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MichaelA free and open-source web browser.

A review by Michael

Mozilla Firefox is a web browser, developed by The Mozilla Foundation, that uses engines like Gecko, Quantum and SpiderMonkey to make the app compatible with a large variety of operating systems (Windows 7 or later, iOS 10 or later, Linux, and so on). It is a free and open-source software which was first released on September 23, 2002, under the codename “Phoenix”. The main features of Mozilla Firefox are what make it such a sturdy and well-known web browser:

Security

Since this software is open source, anyone is allowed to see the code no matter of their intentions (good or malicious). Mozilla encouraged those who find a vulnerability in their security code to report it as soon as possible, rewarding everyone who does it with $3000 and a Mozilla T-Shirt. Of course, such a well-known web browser is likely to have millions of hackers trying to infiltrate its security. However, so far it has remained relatively resilient from security aspects. It is fair to say that you information is safe (or at least, as safe as when using other popular web browsers) when using Firefox for purchases and other personal purposes.

Pop-up Blocking

At first, the integrated customizable pop-up blocking that Firefox offers seems to be a useful feature, but it has its disadvantages. For example if a sife is not added to a “safe list”, pop-up blocking will create problems with JavaScript-based links as it will keep them from opening a new window. Fortunately, this pop-up blocking can be turned off or on anytime. On the plus side, blocking popups on websites will make your computer more secure and will save you having to deal with annoying popups.

Private Browsing

This feature helps us surf the Internet while keeping our browsing history clean. It doesn’t mean that the Incognito mode offers us anonymity, it only lets us control our browsing footprints for a while. Note that websites you visit will still be able to track your IP address and other information about you, unless you are using security features such as VPNs.

Find as You Type

‘Find as you type’ is a feature that can be used by pressing Ctrl+F and it allows users to search for a specific word/phrase on a web page. If Firefox finds the word/phrase typed in, it will automatically highlight it the first instance found. This, of course, is not a new feature in web browsers, but Firefox has a very smooth Ctrl+F system.

Smart Bookmarks

Using Smart Bookmarks, users are able to access their favorite sites faster and easier. They can associate a keyword with any bookmark, allowing them to type in the address bar only the chosen word and not the entire URL in order to get onto the wanted site or page.

Add-ons

Mozilla Firefox lets its users customize the software as they please, with the purpose of making the web browser more accessible. While some themes, apps, plugins, extensions, and social features can be obtained from the Mozilla Add-ons web site, more can be obtained from other sources since this software is open-source and everyone has access to its code.  Add-ons are only as good as the users that make them, and luckily, Firefox has millions of users across the world. The add-ons available on Firefox are numerous and range from ad-blocking features, to essential programmer tools.

Smart Location Bar

Firefox, unlike many web browsers, will search both through history and through bookmarks for matching web sites when the user types a URL. Due to this feature, users can type into the address bar any relevant keyword in order to find the wanted page.

TL;DR

Mozilla Firefox is a great web browser which offers to its users a plethora of useful features. What really makes it special is the fact that it is an open source software. Because of this, many improvements and other features can be added with the help of its users, making it one of the best web browsers of our era.

Authors
Mozilla Foundation
License
Free
User rating
0/50 ratings
Platforms
Windows XP, Windows 7, Windows 8, Windows 10