Firefox to Block Third-Party Cookies by Default

In criticizing Google Chrome’s open-end cookie policies, Firefox has decided that the best thing to do would be to block all third-party cookies by default. The Mozilla Foundation has recently announced that the latest version of Firefox will not allow third-party cookies and block all pop-up ads. It’s still unclear whether this built-in feature can be opted out.

No more ad pushing and data mining?

As per the company’s statement, the latest version of Firefox will automatically block third-party cookies. Of course, the option can be switched off at any time by the user. In commenting about the strike against online advertising, a Mozilla spokesperson declared that this decision came in the wake of a thorough analysis, which revealed that most online advertising methods are wanton privacy invasions with no advantages whatsoever.

More than that, Mozilla believes that Chrome’s third-party cookies policies are far too lax and, more or less, an open invitation to malware.

We can’t say for certain if this is the end of ad pushing, but considering that Mozilla’s Firefox holds 6.1 percent of the Internet browsers’ segment, that’s never going to happen. However, bear in mind that there are plenty of users out there who value their privacy, and Google’s laissez-faire is, sometimes, quite unpalatable.

In wanting to give everyone a fair chance, Google has recently announced that it is seriously pondering the possibility of banning ad-blocking tech for Chrome.

Although this may be a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for small companies on webmasters who want to monetize their website through affiliate marketing and Google ads, it does not bode well with users who believe that third-party cookies are just another pretext for data mining.

The latter category will have to consider other options if Google’s plan goes into effect. Mozilla’s updated privacy policy makes Firefox a great choice, but it’s hardly the only one.

The company behind the award-winning Internet browser did say that Safari, Apple’s proprietary browser, inspired the latest change.

Where does that leave us?

It’s hard to predict how Firefox’s privacy policy will affect the online advertising industry. It may very well be a smoke curtain. Or it may be the beginning of a new form of online surveillance. Now, remember that the user entirely controls the third-party cookie feature. So, if you value your online privacy and believe that your browsing info’s being sold, then, by all means, don’t switch off the feature.

However, you need to remember that thousands of websites rely on this type of advertising, and by using the ad-blocking tech, you would have reft someone of his or her livelihood.

Now, cookie-gathering is not all that bad. Of course, this info can always be used for nefarious purposes, but remember that this process allows for customized browsing.

So, what are your thoughts on Firefox wanting to ban third-party cookies? Head to the comments section and let us know your thoughts.