mozilla:

"Continuing to support it past October isn't going to be free (backporting security fixes is already getting increasingly painful due to the divergence which naturally happens over time as an ESR goes further into its lifecycle), but there's still enough users there that we felt it was worth doing for now at least."

After Mozilla cuts support for unsupported operating systems, it will move forward with its plans to clean up the code base, lessening the burden on Firefox to maintain newer libraries that aren't supported on pre-Windows 10 releases.

While the move to offer extended support for unsupported Windows versions might have give Mozilla a slight competitive edge in the browser market share against Google Chrome and Microsoft Edge, it's now joining the fray.

Beyond March 4, 2025, users will be forced to upgrade to newer and supported operating systems to continue receiving important security updates and technical support, attempting to install Firefox 116 on these unsupported operating systems will be futile.

Microsoft has aggressively doubled down on its Windows 11 campaign as Windows 10's imminent death edges closer. Users have blatantly expressed their reluctance to upgrade to Windows 11, citing flawed design elements coupled with stringent minimum system requirements.

While Windows 11's market share is subtly on the rise, it remains to be seen whether it will gain broad adoption beyond Windows 10's end of support slated for October 14, 2025.

What you need to know

• Mozilla recently announced its decision to lay off 30% of its workforce.
• The Firefox maker also closed down critical divisions, including advocacy and global programs divisions.
• The company indicated that fighting for a free and open internet is still part of its core mission.

In case you missed it, Mozilla recently laid off 30% of its workforce due to a “relentless onslaught of change.” Mozilla's VP of Global Communications, Brandon Borrman, confirmed the layoffs while highlighting the company's plan to reorganize its teams to bolster agility and impact, forging toward an "open and equitable technical future." TechCrunch reports the company had approximately 120 employees before the recent layoffs.

While speaking to TechCrunch, Borrman indicated:

"The Mozilla Foundation is reorganizing teams to increase agility and impact as we accelerate our work to ensure a more open and equitable technical future for us all. That unfortunately means ending some of the work we have historically pursued and eliminating associated roles to bring more focus going forward."

In addition to the layoffs, the Mozilla Foundation has shut down critical divisions within the company, including its advocacy and global programs divisions. While the divisions are no more, Mozilla's VP of Global Communications confirmed that "fighting for a free and open internet" will remain a part of the company's mission (via The Verge). 

As you may know, this announcement marks the second round of layoffs to hit the Firefox maker this year. In February, the company laid off approximately 60 employees, citing a "strategic correction" that would include scaling down its work on a Mastodon instance. It also closed shop on its virtual 3D platform and channeled its focus toward Firefox and generative AI advances.

The highlighted changes were announced internally by Nabiha Syed, Mozilla's Executive Director, on October 30 via email. "Navigating this topsy-turvy, distracting time requires laser focus — and sometimes saying goodbye to the excellent work that has gotten us this far because it won’t get us to the next peak," indicated Syed. The executive further indicated that the changes will create a "unified, powerful narrative from the foundation and that their mission at Mozilla was more high-stakes than ever."

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What you need to know

• Mozilla announced its plans to extend Firefox support on unsupported operating systems until March 2025.
•  The company will offer two ESR (Extended Support Release) releases, including 115 for unsupported operating systems and 128 for Windows 10 and newer. 
• Mozilla argues "enough" Firefox users are still running unsupported operating systems, including Windows 7, prompting its decision to extend support for Firefox on old devices. 

While it's apparent Microsoft is moving forward with its plans to cut support for Windows 10 on October 14, 2025, users can continue running Firefox 115 on unsupported devices, including Windows 7, 8, and 8.1, and macOS 10.12 to 10.14 as Mozilla has extended its support and will continue pushing important updates until April 1, 2025. Firefox 115.21 will also continue receiving updates until March 4, 2025.

For context, Firefox 115 is the last version of the browser that will run on the highlighted unsupported operating systems. This means attempting to install Firefox 116 on these unsupported operating systems will be futile.

In case you missed it, Mozilla announced its plans to extend Firefox's support on these unsupported operating systems in July. Before Mozilla announced the extended support, the company shipped Firefox 115 without mentioning whether it would run on unsupported operating systems, leaving concerned users in limbo about updating the browser. 

Mozilla planned to cut support for Windows 8.1 and Windows 7 in September 2024, but it changed its plans. The company offers two ESR (Extended Support Release) releases, including 115 for unsupported operating systems and 128 for Windows 10 and newer. 

Cutting support for Windows 7 would have allowed Mozilla to clean up the code base and relieved it of the responsibility of maintaining newer libraries that aren't necessarily supported on pre-Windows 10 releases. Interestingly, Mozilla claims enough Firefox users are running Windows 7, prompting it to extend support for the operating system. Microsoft's Edge browser and Google Chrome already cut support for Windows 7, perhaps giving Mozilla a competitive edge with an untapped market share. 

According to Mozilla:

"Continuing to support it past October isn't going to be free (backporting security fixes is already getting increasingly painful due to the divergence which naturally happens over time as an ESR goes further into its lifecycle), but there's still enough users there that we felt it was worth doing for now at least."

To this end, it remains unclear whether Mozilla will extend Firefox's support for these unsupported operating systems beyond the highlighted dates.

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What you need to know

• MyPal68 is a modern, open-source web browser project that allows Windows XP users (and all round nostalgia fans) to use the internet in the present day. 
• It's based on Firefox 68, which itself is fairly old, but does at least make browsing the web a decent experience on ancient hardware and software. 
• There are still roadblocks and sites that just won't work properly, but it's impossible not to be impressed. 

Last night, for reasons known only to the portions of my brain that don't get out much, I started spinning up a variety of virtual machines containing older versions of Windows. There's a reason, which I won't go into here, but it's been quite a lot of fun poking around with operating systems from my much younger years. 

One of the bigger issues with using old versions of Windows, such as the legendary XP, is that modern stuff often just doesn't work. That's true of the web, and the browsers we use to interact with it. Internet Explorer has long died off, and even if it did work, it's horrible. 

Enter an absolute legend to fix the problem, though, as a bit of searching threw up MyPal68. No, it's not some sketchy online chat app from the late 90s, it is in fact a modern web browser built to support Windows XP. And it works! 

MyPal68 is an open-source project, and you can have a poke around with it at its GitHub repo. I use the term modern loosely, because while for Windows XP it's positively cutting edge, it's still based on technology that's outdated by Windows 11 standards. 

It's based on Firefox 68, hence the number in the title. Way behind the version of Firefox you'd use now, but obviously there are limitations to what can be achieved on such an old OS. More specifically, it's based on the Pale Moon browser, which itself is a fork of Firefox code. It supports some extensions, has Brave as the default search engine, and from what I can see, is utterly brilliant. 

That's not to say it's perfect, and I don't think it ever could be. There are things outside the developer's control when it comes to websites and whether they'll work properly. Alas, Windows Central doesn't render properly, which is sad, but the content is at least there to read. In Internet Explorer, it flat out doesn't even load. But YouTube does, and that's probably more important. You can report sites that don't work through the GitHub repo, so there might be something the developer can do for some of them. 

The point, though, is that it works. It's fast, and it at least lets you browse the web on Windows XP without wanting to pull your hair out. I think it's remarkable that such a thing even exists. While nobody should be using Windows XP in 2024 as their daily driver, there are plenty of folks out there that still want to use it.

