Leo S.
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Verified by
Sander D.
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Last updated:
July 24, 2024
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(0)
When browsing the internet there is no such thing as ‘too careful’ since there are many types of virtual danger lurking in the shadows. From cookies that track your location, to privacy and data exposures and not to forget those disturbing ads that follow you around; you definitely need a Virtual Private Network (VPN) to get rid of these pesky problems. With a VPN you’ll not only be able to block those ads but your information and online actions will be much safer due to military-grade encryptions and powerful firewalls. Also, since a VPN protection allows you to virtually change your location, geo-tracking will be an almost impossible task.
Firefox has close to no flaws at all and keeps a clean track record in terms of security and privacy protection. This browser is currently one of the best choices with privacy in mind, even for mobile. The major contributor for this is the fact that, nowadays, Firefox is the only open source browser, which means anyone can crack it open and access its code. This is more useful than it may seem, since it means that the company behind Firefox (Mozilla, a non-profit organization that produces free software) cannot add anything to the browser without us, the users, finding out about it. So we never see hidden software features like those that might track us. Also, Firefox is constantly updated to fix any issues that may occur and the updates can be found online, divided by how serious they are.
But not everything is a bed of roses, though. In fact, according to its privacy policy, Firefox does collect information based on the features you use such as Firefox Sync that uses tabs, passwords and other information you provided to sync across devices. But, fortunately, all this data is encrypted. Personas and add-ons can also be collected but this is done on a very small scale.
The fact that Firefox enjoys solid security and privacy settings doesn’t mean you should put aside the use of a VPN. In fact, while combining the two, you can make yourself pretty much invisible, protecting your online travels even further. Activating a VPN on your desktop or in your browser (some providers feature specific browser extensions) allows you to not only access geo-blocked websites but also prevent annoying issues with cookies, ads and information theft. It also comes handy when you chain your own privacy and security settings. For example, you can decide to have the VPN firewall working instead of the Firefox’s default one, among other useful tricks. It is as simple as opening either the desktop app or the browser extension, choosing a server and connecting to it. If you’re using a full desktop client then your entire device will become anonymous, but if you use the second option it will only affect the browser you’re using.
Even though Firefox is a pretty safe browser for mobile, the truth is that you are more vulnerable using a smartphone or tablet, especially when connecting to a public Wi-Fi network. Doing so brings extra dangers, such as ad tracking, information and password theft. Although Firefox boasts the perks mentioned above, if you end up connecting to public Wi-Fi and you provide a password to access, let’s say, your bank account, it can put your personal information at risk and there’s nothing Firefox can do about it. So if you are forced to remotely access the internet, we recommend the use of a VPN then as well. Many VPN providers – if not all – support mobile devices, including operating systems such as Android, iOS and, in some cases, Windows Phone, with official apps that are usually similar to the desktop client. This means it’s easier to already know what to do: just pick a server and get yourself some protection.
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