Focus by Firefox Can Boost Page Load Speed, Reduce Data Usage, and Block Trackers

Article by George Norman (Cybersecurity Editor)

on 09 Dec 2015

Focus by Firefox, a free content blocker for iOS, can boost page load speed, reduce mobile data usage, and block trackers – including ad trackers.

“We want to build an Internet that respects users, puts them in control, and creates and maintains trust. Too many users have lost trust and lack meaningful controls over their digital lives. This loss of trust has impacted the ecosystem – sometimes negatively. Content blockers offer a way to rebuild that trust by empowering users,” said Denelle Dixon-Thayer, Chief Legal and Business Officer at Mozilla.

Focus by Firefox blocks all Sorts of trackers

One of the best things about Firefox is that it has Private Browsing with Tracking Protection. When you visit a website in Private Browsing mode, Tracking Protection will block parts of the website that track your browsing activity. Tracking Protection in Firefox for Windows, Mac, Linux and Android uses Disconnect’s open source blocklist to thwart trackers.

Focus by Firefox blocks the same trackers as Tracking Protection. When you visit a website with Safari (not Firefox for iOS, more about that later), Focus by Firefox will protect your privacy by blocking advertising, analytics, social, and other content trackers. As expected, you can choose what types of trackers Focus by Firefox will block.




Focus by Firefox Blocks Web Fonts

As you can see in the image presented above, Focus by Firefox has a performance feature that can block web fonts. This is important because it can boost page load speed and reduce mobile data usage. Or to put it in other words, webpages will load faster and will use up less of your data plan.

“Focus by Firefox puts users in control of their privacy by allowing them to block categories of trackers such as those used for ads, analytics and social media. Focus by Firefox may also increase performance and reduce mobile data usage by blocking Web fonts,” Mozilla explained in a press release.


Focus By Firefox Works with Safari Only (for now)

The upside is that Focus by Firefox is free, protects your privacy by blocking trackers, and reduces data usage as well as the time it takes to load a webpage. The downside is that Focus by Firefox, at least for now, works only with Safari on iOS 9. It doesn’t work with Mozilla’s own browser, Firefox for iOS.

“This was not our choice—Apple has chosen to make content blocking unavailable to third party browsers on iOS. We are exploring how we can provide this feature on Firefox for iOS and will deliver it as soon as it’s possible,” Mozilla explained.


Go get Focus by Firefox for free from Apple’s App Store.




In related news…

Here’s another new iOS app you should know about: Avira Vault. You can use it to store photos, videos, and other things in a secure vault where they're hidden from prying eyes.



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