Whether you have an old machine lying around, like to play the nostalgia tune through virtual machines, or you're a full on vintage computing enthusiast, this is one tool to put in the arsenal. What I love the most is that it's possible and there are people out there passionate enough to bring it to life. Long may it continue.

If you want to try MyPal 68 for yourself, hit up the GitHub repo, where you'll find both 32-bit and 64-bit versions to get you going. However, connecting old software like Windows XP to the internet is always a risky business, so make sure you're taking necessary precautions. 

What you need to know

• Mozilla has been under fire for shipping a private attribution prototype feature to Firefox 128, enabled by default, and is reportedly being used to collect extensive personal data for advertisers.
• Firefox CTO Bobby Holley has cleared the air by indicating the approach is designed to help advertisers achieve their goals without compromising the user's privacy.
• The approach sieves through surveillance parts deployed by advertisers to ensure the user's data remains private.

Firefox is arguably one of the best privacy-focused browsers, free from "shady privacy notices and advertiser backdoors." However, it recently received backlash after shipping an experimental feature — Privacy-preserving attribution, which collects data for advertisers. 

The privacy-sensitive feature is enabled by default, which made users more concerned about Firefox's commitment to its promise of safeguarding the user's privacy. The company CTO Bobby Holley took to Reddit to address some of the privacy concerns raised.

A Word About Private Attribution in Firefox from r/firefox

Holley admits that the company should have done more about the private attribution feature while shipping it to Firefox 128. Privacy and security remain core issues that users look at when selecting their default browser on any device. Mozilla recently placed Microsoft under fire for using deceptive tactics and harmful designs to keep Windows users hooked on Edge, leaving third-party browsers with the shorter end of the stick and at a competitive disadvantage. 

The CTO indicated the internet has turned into "a massive web surveillance," while talking about Mozilla's anti-tracking features designed to cripple these techniques. While the features successfully thwart these surveillance techniques, Mozilla's efforts are limited by two major impediments. 

Advertisers have access to enormous economic incentives that make it easier to circumvent the measures put in place to keep their surveillance techniques at bay. The lack of alternatives doesn't make the situation better. Next up, the measures are limited to Firefox users, but Mozilla's ultimate goal is to "improve privacy for everyone."

With the rapid evolution of advertising as an economic model, it's increasingly becoming harder to maintain desired privacy standards for users. "It’s a powerful industry that’s not going to pack up and go away," added Holley. "A mechanism for advertisers to accomplish their goals in a way that did not entail gathering a bunch of personal data would be a profound improvement to the Internet we have today, and so we’ve invested a significant amount of technical effort into trying to figure it out."

As a plausible alternative to the current approach where advertisers have access to extensive personal data, Mozilla is developing a system that could potentially satisfy the advertisers' goal without compromising the user's privacy.  

The company is working closely with Meta on this project, "because any successful mechanism will need to be actually useful to advertisers, and designing something that Mozilla and Meta are simultaneously happy with is a good indicator we’ve hit the mark," added Holley.

Mozilla says the project has been ongoing for the past few years and is already showing "real promise." The company shipped an early look of the approach as part of the Firefox 128 release "that is feature-wise quite bare-bones but uncompromising on the privacy front."

How does Mozilla maintain the user's privacy but still keeps advertisers happy?

The new approach leverages a Multi-Party Computation (MPC) system called DAP/Prio. Its privacy properties have been analyzed to identify loopholes. 

The prototype is temporary and restricted to a handful of test sites. It's worth noting that it only works in Firefox. The company intends to use the findings to improve the effectiveness and efficiency of the final product.

According to Firefox's CTO:

"The privacy properties of this prototype are much stronger than even some garden variety features of the web platform, and unlike those of most other proposals in this space, meet our high bar for default behavior."

While the prototype allows advertisers to access the data they want from users, Firefox promises that their data will remain protected. Moreover, users with reservations about sharing their data with advertisers can disable the feature via the settings because Firefox "supports people configuring their browser however they choose."

Finally, Firefox admits that digital advertising isn't going away, but its new approach could help scrap the unwanted surveillance parts if implemented correctly. 

What you need to know

• Mozilla has added a new AI chatbot sidebar into its Firefox browser. 
• Available on all platforms, the new feature is an experimental addition, currently only in the Nightly build of Firefox. 
• There are four different AI chatbots to choose from, but no sign of Microsoft Copilot. 

There's been a lot of talk of AI integration into web browsers in recent times, with Microsoft Edge being a particularly good example of how to do it. Firefox has decided to join the party now, with a new AI chatbot sidebar feature added to the Nightly builds track of Mozilla's browser. 

There are currently four different chatbots that Firefox users can try out in the new sidebar feature, but none of them are Microsoft Copilot. 

So far, there's a choice of: 

• Google Gemini
• ChatGPT 
• HuggingFace
• Mistral AI

To try it out, first, you'll need to download Firefox Nightly. Once installed, open up the browsers settings menu, head into the Nightly Experiments section and enable AI Chatbot. 

From here you're also given a dropdown menu to choose your preferred chatbot, but you can also switch on the fly from the sidebar if you want to try something else. 

And, well, it works as advertised. However, you don't get the slick integration between AI and browser that you get in Microsoft Edge using Copilot in the sidebar. This looks literally like Mozilla is pulling in the web app for each chatbot, and that's about it. 

For example, you're reading a review on Windows Central and want a quick summary of the article. In Edge with Copilot, you can just ask the AI to do that. In this current implementation on Firefox, the AI chatbot is unable to see the contents of the browser tab, so you still have to paste in the URL. At best, it simply makes using your favorite AI chatbot more convenient in Firefox. For now, anyway. 

ChatGPT, of course, uses the same GPT models as Copilot, but if you prefer using Microsoft's offering over OpenAI it'll be of little comfort. You need an account with all of these providers, so if you want to use Copilot from Firefox, you'll have to do it the old-fashioned way for now. 

The alternative, if you're on Windows 11 anyway, is to open the new Copilot app that ships with the OS. It's not always as convenient as using it in your browser, though, but given that Firefox doesn't have that same integration as Copilot and Edge, you're not really losing out. 

Hopefully, as the feature expands, Mozilla will see fit to include Microsoft in its AI chatbot feature. 

What you need to know

• Multiple Firefox users have taken to social media to express their frustrations over the slow YouTube load time on the browser.
• Google has confirmed that the issue is closely related to its recent efforts to crackdown on YouTube ad blockers that were preventing users from monetizing their content via ads. 
• According to some Redditors, the video streaming platform spotted faster load times when spoofing Firefox as Google Chrome.
• Google added that any user with an ad blocker installed can be affected by this issue regardless of the browser they are using.

Multiple Firefox users have taken to Reddit to raise their concerns, flagging YouTube's less-than-pleasing user experience. According to the users, when trying to stream videos on the platform, the webpage adds a five-second delay.

Youtube has started to artificially slow down video load times if you use Firefox. Spoofing Chrome magically makes this problem go away. from r/youtube

Strangely enough, the issue is seemingly fixed when switching to another browser like clockwork. Alternatively, changing the user agent using developer tweaks also does the trick, according to a spot by Foss News. 

Google's crackdown on YouTube ad blockers could be the poisonous fruit

While it's easy to presume that the issue is related to a poor internet connection, this isn't the case (at least per the sentiments echoed by multiple users). The situation seems to be far more complex. According to a Redditor, there's a code buried in YouTube's webpage that features a “timeout” function in the script. The user further highlighted that the code is responsible for the five-second delay.

