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Firefox Focus browser with built-in ad blocking lands on Android
Firefox Focus browser with built-in ad blocking lands on Android
Firefox’s privacy-focused browser is finally available on Android.
The Firefox Focus browser made its debut last year on the iPhone and iPad, and now the company is bringing the privacy-focused browser to Android. The highlight of the browser is built-in ad blocking, which not only gets rid of ads on websites, but also prevents web trackers from serving you ads across the internet.
Ad blocking is enabled by default, and the home screen is sparse but for an address bar where you can enter the URL of the site you want to visit, and an action overflow button that gives you access to the browser’s settings. Yahoo is the default search engine, but you can choose between Google, Amazon, DuckDuckGo, Twitter, and Wikipedia. You won’t find any tabs, and there’s the option to delete your browsing history with a single tap of the erase button located in the bottom right corner.
The browser automatically loads in “stealth mode,” which disables screenshots and greys out whatever website you’re viewing from being visible in the recent apps list. By automatically blocking ads, Firefox claims that it can deliver pages faster while consuming less data.
The Android version has a counter that shows you how many ad trackers that are blocked per site, and you can turn off the tracker blocker with a quick toggle if a particular page isn’t loading correctly. Firefox will also deliver a notification if it detects that the browser is still running in the background. And you can also set it as the default browser on your phone.
There’s certainly a lot to like here, particularly if you’re interested in protecting your privacy online. The Firefox Focus browser is now available for free from the Play Store. Who’s looking to give it a go?
