Mozilla has released a new update to the Firefox web browser today, bringing it to version 67. The update primarily focuses on speed, improving the overall load times when a user requests a webpage.
The latest update now deprioritizes features that aren’t used very often by its users, which in turn leave more room for the computer to focus more on processing the web page as opposed to wasting its resourcing on unused features. For example, the browser now focuses on loading the main scripts first for sites like Amazon, Google, and Instagram for a 40-80% boost in performance by delaying the less commonly used scripts. It also now scans alternative style sheets only after the page fully loads, and also no longer loads the auto-fill module unless an actual form is available.
Additionally, Firefox will also now suspend idle tabs to focus processing and memory to the main ones when the user’s available memory drops to below 400 MB. And those who customize their browsers with add-ons will be pleased that it no longer performs all of the unnecessary work from an initial startup all over again after a subsequent launch.
Of course, speed isn’t the only thing that have been packaged into this update. Additional privacy features, which Mozilla’s browser has well received for, have also been bundled in. In addition to blocking trackers, the update now allows users to prevent other size from tracking their fingerprints as well as using their computers processors to mine cryptocurrencies.
Those who use the private browsing in Firefox will now be able to benefit from two additional improvements. The auto-fill form now works in this mode just as it does normally, and users can choose to enable or disable certain add-ons that they might want or prefer not to use.
Firefox definitely serves as a compelling replacement to the other giants Google Chrome and Microsoft Edge, especially those who are big on privacy. Feel free to sound off what you think in the comments.