On the other hand, some users have indicated that the issue might be closely related to Google's recent crackdown on YouTube ad blockers. In the past few months, users have complained about the platform's user experience, especially after Google announced that it would start fastening the seat belt on ad blockers.

Google stated ad blockers breach YouTube's terms of service and prevent creators from monetizing their content. The company has indeed confirmed that the five-second delay issue is related to the ad blocker issue, further pointing out that users with ad blockers may experience "suboptimal viewing." Interestingly, the company pointed out that the issue might impact any user with an ad blocker, regardless of the browser they are using. 

Google's statement only clears up why users with ad blockers installed are experiencing a degraded user experience. However, it doesn't clarify why users spoofing Firefox as Google Chrome were able to enjoy faster load times.

I attempted to replicate the exact same results highlighted by users across social media, but the YouTube page loaded up within a considerable amount of time (similar to what I am used to when using Google Chrome and Microsoft Edge). Admittedly, I don't use Firefox. It's possible that more testing could uncover potential issues that might be prompting the slow load times.

Have you encountered this issue while using Firefox? Share your experience with us in the comments.

What you need to know

• Mozilla Firefox version 115.0 is the last update for those still using Windows 7 and 8.
• This comes after Microsoft ended support for those operating systems back in January 2023.
• Users will be automatically migrated to the latest version so that they continue to receive important security updates.

Mozilla Firefox version 115.0 was released on July 4th 2023 bringing new features and fixes, whilst also signaling the end of its support for the Windows 7 and 8 operating systems. This is a consequence of Microsoft ending extended support for them both in January of 2023. For those using Firefox on these older Windows platforms you don't have to do anything here as you will be automatically migrated to the latest version.

There are a number of new features for Firefox that the version 115.0 update brings:

• If you're migrating from another browser you can now bring over payment methods that you've saved in Chrome-based browsers.
• Hardware video decoding is now enabled for those using Intel GPUs (ARC) on Linux.
• The Tab Manager dropdown now has close buttons, allowing you to close tabs faster.
• The user interface for importing data from other browsers has been refreshed and streamlined.
• Those who are without platform support for H264 video decoding can now use Cisco's OpenH264 plugin for playback.

The fixes for this version 115.0 of Firefox are as follows: 

• Windows Magnifier now follows the text cursor correctly when the Firefox title bar is visible.
• Windows users on low-end/USB wifi drivers and with OS geolocation disabled can now approve geolocation on a case by case basis without causing system-wide network instability.
• Various security fixes 

It's always a shame to see support end, but it's a natural conclusion once an operating system is no longer supported. You can head to the Mozilla website to check out the full list of changes to Firefox version 115.0

What you need to know

• Microsoft is looking to win a bid with Mozilla that would make Bing the default search engine for Firefox, according to a report.
• Bing has drawn a lot of public interest, but recent data suggests that the introduction of the new Bing powered by AI has not resulted in a significant increase in market share.
• Mozilla's current Firefox contract is scheduled to expire at some point this year, which paves the way for Microsoft to bid for the next contract.

Bing added several AI features this year, including a chatbot that utilizes OpenAI's GPT-4. While the new Bing has garnered attention from the media and interest from the public, it doesn't appear to have resulted in a significant increase in search engine market share. Our Managing Editor Jez Corden recently gathered together data from several sources which suggests Bing usage is generally flat.

But Bing may gain some market share through another avenue, becoming the default search engine for Firefox. A report by The Information states that Microsoft is looking to win the Firefox contract, which is due for renewal this year.

The report cites two people with direct knowledge of the situation, stating that Bing leaders reportedly want to win the contract with Firefox.

At the moment, Google pays Mozilla, which owns Firefox, a percentage of ad revenue that is generated by Google. Microsoft does not make as much money per ad, according to The Information. That could require Microsoft and Mozilla to structure a deal differently than what Mozilla currently has with Google.

Bing would not need to gain much in market share to generate meaningful revenue. Microsoft CFO Phil Ockenden said in an investor call earlier this year that "For every one point of share gain in the search advertising market, it’s a $2 billion revenue opportunity for [Microsoft's] advertising business."

If becoming the default search engine for Firefox results in even a modest increase in market share, it could be lucrative for Microsoft and, in turn, Mozilla.

Reddit's biggest PC enthusiast subreddit, /r/pcmasterrace (PCMR), is a great source of information for new and veteran PC gamers. It's also a great source of memery and mockery — with Microsoft often finding itself the at the butt end of every joke. 

As with any social media, trends ebb and flow, but lately PCMR has been getting into it battling it out over web browsers, notably Microsoft Edge, Google Chrome, and Mozilla Firefox. 

Microsoft Edge is the firm's modern replacement for Internet Explorer, which became notorious for lagging behind competitors in the speed department. Internet Explorer memes often poke fun at how slow it is, offering information decades out of date as it struggled to keep pace with the modern web, powered invariably by Chromium these days. Indeed, Google's engine has now found itself into Edge itself, since Microsoft threw in the towel trying to make EdgeHTML a thing a couple of years back. 

These days, many people seem to concede that Microsoft Edge is actually a decent browser. I personally use it (unironically), mainly because my Outlook email syncs all my passwords and clipboard across devices. There's very little difference when it comes to the user experience between Chrome and Edge, but many prefer to go with Firefox instead, for its open-source nature and privacy focus. 

In any case, the battle of the browsers remains a hot topic on PCMR and beyond, and for fun on this chilly British Wednesday, I decided to round up some of the best memes from the community. 

Being mean to Microsoft Edge

A lot of the discourse around Microsoft Edge revolves around how hard it is to fully remove it from your system. There are ways to disable Microsoft Edge and change your defaults to Chrome or Firefox, but Microsoft has this irritating tendency to force defaults back to Edge in between major updates. There are ways to force Microsoft Edge to never automatically reinstall too, but Microsoft tends to make the methods as obtuse as possible. 

Either way, it makes for some fun comics and memes. 

microsoft_edge_popped_up_on_my_computer_this from r/pcmasterrace

i_feel_like_microsoft_edge_is_getting_less_hate from r/pcmasterrace

the_only_use_i_have_for_edge from r/pcmasterrace

dont_get_too_excited_edge from r/pcmasterrace

i_kinda_like_new_edge_though from r/pcmasterrace

Google Chrome devours all the RAM

Chrome memes tend to mock how much RAM it can soak, as Google took it from being relatively lightweight in its early days to a full-blown trojan horse to push its ChromeOS platform. 

One redditor went as far to build a sword out of RAM to combat the rise of Chrome. 

im_preparing_to_take_chrome_head_on_wish_me_luck from r/pcmasterrace

this_is_your_ram_and_this_is_your_ram_on_chrome from r/pcmasterrace

sus_chrome from r/pcmasterrace

i_am_glad_i_left_chrome from r/pcmasterrace

What about Firefox?

Everybody seems to love Firefox on PCMR, although according to global market shares it's only just barely ahead of Microsoft Edge, sitting at around 8%. In any case, it's fun to root for the "little guy," and Mozilla Firefox being an independent non-profit seems to have user's best interests at heart, over advertiser's best interests. 

