In a bid to bolster online privacy, Mozilla is introducing Total Cookie Protection (TCP) as the default setting on the Firefox app for Android. This comes after the feature was made available to Firefox users on Windows, Mac, and Linux earlier. TCP essentially ensures that cookies aren’t shared across different sites, limiting the extent to which data brokers can collect and sell users’ personal information to businesses for targeted advertising.
Typically, third-party cookies track a user’s activity across various sites to build their virtual identity. This information is then used to bombard them with ads that align with their preferences. However, with TCP, cookies created while browsing only belong to the site being visited, keeping companies in the dark about other activities a user might have engaged in on other websites.
As part of the update, Mozilla is also incorporating its Firefox Relay protection into the app. Initially launched as an add-on, Relay provides users with email and phone number masks to sign up for online services. While a limited free tier exists, users will need to pay for a subscription to enjoy the full benefits of the service.
Mozilla’s decision to make TCP the default setting on its Android app highlights the company’s commitment to user privacy, which has been a central theme of its operations over the years. With data breaches becoming increasingly common, it’s becoming clear that more needs to be done to protect users’ data. Mozilla’s move is a step in the right direction, and it remains to be seen whether other companies will follow suit.
