Firefox 153 enables Containers by default, and you can create your own - here's how

14 hours ago 27

Follow ZDNET: Add us as a preferred source on Google.

ZDNET's key features

Mozilla has moved Containers to an opt-out feature.
Containers beef up both security and privacy.
The developers also improved another Firefox security feature.

The developers at Mozilla have decided to give their Firefox browser a bit of a security nudge with version 153.

The security upgrade kicks off by enabling Containers by default. If you're unfamiliar with this important security feature, I wrote an introductory explainer on Firefox Containers. The gist is simple: Firefox containers isolate tabs from one another, so information from one tab cannot leak to another. This prevents sensitive data in one tab from being exposed on the off chance that another tab lands on a malicious site. Also, it prevents one site from snagging data from another tab to create a profile or fingerprint of you.

Also: Firefox just fixed my biggest annoyance with web browsers - and others should copy ASAP

And because Containers isolate cookies, you could even log into different accounts for the same service in one browser.

Very handy.

Firefox Containers are all about security and privacy, and they do a great job of fulfilling those imperatives.

Prior to version 153, Containers were an opt-in feature, but now they're opt-out. Out of the box, you'll get four pre-configured containers: Personal, Work, Banking, and Shopping. You can also add new containers if needed.

To open a new tab in a container, all you have to do is right-click the new tab button and select which Container you want to use.

If you want to make this even easier, you can enable the selection of a container for each new tab you open. To do this, go to Settings > Tabs and browsing > Manage settings and click the checkbox to enable "Select a container for each new tab."

After enabling that feature, every time you click the new tab button (+ in the tab bar), you'll see the Container selector drop-down. If you want to open a tab outside of a container, you can use the Ctrl+T keyboard shortcut.

Also: The best secure browsers for privacy: Expert tested

Local network access

Another addition to Firefox 153 is local network access restrictions. This new feature controls whether websites can access the apps and services found on your local network and local devices.

The official Mozilla announcement reads:

"Websites can attempt to access your personal device -- such as your computer or local network -- and connected devices -- such as routers, printers and local web servers -- without your permission. Malicious sites have used these capabilities to track you or scan for vulnerable devices....To keep you safe and help you stay in control of your data and devices, Firefox now asks for your permission when a site tries to connect to your device or local network."

When a site attempts to access a device or service on your LAN, Firefox will prompt you to either allow or block the access. For example, a website might request access to your microphone or camera. If you think that site has no reason to ask for such permission, click Block, and it will be denied.

The types of hardware considered devices on your local network include:

Routers
Printers
File servers
Smart TVs
Media streamers
IoT (Internet of Things) devices

You can also manually manage device and service access from within Settings > Permissions and data, where you can control which sites can access, control, and/or trigger.

Keep in mind that this feature is still in experimental status and is rolling out slowly.

Also: Why the most private way to browse the web isn't incognito mode (but this instead)

You can download and install Firefox 153 from the official Mozilla download site.

If you're looking for a browser with improved security and you're not interested in stepping all the way up to Tor Browser, the latest Firefox iteration is a great middle ground, offering heightened security combined with ease of use.

Read Entire Article