Firefox actually seemed to trigger some of the more recent browser wars with its denunciation of Google's potential new limitations on ad-blocking tech. Naturally, Google's entire business model revolves around ads and the profiling of its users to serve as relevant ads as possible. Firefox doesn't have any such incentives, and its most recent Manifest v3 version for browser extensions seems to offset some of the potential limitations created by Google's own version.  

imagine_increase_of_firefox_downloads_due_to_pcmr from r/pcmasterrace

firefoxfirefox_derivatives_gang from r/pcmasterrace

the_firefox_faithful_are_here_again from r/pcmasterrace

What browser do you use?

With the jury out on how much Chromium's new update will impact ad blocking, we could see a shift towards Mozilla Firefox throughout 2023 if ads start to get out of control again. Chrome and Microsoft Edge both have a lot of "convenience" features baked in, such as password syncing with associated platform accounts. For those who are privacy conscious, browsers like Firefox are offering an alternative platform in a world increasingly dominated by big tech and their algorithms. 

Where do you stand on web browsers in 2023? Drop a vote in our poll, and let us know! 

What you need to know

• Microsoft recently made it easier to change the default browser on Windows 11.
• Mozilla calls the move a "step in the right direction" but says more can be done.
• Mozilla asked Microsoft to give developers access to more APIs related to default browser settings.

Earlier this month, Microsoft rolled out an optional cumulative update for Windows 11 that made it easier to change the default browser on PCs. Previously, people had to manually change the default setting for every file and link type, which could require dozens of steps to accomplish. Following the recent update to Windows 11, people can set their preferences for more than one link and file type with a single click.

Mozilla, the makers of the Firefox browser, said that the move is a "step in the right direction" by Microsoft but that more can be done to "respect default browser choice on Windows." The company calls on improvements for both end-users and developers when it comes to setting a default browser.

"People should have the ability to simply and easily set defaults and all operating systems should offer official developer support for default status," said a Mozilla spokesperson. "In practice, we'd like to also see progress on reducing the number of steps required to set a new browser as default, and on opening and making APIs available for apps to set default that other Microsoft applications use."

I installed Firefox on a PC running the latest version of Windows 11 and set the browser as our default by following a prompt within Firefox. This swapped the default browser for the PC to Firefox for quite a few file and link types, but not all of them. For example, AVIF, PDF, and WEBP were all still set to other applications. When clicking to change the remaining file and link types to Firefox, I was shown a message discussing Edge before I could confirm the change.

It's important to note that reversing the process and setting Edge as my default browser leaves the settings for the same link and file types unchanged. It appears that even setting your browser to Microsoft Edge does not change all of your defaults on Windows 11.

Updated January 13, 2022 at 8:15 AM: Mozilla believes that it has fixed the issue and that restarting Firefox should "restore normal behavior" of the browser.

What you need to know

• Mozilla Firefox isn't loading websites for some users.
• The problem causes an infinite loading loop and Firefox to not load any web pages.
• There isn't a permanent fix for the issue yet, but there is a workaround that will work in some cases.

Mozilla Firefox has an issue that prevents websites from loading at the moment. Those affected by the bug will see an infinite loading loop on tabs and the browser failing to load any pages. The browser's implementation of HTTP3 appears to be the root of the problem. While there isn't a permanent fix from Mozilla for the bug, there is a workaround that will help in some cases.

Since HTTP3 is related to the issue, you can simply disable it. This shouldn't affect the browsing experience much as there aren't many websites that require HTTP3 right now.

You can disable HTTP3 by following these steps:

1. Open Firefox.
2. Type about:config in the address bar.
3. Select Accept the Risk and Continue.
4. Type network.http.http3.enabled in the configuration's text bar
5. Change the setting for network.http.http3.enabled to "false" by clicking the icon on the right.
6. Restart Firefox.

Twitter user @iamPrateeshRK shared a video of these steps as well.

This workaround should mitigate the issue on Firefox on Windows, Linux, and macOS.

Mozilla announced a fix for the issue at 8:06 AM EST on January 13, 2022:

Alternatively, you could use a different browser, such as Microsoft Edge, Chrome, or Vivaldi. Note that the iOS version of Firefox is not affected by this bug as it uses WebKit.

This is a developing story, and we will add more details as they become available.

What you need to know

• Firefox has landed in the new Microsoft Store, making it the "only independent browser with its own engine" in the store to date, according to Mozilla Corporation.
• Firefox utilizes the Gecko engine, which prevented it from embracing the previous Microsoft Store due to the store's terms.
• Microsoft's new terms and openness to browsers in its refreshed store have been a selling point for it.

Firefox has joined the new Microsoft Store and is available today for download directly through the storefront, meaning there's no more need for a web-based download of the browser. It's not alone, either. Other browsers, including Opera, have been namedropped by Microsoft in its push to educate consumers on its refreshed store's updated philosophies on openness and app availability.

In its announcement of the news, Mozilla reiterated that Firefox is the only independent browser that utilizes its own engine available on the Microsoft Store to date. "By maintaining its own engine with Gecko, Firefox is able to enforce its privacy protection features like Total Cookie Protection and Enhanced Tracking Protection, and provide users with lightning fast rendering using WebRender, secure sandboxing using Site Isolation, and a performant styling engine known as Quantum CSS."

Mozilla mentioned that Microsoft's old store policies wouldn't allow for Firefox because of the Gecko element, but now that issue is a thing of the past. Whether you're on Windows 11 or Windows 10, you can enjoy access to Firefox directly through Redmond's storefront.

Of course, being that Firefox uses its own installer, all its updates come via the browser itself and not the Microsoft Store.

Update: Firefox is using Microsoft's MSIX installer, which means it's a "proper" Store app and should auto-update through the store itself.

And browsers aren't the only thing coming to the store. Already, we're seeing storefront-ception what with the Epic Games Store being available in the Microsoft Store. Apps such as Discord have made their way over as well. These arrivals come in large part due to Microsoft's revised policies and rules.

In case all of this is news to you and you didn't know Microsoft was doing anything to improve its storefront, check out what's new with the Microsoft Store.

What you need to know

• You can now set Mozilla Firefox as your default browser from directly within the app.
• Firefox bypasses Microsoft's anti-hijacking measures to make this option possible.
• Usually, you have to go through the Windows 10 Settings app to change your default browser.

Windows 10 allows you to switch your default apps, but that process seemingly isn't quick enough for Mozilla's preferences. Recently, the browser maker figured out a way to bypass Windows 10's anti-hijacking protections, allowing people to set Firefox as their default browser with a single click. Microsoft's Edge browser can be set as your default with a single click, but no other browsers on Windows 10 have that privilege.

Firefox 91 came out on August 10, 2021. The latest version lets you set it as a default directly within the browser. You don't have to jump into the Windows 10 Settings app, which is normally the case.

"People should have the ability to simply and easily set defaults, but they don't," said a Mozilla spokesperson to The Verge. "All operating systems should offer official developer support for default status so people can easily set their apps as default. Since that hasn't happened on Windows 10 and 11, Firefox relies on other aspects of the Windows environment to give people an experience similar to what Windows provides to Edge when users choose Firefox to be their default browser."

Mozilla wrote a letter to Microsoft in 2015 regarding default apps and the choice of consumers.

Microsoft didn't set up Windows 10 this way exclusively to make it more difficult to have competing browsers as default apps. That's certainly a byproduct of the security measures in the operating system, but there are legitimate reasons to prevent apps from being able to set themselves as defaults. For example, attackers could trick people into downloading a seemingly innocent app that would then get people to set it as a default.

