Tracker-Blocking Firefox Focus Browser Arrives on Android

Mozilla only released a version its Focus browser for privacy-conscious Android users.

Previously limited to iOS, Firefox Focus automatically blocks ads and many of the trackers that normally follow yous around the spider web and slow down your browsing. This so-called "privacy browser" also lets you hands erase your history, passwords, and cookies, so y'all won't be followed by unwanted ads.

With Focus "you can relieve data and fifty-fifty scan faster," Firefox mobile Product Director Barbara Bermes said in a video. "Overall, Firefox Focus helps you control your digital life."

In a blog post, she added that trackers "are notoriously known for slowing downwards your mobile feel."

"Why do we cake these ad trackers? Because they not but track your beliefs without your knowledge, they also slow downwards the spider web on your mobile device," she wrote.

Like the iOS version, the new Android app is "complimentary of tabs and other visual clutter" and you tin can erase your sessions with a single tap. The Android version likewise includes an ad tracker counter, which lists the number of ads that are blocked per site while you're using the app. In that location's also an selection to disable the tracker blocker, which you lot can use if you run into any sites that don't load properly. The app volition also remind yous with a notification to tap and erase your browsing history.

"For Android users we likewise made Focus a great default browser experience," Bermes wrote. "Since we support both custom tabs and the power to disable the ad blocking equally needed, information technology works great with apps like Facebook when you only want to read an article without being tracked."

Focus earned a "skilful" rating in PCMag'due south review of the iOS version. We concluded that it "can protect you from snoops with access to your phone and Web trackers, besides" but said "that protection comes at the price of features and speed."

Focus is available for download in Google Play and the App Shop.

About Angela Moscaritolo

Angela Moscaritolo

Angela Moscaritolo is PCMag's skilful on fitness and smart home products. Pedagogy yoga for nearly x years has helped her in evaluating a range of connected health products including fitness trackers, heart charge per unit monitors, rowers, smart scales, stationary bikes, strength training machines, treadmills, and more. Angela also tests smart home devices from her ranch in Florida, including air purifiers, kitchen appliances, and robot vacuums, just to proper name a few.