Mozilla a couple of days ago released a new update for its popular Firefox web browser. It essentially doubled down security and privacy, with its version 42 of the browser which adds tracking protection so that third parties can't detect your browsing habits. This is a big deal.Also read: Mozilla blocks all flash files  in Firefox browser 

Why is it importantLike Chrome's incognito mode, Firefox has had a privacy mode for some time, but the new features come with twist. It has tracking protection. Apart from maintaining your privacy locally, on the PC you're working on, Firefox with the tracking protection will now actively block 'ads, analytics trackers and social share buttons that may record your behavior without your knowledge across sites.'

This is not perfect of course, but it is a step in the right direction.

Also read: Mozilla reworking on Firefox smartphone strategy 

For people who don't understand how these things work, Mozilla has also further simplified the privacy controls. There now is a unified control center which contain setting for security and privacy. As tracking protection can break the way some sites work, Mozilla has also made it easier for you to switch off the mode, in the case you'd want to do that.

How should you use it

As this is a new feature, Mozilla is heavily promoting it and on the homepage, it offers you a quick link on how to enable it. "Third party trackers follow, follow, follow your trail around the Web. Smash them with Private Browsing in Firefox, the only browser with Tracking Protection. Try it," reads the browser's homepage.

Also read: Mozilla is not happy with new Windows 10 

You can further tighten things up by going inside preference menu. For that you have to click the hamburger menu on the top right corner and then select preferences. Inside preferences, select privacy and click on the 'tell sites that I don't want to be tracked' option.

Both Chrome and Firefox have private browsing enabled, but the one on Firefox with tracking protection is more comprehensive. You should use it when you're using a public PC, you should use it when you're dealing with sensitive information over the web and generally too with big web companies tracking your habits, you should use these features for the sake of your own privacy.

You should try surfing sites which have HTTPS enabled, which are more secure.

This feature is not foolproof

While tracking protection is a solid new feature, which can lay-in the foundation for safer browsing environments, it is not perfect and there will always be someone who knows what you're up to on the web.

- For instance, companies that run firewalls and company wide filters will always know what its employees are surfing when its own network. So, if you plan on surfing porn on your computer while in office, Firefox's tracking protection will probably not protect you and you IT managers in office will know what you've been up to.

Also read: Mozilla version 37 will update download performance and site security 

- Your internet service provider will know what you've been browsing. After all, the ISP is the one which conduits you through to access the traverses of the world wide web.

- Your government probably knows what you're visiting. Check points and barricades are in place for the sake of security. For instance, in India, recently many porn sites were banned.

- Usually, there will always be a log of what you browse possibly on the local computers as well as at the websites that you are accessing.

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