In addition to Windows 10 requiring a few extra steps to set default apps, there are times when the operating system ignores your default browser settings. For example, clicking links through Cortana will open in Edge regardless of your settings. Similar issues remain in Windows 11. You can force Windows to use your default browser settings with EdgeDeflector.

What you need to know

• Mozilla explains how to set up Windows single sign-on in its Firefox browser in a new support post.
• The feature lets people sign in to Microsoft accounts, work accounts, and school accounts using credentials from Windows 10.
• The feature requires Firefox version 91 or higher.

Mozilla Firefox recently gained support for Windows single sign-on (SSO). With the feature, people can log in to Microsoft accounts, work accounts, and school accounts using credentials from Windows 10. A new support document from Mozilla breaks down how to set up the feature. Note that Firefox version 91 or higher is required to use SSO.

Merill Fernando, program manager of Microsoft's Azure AD, recently highlighted the new feature on Twitter.

Mozilla breaks down how to enable the feature in its support post:

1. Click the Firefox menu button.
2. Click Settings.
3. Select Privacy & Security.
4. Navigate to Logins and Passwords.
5. Check the box for **Allow Windows single sign-on for Microsoft, work, and school accounts.

Mozilla also outlines how to make sure your accounts have been configured within Windows 10. To check these settings:

1. Open the Windows 10 Settings app.
2. Select Accounts.
3. Select Email & accounts

You'll then see any accounts that you've configured on your PC.

What you need to know

• Mozilla recently released Firefox version 91.
• Firefox 91 includes support for Windows single sign-on, making it easier to sign in to Microsoft accounts on the web.
• The latest version of the browser also has over 1,200 bug fixes and a handful of other new features.

Mozilla released Firefox version 91 this week. The latest version of the browser has over 1,200 bug fixes and a handful of new features compared to its predecessor. Among its new features is support for Windows single sign-on (SSO). This feature lets you log in to Microsoft work and school accounts with credentials from your PC.

The update also adds a "more comprehensive logic for clearing cookies," according to Mozilla. This prevents hidden data leaks.

Here's what's new, as outlined by Mozilla:

• Building on Total Cookie Protection, we've added a more comprehensive logic for clearing cookies that prevents hidden data leaks and makes it easy for users to understand which websites are storing local information. Learn more
• Firefox now supports logging into Microsoft, work, and school accounts using Windows single sign-on. Learn more
• The simplify page when printing feature is back! When printing, under More settings > Format select the Simplified option when available to get a clutter-free page. Learn more
• HTTPS-First Policy: Firefox Private Browsing windows now attempt to make all connections to websites secure, and fall back to insecure connections only when websites do not support it. Learn more
• We've added a new locale: Scots (sco)
• The address bar now provides Switch to Tab results also in Private Browsing windows.
• Firefox now automatically enables High Contrast Mode when "Increase Contrast" is checked on MacOS
• Firefox now does catch-up paints for almost all user interactions, enabling a 10-20% improvement in response time to most user interactions.

Firefox 91 performs catch-up paints for "almost all user interactions," according to Mozilla. The company explains that this results in a 10-20% improvement in response time for most interactions.

What you need to know

• Mozilla recently announced a privacy feature called "Total Cookie Protection."
• The feature creates separate "cookie jars" for each website you visit.
• This cookie jar setup prevents sites from tracking you across the web.

Mozilla introduced a new privacy feature in Firefox 86 that stops cookies from being shared between websites. Mozilla calls it "Total Cookie Protection," and it works by creating separate "cookie jars" for each website that you visit. By utilizing this cookie jar system, Firefox makes it so websites can't track you across the web.

Total Cookie Protection is built into Firefox's ETP Strict Mode. Mozilla describes it in a blog post:

Firefox doesn't just block every single cross-site cookie, though. Mozilla cleverly created exceptions for when you need cookies for non-tracking purposes, including third-party login providers. The browser can detect when you want to use a login provider and then specifically allow it for a site you're on.

This setup means that your browsing experience shouldn't be hampered but that cookies you don't want tracked across sites will be isolated within their respective cookie jars.

The new Total Cookie Protection feature, when used in conjunction with Firefox's Supercookie Protections should improve your browsing privacy significantly. Total Cookie Protection isn't turned on by default, but you can easily switch it on.

There are also extensions to block cookies, but this new feature is baked right into Firefox.

What you need to know

• DNS over HTTPS is now on by default for users of Mozilla Firefox in the U.S..
• The feature provides an encrypted and more secure way to browse the web.
• People outside the U.S. can also

Mozilla Firefox will now have DNS over HTTPS (DoH) on by default for people in the U.S.. As a result, browsing the web will now be more secure and go through encryption. People outside of the U.S. can turn the feature on as well, though it isn't on by default. People can choose between Cloudflare or NextDNS as providers for DoH, with Cloudflare as the default.

Mozilla's blog post announcing the move to have DoH on by default does an excellent job explaining why DoH is needed. Here's a key excerpt from Mozilla's explanation:

Because DNS was not originally encrypted, people could collect or block data when people navigated the web. DoH performs DNS lookups within an encrypted HTTPS connection and adds an encryption layer to a process that previously lacked one.

Several browsers support DoH, though it's often a hidden feature. To turn the feature on within many Chromium-based browsers, you need to turn it on. For example, to turn DoH on in Google Chrome, you need to use chrome://flags.

Firefox now has DoH on by default for anyone inside the U.S., and people outside the U.S. can enable DoH through Firefox's settings. In the browser's settings, you can also choose between Cloudflare and NextDNS.

What you need to know

• Mozilla Firefox has released security updates for its browser.
• The update is so important, even the Department of Homeland Security recommends upgrading.
• It's designed to patch a zero-day exploit that could be used to "take control of an affected system."

Mozilla Firefox has released a security update so important, even the Department of Homeland Security says you should download it.

As spotted by TNW, version 72.0.1 of Mozilla Firefox has been made available to download. The latest update patches a zero-day exploit that could allow a hacker to "take control of an affected system."

The Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA), part of the Department of Homeland Security, in a post said this:

As TNW notes, this is the third such exploit Mozilla has had to address in the past year after two zero-day exploits emerged in quick succession in June of 2019. Both zero-day exploits were used by a hacking group in an attempt to infect Coinbase staff using spear-fishing emails with links to malicious sites.

To download the latest version of Mozilla (and if you use Mozilla you really should), select "Help" from the menu in the top-right corner of your browser and then select "About Firefox". This will tell you what version you're already running and give you the option to update.

What you need to know

• Mozilla Firefox now supports picture-in-picture mode on Windows.
• The same update also brings improvements to Lockwise.
• The update brings Mozilla Firefox to version 71.0 and is available now.

Mozilla Firefox now supports picture-in-picture mode on Windows. The latest update to the browser brings it to version 71.0 and brings several improvements to go along with the new picture-in-picture mode. You can read the complete changelog in Firefox's release notes.

The update to version 71.0 also brings improvements to Lockwise, the integrated password manager within Mozilla Firefox. Here's a recap of all of the changes.

You can download the latest version of Firefox from Mozilla for free.

What you need to know

• Firefox has a new feature that creates reports of how many trackers have been blocked by the browser.
• You can also use a tool to see how many unsafe passwords may have been used in a data breach.
• Firefox's Enhanced Tracking Protection was recently turned on by default in the browser for all people.

