It can be tricky knowing which web browser will serve your best interests. While privacy is critical, it shouldn't come at the cost of your browsing experience.

With the Firefox 88 update, Firefox has become an even better option for safe and convenient browsing. Here, we'll tell you all about Firefox's recent update and how it can benefit you.

What's New in Firefox 88?

Mozilla has recently launched the Firefox 88 update. With this update, Mozilla improves your online privacy with the help of extra rules to prevent cross-site privacy leaks.

A huge emphasis around this update is to allow you to experience a safer online environment. The Firefox 88 update prevents your private data from being leaked by another website.

Here are some key changes:

1. Window.name Isolation Privacy Fix

A padlock on a keyboard

In the Firefox 87 update, Mozilla introduced SmartBlock for private browsing, which protects you against trackers. Initially, Mozilla had launched a built-in content blocking feature in 2015.

The feature was problematic as it caused a couple of websites to malfunction. So, Mozilla has taken things up a notch in Firefox 88.

Window.name data is now limited to the website that created it in Firefox 88 to protect you against cross-site privacy leaks. When a browser page opens a new tab, it can give that new page a name, which then refers to the new tab later on as a target for opening new content. The primary function of a window.name is for setting targets for hyperlinks and forms.

Previously, data stored in window.name has been allowed by standard browser rules to leak between websites. Unfortunately. trackers used this as an opportunity to snoop through your browsing history.

Mozilla reported that the window.name property has been available to web pages as a place to store data since the late 1990s. Tracking companies have taken advantage of this property by using it to leak information and have used the window.name property to share data between websites.

Other mainstream browser platforms such as Safari and, Chromium-based browsers are making similar changes. Fortunately, you can now hop on multiple browser pages without having your information tracked, and you do not have to tolerate an influx of ads.

Another way for you to remain safe online is through private browsing to help you browse securely.

2. FTP as a Security Risk

Printer Security Featured

One of the biggest updates Firefox has made is removing the support for FTP (File Transfer Protocol). FTP is a way of transferring data between computers on a network. Mozilla will completely remove FTP support in the upcoming Firefox 90 update. In future, to access remote servers, you will need to get a dedicated FTP browser.

Mozilla has reported that the FTP feature acts as a security risk as it is a non-encrypted protocol. FTP was not built to be secure as it relies on usernames and passwords for verification and is not encrypted against unauthorized access.

Firefox plans on completely removing FTP with Firefox 90, which is expected to be released in June. From now on, you cannot download files through the FTP protocol and view the content of FTP links inside Firefox.

3. PDF Forms Now Support JavaScript Embedded in PDF Files

Mozilla has reported that it continues to find ways to improve its file handling system. Till now, the Firefox server had a built-in PDF viewer, which allowed you to view PDF files in the browser without having to install a PDF viewer application. However, Firefox now also supports JavaScript embedded in PDF files.

If you regularly use PDF files in your browser, this new feature could be useful as some PDF forms use JavaScript for form validation.

4. Firefox Now Allows Pinch-Zooming on Linux

If you are using Firefox on Linux, Firefox 88 allows you to enjoy smooth pinch-zooming using a trackpad. This makes it easy to zoom in on a page using hand gestures instead of having to zoom in or out via Firefox's menu.

5. "Take a Screenshot" Feature

Firefox 88 has removed the “Take a Screenshot” feature from the Page Actions menu in the URL bar in favor of a regular icon which users can add to the toolbar from the customize menu.

Before the Firefox update, to take a screenshot here is what you would have done:

  1. Visit a web page
  2. Click on the three-dot icon menu, also called the Page Actions menu
  3. Select Take a screenshot.
  4. Previously Firefox would give you the option to save the whole page or visible region. After that, you would either copy the screenshot to the clipboard or download it to your device.

Here's how to take a screenshot on Firefox 88:

  1. Right-click on an empty part of the page on your Firefox browser, then select Take Screenshot.
    Taking a screenshot on Firefox
  2. You will have the option to drag on the page to select a region or save the full page or the visible region.
    Last step on how to take a screenshot on Firefox 88

In addition to changes within the Firefox 88 update, Firefox will not continuously ask for access to your microphone or camera if you have already granted access to the same device on the same site in the same tab within the past 50 seconds.

This new grace period reduces the number of times you will be asked to grant device access.

Firefox 88 Takes Your Privacy to the Next Level

The internet is a large platform connecting a wide network of computers, and because it is so huge, it is easy to lose control over your own privacy. Your information could easily land in the wrong hands. The mishandling of information and spying continues to get worse each day.

The Firefox 88 update not only enhances your privacy and also comes with a couple of handy features to top it off. Firefox updates automatically, so you should already be benefitting from Firefox 88's new features.