'Firefox Focus' Private Browser Update Brings Multi-Language Support, Custom Search Engine Option

[MacRumors]

Mozilla has added more than 20 new languages to Firefox Focus, its privacy-centric browser that automatically blocks all trackers as users navigate around the web.

The latest update to the stripped-down web browser - which features an "Erase" button at the top of the app to erase all browsing history, searches, cookies, and passwords instantly - means users can now browse privately in 27 languages.

The additional support includes Arabic, Azerbaijani, Czech, Welsh, German, Spanish, French, Hungarian, Indonesian, Italian, Japanese, Dutch, Polish, Portuguese (Brazil), Russian, Slovak, Swedish, Turkish, Ukrainian, Simplified Chinese and Traditional Chinese, among many other tongues.

One of the complaints about the previous version of Focus was that it forced users to use a default search engine. Mozilla says it's listened to criticism and added a new option that allows users to select an alternative search service, which includes non-tracking engine DuckDuckGo.

When using Focus's most stringent tracker blocking setting, occasionally some sites visited in the app may fail to display as intended, making viewing content difficult. To compensate for this, Mozilla has also added a new button that allows users to open the web page in Firefox or Safari instead.

The first incarnation of the Focus brand came in 2015 in the form of a content blocker for iOS 9. In November of last year, Mozilla launched Focus as a fully functioning privacy browser.

Firefox Focus is available to download from the App Store for free. [Direct Link]

Article Link: 'Firefox Focus' Private Browser Update Brings Multi-Language Support, Custom Search Engine Option

 

[jonnysods]

I like privacy, I'm grabbing this now.

Wish there was a "choose default browser" option in iOS but am a realist and I know it's not coming!

 

[Xavier]

You can use this as a content blocker for Safari. I've been using it since it came out and I really like it as both a content blocker and a stand alone browser with privacy.

 

[ShadowYYZ]

You can use this as a content blocker for Safari. I've been using it since it came out and I really like it as both a content blocker and a stand alone browser with privacy.

How can I do that? I only prefer safari because welll iOS lol.

Otherwise I'm more of a Mozilla person.

 

[maflynn]

Mozilla finally woke up and realized that their claim to fame is FireFox and browers. Looks like a nice browser but I prefer the default one, i.e., Safari

 

[Weaselboy]

How can I do that? I only prefer safari because welll iOS lol.

Otherwise I'm more of a Mozilla person.

Just follow this.

 

[Sasparilla]

I use it for adblocking on Safari. Checked out the browser side of it (I like the regular Firefox browser on iOS and would have liked that with the privacy settings) - but this browser is really reduced function.

My bad about the search engine hardwiring (didn't have the last update), no bookmarks that I can see and only 1 tab. Love the privacy / security idea but its been totally kneecapped by design (they could have just applied the privacy/security stuff to their existing iOS Firefox browser and hit a home run), so it doesn't get used much.

I'll keep using the other part of the app as my iOS Safari privacy/adblocker as that works well. JMHO...

 

[997440]

Fx Focus story:

Firefox Focus: the privacy browser, is a free mobile browser for iOS devices by Mozilla designed to protect user privacy while browsing the web.
[...]
What you may not expect from the app, especially since it is designed to block analytic trackers, is that it is collecting data itself, and transfers the data it collects to third-party company Adjust.
[...]
Adjust GMBH is a big data specialist known for tracking and analytics services.
[...]

https://www.ghacks.net/2017/02/12/firefox-focus-privacy-scandal/


If desired, you can prevent this by changing an option in settings. Below is an image (left panel at bottom) with the usage data collection setting in the ON position:

 

[kazmac]

Wow...and then I remembered I am on Android...

 

[C DM]

Wow...and then I remembered I am on Android...

And that there are all kinds of settings for all kinds of apps that users should review when they install/use those apps to make sure they are set to what they need/want.

 

[kazmac]

And that there are all kinds of settings for all kinds of apps that users should review when they install/use those apps to make sure they are set to what they need/want.

?

I never installed, just making a comment about how useful this was and it's too bad its on iOS only.