Mozilla Firefox has been a browser-based around security for awhile. Recently, Enhanced Tracking Protection was turned on by default for all people. Now, people can see how many trackers are blocked by Enhanced Tracking Protection. A new feature within the browser allows people to see free reports that outline the number of third-party and social media trackers blocked by Firefox's Enhanced Tracking Protection.

The reports from Firefox Privacy Protection include three key types of data that are fully outlined in a blog post by Mozilla.

• See how many times Enhanced Tracking Protection blocks an attempt to tag you with cookies
• Keep up to date on data breaches with Firefox Monitor
• Manage your passwords and synced devices with Firefox Lockwise

Selena Deckelmann, Senior Director of Firefox Engineering at Mozilla, explains that many people are pushed into consenting to allow tracking, "The industry uses dark patterns to push people to 'consent' to an unimaginable amount of data collection. These interfaces are designed to push you to allow tracking your behavior as you browse the web."

You can access the Privacy Protection reports by clicking the shield that appears next to the address bar of the browser or by visiting this page.

Firefox Lockwise also has a new dashboard, making it easier to manage the passwords that you have saved. You can sync your passwords when you use Firefox on Android or iOS.

What you need to know

• Firefox's "Enhanced Tracking Protection" will now be turned on by default for all users.
• Previously, the feature was turned on by default for new users.
• First launched late in 2018, the feature automatically blocks third-party tracking cookies as you browse the web.

Mozilla's Firefox browser will now have "Enhanced Tracking Protection" on for all users by default. The feature blocks third-party tracking cookies. Until recently, the feature was turned on by default for new users, but existing users had to choose to toggle it on. Mozilla announced in a blog post that the feature is now part of the "Standard" settings for Firefox users. The feature is on by default for users on desktops and Android devices.

Enhanced Tracking protection blocks third-party tracking cookies from thousands of companies with the aid of a known tracker list. Using the feature increases privacy for Firefox users as it makes it harder for companies to track users across the web.

If you'd like to see which tracking cookies have been blocked by the feature, you can click on the shield icon that appears when the feature is active. Users can also elect to not block specific sites if they choose.

What you need to know

• Browser makers are blocking a root certificate Kazakhstan ISPs were forced to install to spy on citizens.
• Google, Mozilla, and Apple are all blocking the certificate.
• This protects users of Safari, Chrome, and Firefox from the certificate.

ISPs in Kazakhstan were forced to install a root certificate that allowed the government to effectively spy on their citizens by breaking HTTPS encryption and monitoring what web pages they went to and what information was being sent back and forth.

Apple, which makes the Safari browser pre-installed on Macs, iPhones, and iPads; Mozilla, which makes Firefox; and Google, which makes Chrome, the browser for PCs, ChromeOS and Android, have all now moved to ban that certificate. There's no word if Microsoft has put a similar block in place for Edge yet.

Apple sent me the following statement:

ZDNet also has statements up from Google and Mozilla.

From now on, Safari, Firefox, and Chrome will throw up errors if and when they encounter the Kazakh root certificate. And good for them. Once any government starts to sink its surveillance fangs into core internet technology, and breaks the encryption fundamental to not only privacy but security, all governments and enterprises, fearful and malevolent, will follow.

It's much easier to stop it before it starts.

What you need to know

• Firefox's "Enhanced Tracking Protection" will now be turned on by default.
• First launched late in 2018, the feature automatically blocks third-party tracking cookies as you browse the web.
• Enhanced Tracking Protection will be on by default for new users, and existing users will see it gradually switched on "in the coming months."

Mozilla's Firefox browser is stepping things up in its efforts to combat tracking cookies across the web. The company today announced that its Enhanced Tracking Protection feature, which first launched as an optional toggle last year, will now be enabled by default.

Enhanced Tracking Protection works by blocking third-party tracking cookies from thousands of companies with the aid of a known tracker list. The effect will be an increase in privacy for Firefox users, as companies will be less able to track your activity across the web.

Mozilla says that Enhanced Tracking Protection will be switched on for new users by default as part of Firefox's "Standard" setting. Existing users will have the feature turned on by default "in the coming months," Mozilla says. If you're an existing user and want to turn it on now, you can do so by making sure that "Third-party trackers" is checked under your content blocking settings.

In addition to Enhanced Tracking Protection, Firefox has enhanced its Facebook Container extension to block Facebook from tracking you on other websites that incorporate features like Share and Like buttons. Additionally, Mozilla has launched a new Firefox Lockwise desktop extension for helping users manage their password. The extension works in concert with Lockwise apps on Android and iOS to help you keep track of your passwords everywhere.

See at Mozilla

Affordable accessories that'll pair perfectly with your PC

Every one of these awesome PC accessories will enhance your everyday experience — and none cost more than $30.

KLIM Aim RGB gaming mouse ($30 at Amazon)

Whether you're a gamer or not, this is an absurdly good mouse for the price. It's ambidextrous, has a responsive sensor, a braided cable, tank-like build quality, and, yes, it has RGB lighting, though you can turn it off if that's not your thing.

AmazonBasics USB speakers ($16 at Amazon)

These neat little speakers may only pack 2.4W of total power, but don't let that fool you. For something so small you get a well-rounded sound and a stylish design. And they only cost $16.

Razer mouse bungee ($20 at Amazon)

Use a wired mouse? You need a mouse bungee to keep your cable tidy and free of snags. You get no drag on the cable, and this one has subtle styling, a rust-resistant spring and a weighted base, all for $20.

Microsoft and Mozilla are both working to make passwords a thing of the past, and the latest version of Firefox is a big step towards that future. Firefox version 66 includes support for Windows Hello for web authentication, allowing you to log in to websites that support the latest FIDO2 standards for passwordless logins.

Currently, the feature is only available with Firefox 66 for Windows Insiders testing the Windows 10 19H1 update in the Fast ring. If you meet both requirements, however, you'll be able to use a variety of supported authentication methods supported by Windows Hello to sign into websites. "That includes face or fingerprint biometrics, and a wide range of external security keys via the CTAP2 protocol from FIDO2, as well as existing deployed CTAP1 FIDO U2F-style security keys," Mozilla says in a blog post.

Microsoft has been vocal in its efforts to kill passwords due to the security issues that they pose. In November, the company added support for FIDO2 security keys as a login method for Microsoft accounts, allowing users to ditch their passwords.

Firefox 66 is available to download starting today. Windows Insiders on the Fast ring can try its Windows Hello support starting now. Everyone else will automatically gain access to the feature when the Windows 10 19H1 update ships later this spring.

Mozilla today announced the formal launch of Firefox Send, a file-sharing service that got its start as one of the organization's "Test Pilot" experiments. Along with its graduation from an experiment, Firefox Send has also picked up some enhancements to upload limits and control over what you send.

Firefox Send acts as a secure file-transfer service, intended to help you privately share sensitive files with others. Available through any browser at send.firefox.com, Firefox Send allows you to upload files and send them to someone else with end-to-end encryption. It also gives you control over how the files are treated, allowing you to set the file link to expire, limit the number of downloads, and set a password for the recipient to enter before being allowed to download the files you share.

At its most basic, Firefox Send allows you to share files up to 1GB in size. If you sign up for a Firefox account, that limit expands to 2.5GB. Crucially, recipients don't need a Firefox account to download files that you share; all they need is the link and, if set, a password.

If you're curious, you can learn more about Firefox Send at Mozilla's full blog post. Otherwise, you can give the service a spin for free by heading to send.firefox.com.

The Firefox Reality browser is coming to Microsoft's HoloLens 2 later this year giving customers and the VR community more options for an open and free virtual web. Announced at Mobile World Congress 2019 the project signals a new level of cooperation and engagement between the two companies to help push virtual computing to the next level.

If you're not familiar with Firefox Reality, the project was announced in late 2018 as "a fast and secure browser from Mozilla that is designed for browsing the open web in Virtual Reality. We have collaborated with content creators from around the globe to provide easy access to amazing VR experiences that can be enjoyed directly from Firefox Reality."

The project aims to create a next-gen browser that works with VR and now augmented reality (AR) with HoloLens 2. From the Firefox press release:

The teaming with Firefox is an exciting change from just a few months ago. Microsoft seemed to have given the cold shoulder to the browser giant by switching over to a Chromium-based browser for Windows 10 resulting in tersely worded response from the org about the importance of an open web.

Just like Windows 10 today Microsoft's vision of HoloLens 2 is that of open collaboration and giving people choices – including for browsers. Adding Firefox Reality to the mix is undoubtedly an excellent decision to help move the category forward.

We'll keep up on Firefox Reality for HoloLens 2 in the coming months as the project moves forward.

Mozilla has today released the first pre-release build of Firefox for the ARM64 architecture, making it the first third-party browser on Windows 10 to support Windows 10 on ARM natively. Today's release comes in the form of an early nightly build, which is an unfinished, untested, pre-release version of the Firefox web browser.

As such, this isn't an official launch of Firefox for Windows 10 on ARM just yet, but users are welcome to download the latest nightly builds for the ARM64 architecture to give them a whirl and report and bugs that may arise during use. Firefox Nightly is not intended to be used as a daily browser, and Mozilla says that this is especially the case with the ARM64 compiles of Firefox Nightly.

Now that ARM support is being tested in the nightly branch for Firefox, it shouldn't be much longer before we see an official release of Firefox for Windows 10 on ARM. Chromium and Firefox are two web browsers we know are coming to Windows 10 on ARM in the near future, which should improve performance in these browsers when using them on an ARM devices.

Will you be downloading the Firefox Nightly build for Windows 10 on ARM? Let us know in the comments. You can download the Firefox Nightly for ARM64 installer here.

Thanks for the tip, Simon!

Qualcomm today broke cover on the Snapdragon 8cx, a powerful new chip purpose-built for Windows 10 PCs. But alongside the "extreme" new chip and all of its performance metrics, Qualcomm slipped in another announcement that should have Mozilla fans happy: a native ARM64 version of Firefox is in the works.

Mozilla and Qualcomm are working together to get a native ARM64 version of Firefox out the door, which should help to solve any performance issues caused by the current app. As it stands, Firefox must be emulated on Snapdragon-powered PCs, which causes some inherent performance issues. A native version built for ARM64 chips would solve any of the outstanding hitches, hopefully boosting the browser's speed by a noticeable margin.

There's no word on when this version of Firefox is expected to launch, but it's reassuring for the sake of the app ecosystem for Snapdragon PCs that it's in the pipeline.

The news comes alongside word that a native version of Chromium is also being worked on, and Windows 10 Enterprise will also be supported on the Snapdragon 8cx.

Mozilla has made a pledge to counteract cross-site tracking across the web, and it's delivering on part of that promise with the latest update to Firefox. Starting with Firefox 63, which is rolling out now, Mozilla has introduced the option to block trackers while you go about your browsing.

In Firefox's "Options/Preferences" settings, you'll now find a new "Third-Party Cookies" option under Privacy and Security. From there, you'll have two options: you can either block trackers only or opt to block all third-party cookies. The latter option will be the most comprehensive approach, but it could also cause some websites to break. Both options are off by default, so as to "balance these new preferences with the experiences our users want and expect," Mozilla says.

If you ever encounter any odd issues due to cookie blocking, you can whitelist sites from the address bar by clicking the shield icon and selecting "Disable Blocking For This Site."

Today's update also introduces a couple of other notable features for Windows users. First up, Firefox will now respect your Windows theme settings, adjusting to match the dark or light theme as you've set it in your Windows settings. Also tagging along are new search shortcuts, which will pin Amazon and Google to the new tab page. This is live in the U.S. only at this time.

See at Mozilla

Firefox is gearing up to embrace Windows 10's native notifications with an upcoming update. Mozilla has updated its Bugzilla bug tracker (via Windows Latest, Techdows) to note that it is now targeting support for the native notification scheme in Firefox 64.

The feature is already in testing with Firefox Nightly, a pre-release version of the browser that Mozilla uses to test out changes before pushing them out to everyone. Once available, any push notifications sent through Firefox will live in your Windows 10 Action Center. The notifications will also respect any custom Windows 10 settings you have, including Focus Assist and any priorities you've set.

The move comes roughly two months after Chrome began rolling out support for native Windows 10 notifications. It will also address a longstanding request among Firefox users; the bug tracker entry is now four years old.

If you're curious, you can check out the Firefox beta and nightly versions at Mozilla.

Updated September 25, 2018: Firefox Monitor is now available to everyone after its initial round of testing. To get started, you can head to monitor.firefox.com. The original story follows.

If all of the data breaches hitting the news over the past several years have you worried, Mozilla is working on a tool that will help you keep an eye on your accounts. Called Firefox Monitor, the website will allow you to check your email addresses against a database of known breaches to see if any of your personal data has been exposed.

To get the ball rolling, Mozilla has partnered with HaveIBeenPwned.com (HIBP), which operates a database of email addresses that have been found to have been compromised in data breaches. Firefox Monitor will work by checking the email address you enter against the HIBP database in a secure way. According to Mozilla, it has worked with HIBP and Cloudflare to ensure any data shared with Firefox Monitor is anonymized and your full email address is never shared with any companies other than Mozilla.

From Mozilla:

Mozilla says that Firefox Monitor is designed to be used by everyone, but it will offer "additional features" for Firefox users, though it's unclear what those added features will be at the moment.

The tool isn't yet ready for primetime, but Mozilla is gearing up to begin a test next week with around 250,000 people. Should testing go well, Firefox Monitor will be enabled for all Firefox users at a later date.

See Firefox at Mozilla

A little over five months since first revealing its nascent VR browser project, Mozilla is officially unleashing Firefox Reality on the world. While the standard Firefox browser already features support for WebVR, Firefox Reality is built from the ground up to bring "the immersive web" to VR headsets.

Since its initial preview earlier this year, Firefox Reality looks to have undergone quite a few changes to better accommodate its virtual environment. Whereas early versions simply looked as if a Firefox window was slapped against a stark, virtual background, version 1.0 places the browser against an immersive range of colorful backdrops with large, rounded buttons for navigation.

Upon opening the browser, Firefox Reality is immediately populated with a list of immersive experiences that you can dive into right away. Mozilla says it is working with content creators to bolster this lineup with games, videos, and new environments that will be added to the home screen over time.

Of course, you can browse the web as you normally would on your PC or mobile device as well. But because text input using a remote can be a hassle, Firefox Reality includes the option to perform searches using your voice.

"We had to rethink everything, including navigation, text-input, environments, search and more," says Andre Vrignaud, head of Mixed Reality Platform Strategy at Mozilla. "This required years of research, and countless conversations with users, content creators, and hardware partners. The result is a browser that is built for the medium it serves. It makes a big difference, and we think you will love all of the features and details that we've created specifically for a MR browser."

At launch, Firefox VR is available on Oculus, Viveport, and Daydream headsets. And at the start, Firefox Reality is missing some standard features you'd expect to be present in any browser. Namely, there's currently no way to bookmark a page, nor is there support for accounts or 360-degree videos. However, Mozilla says that all of these features, and more, are slated to be added "in the coming months."

See at Google Play See at Oculus See at Viveport{.cta .shop}

Microsoft appears to be stepping up its game when it comes to trying to push users to try out Microsoft Edge with the upcoming Windows 10 update launching in October. In this release, Microsoft has quietly added a new feature to the OS called "app suggestions," which is on by default, and will popup a window when the user tries to install a third-party browser like Google Chrome or Mozilla Firefox prompting them to try Edge first.

The popup appears to be powered by the Microsoft Store, and shows up whenever you try to launch an installer for a third-party browser not made by Microsoft. Now, these "app suggestions" can be turned in the Settings app if you don't want Microsoft promoting Edge as you try to install another browser, and the popup itself doesn't stop you from installing other browsers, it just reminds you that Edge exists and is worth a try. It's likely that these app suggestions are in play for other types of apps too, but we've not been able to find anymore as of yet.

Still, Microsoft building a dedicated popup into the OS for users trying to install other browsers is rather telling. Microsoft is trying to get Edge in front of many people as it can, but I'm not sure forcing popups in front of them as they try to install something else is going to help with getting people on Edge's side. If someone is downloading Chrome or Firefox, they've already made their choice as to what browser they want to use. Reminding them about Edge at the last second isn't going to help, and it likely just going to annoy the user further.

The app suggestions feature is part of the "Apps & Features" setting in the Settings app, where you can control whether or not you can install apps from outside the Microsoft Store. In Windows 10 version 1803 and previous, the default option for this setting was "install apps from anywhere," but now it's been changed to ""show me app recommendations," which is what is prompting the warning when installing Chrome and Firefox. As mentioned above, you can still turn it off though.

What are your thoughts on this? Let us know in the comments!

Thanks for the tip, Venkat

Windows 10's Timeline feature lets you jump back to previous sessions of apps. It's a great way to jump back to a website or document you worked on before. Unfortunately, not many developers support it. Thankfully, developer Dominic Maas has made an add-on for Mozilla Firefox that adds Timeline support to the browser.

The add-on is free and available for Firefox on both desktop and mobile. There is also a version of Timeline Support for Google Chrome, though we did not test it for this review because it was available during the time of writing.

Download Timeline Support for Firefox

Time travel

The add-on does exactly what the title says: it brings Timeline support to Firefox. When you've browsed a webpage, you can then jump back to it by opening your task view button and scrolling down to your Timeline. Timeline shows a preview of the webpage, so you can easily identify any instance of browsing. You can select how many seconds you need to be on a page before it's added to your Timeline, which helps keep your Timeline clean when you quickly bounce between websites.

Timeline Support is also available on the mobile version of Firefox. I used it on my Galaxy S8+ and it worked very similarly to the desktop version. Unfortunately, my mobile browsing didn't show up on my PC's Timeline. You can use the add-on to continue browsing a website from your phone on your PC's default browser.

Sadly, not that common

There really isn't much else to say about the add-on, but it's a great chance to highlight the fact that this feature isn't used by many developers to its potential. Some normal big names among the Windows community support it, such as myTube! But overall, it's mostly just Microsoft apps that support the feature.

I'm not surprised Google wouldn't support it, because it has very few apps available on anything running Windows. But the fact that opening Timeline on my device shows basically just my Edge history with a few other apps thrown in is disappointing. If Timeline doesn't want to become the next My People, a great feature that basically no one uses, more developers need to get on board.

Overall thoughts on Timeline Support for Firefox

It's great to see this add-on for a big-named browser like Firefox. Too few developers utilize Timeline and adding it to one (soon to be two) of the world's most popular browsers is great.

The ability to push a website from one device to another is nice, but I'd also like my histories from multiple devices to show up on my Timeline, like they do for Microsoft Edge. Overall, it's a great add-on that's free and brings a lot of functionality.

Pros

• Works seamlessly
• Available across multiple platforms
• Customizable
• Free

Cons

• Sites from mobile and desktop don't show up on each other's timelines

Download Timeline Support for Firefox

Updated August 13, 2018: We updated this post to add availability information and a link to the Google Chrome version of Timeline Support.

Microsoft's new Timeline feature allows users to see all the stuff they've been doing on their PC over the last 30 days, including an overview of all the webpages they've viewed in Edge. Unfortunately, being able to resume your browsing activity with Timeline doesn't work with any other browsers officially, but now with the help of a third-party extension, you can add that functionality with ease.

Developer Dominic Maas has build a free extension for Chrome, Firefox and Vivaldi web browsers, that adds Windows Timeline support. This means that you'll now be able to see all the webpages you view in those browsers within Timeline, just like you already can with Microsoft Edge. This is great news for those that find Timeline useful and want to resume activities across devices simply and securely.

You can also send open tabs from one device to another using the extension, using the Project Rome APIs that let you send activities across devices. Essentially, this extension adds further Windows 10 integration that should have been done by the official browser developers at this point. Thanks to the work by Dominic Maas, we now have that functionality.

Make sure you check out Dominic Maas on Twitter and download the extensions for Chrome/Vivaldi here, and Firefox here!

Download "Windows Timeline support" for Chrome/Vivaldi Download "Windows Timeline support" for Firefox {.cta .shop}

From a customization standpoint, one of the most attractive changes added in Windows 10 is the ability to switch between system-wide dark and light themes. But if you prefer to go dark, that setting is only as good as the apps that work in concert with it. For Firefox fans, you'll soon be able to count your browser of choice among them.

This week, Mozilla added the option for the latest Firefox Nightly build to respect your Windows 10 theme settings. So, if you choose to go with the system-wide dark theme, Firefox will automatically switch to its dark theme to match. Likewise, choosing the light theme will keep Firefox light as well. Thankfully, if you use a custom theme, Firefox won't bother to switch things up (via MSPU).

Firefox's nightly release channel is used as a development branch to test out new features, including the bugs that come with them, so it's not for anyone unwilling to put up with an unstable browser. However, now that this setting is included in the development branch, it should eventually make its way down to the main Firefox release version.

If you're curious, you can give the feature a shot now by grabbing the latest Firefox Nightly build at Mozilla.

For the most part, all of the attention Firefox has received in recent months has been related to its speedy Quantum update, launched in late 2017. However, Mozilla announced today that it is cooking up a couple of small, but handy features that users can test right now as part of its Test Pilot program.

The first addition is the new Firefox Color extension, which is a simple tool focused entirely on theming. The extension allows you to customize portions of the browser, including background texture, text, icons, and more. Mozilla has included quite a bit of control here, so it should be simple to toy around with and find something you like. Just be careful not to burn your eyes out of their sockets.

The second new tool is Side View, which operates like Windows' Snap feature, but built into the browser. Side view lets you quickly open a second browser tab within the same browser space. Mozilla is positioning this as an easy way to compare shopping sites, news stories, and more. For Windows users who are already used to snapping websites next to one another, this may be a little redundant, but it's a neat addition nonetheless.

To check out the new tools, you can join the Firefox Test Pilot program, which is open to all Firefox users. Eventually, if they garner enough positive feedback, both features could be added to Firefox's default setup.