Firefox Focus for Android will offer another way to prevent cross-site tracking

The Android version of the Firefox Focus browser is getting another layer of privacy protection. Mozilla is bringing its Total Cookie Protection feature to the app to tackle cross-site tracking.

The feature silos cookies from each site you visit into “cookie jars.” Storing cookies separately should help prevent them from tracking you around the web and providing companies with data on your browsing behavior, such as details about the products you search for and sites you visit. That information can be used for ad targeting and other purposes.

Mozilla calls Total Cookie Protection one of its its strongest privacy protections to date and is a key weapon in its long-running battle against web tracking. In June, alongside a redesign of the browser, the organization enabled the feature by default when privacy mode is active in Firefox proper.

An illustration depicting how Firefox's Total Cookie Protection works. With the feature off, websites can access the same pool of browser cookies. The feature isolates cookies from each site, to mitigate cross-site tracking.
Mozilla

Firefox Focus has privacy safeguards enabled by default, so it makes sense to bring Total Cookie Protection there. Mozilla says it’s the first Firefox mobile browser to offer the feature.

Many sites embed files hosted on other servers. To avoid issues with those caused by isolating cookies with Total Cookie Protection, Mozilla is tapping into SmartBlock and some other features. It says these help prevent websites from breaking — SmartBlock replaces commonly blocked trackers so sites render as usual.

Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene Suggests Using Second Amendment As Defense Against Democrats

“I hate to use this language,” the Georgia Republican said, equating Democrats with a “tyrannical government.”

Meet NASA’s new Chief Scientist

<img width="1280" height="720" src="https://cdn.slashgear.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/catherine-1280×720.jpg" class="webfeedsFeaturedVisual wp-post-image" alt="NASA chief scientist, Dr Katherine Calvin" loading="lazy" style="margin: auto;margin-bottom: 5px;max-width: 100%" data-attachment-id="706665" data-permalink="https://www.slashgear.com/meet-nasas-new-chief-scientist-11706664/catherine/" data-orig-file="https://cdn.slashgear.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/catherine.jpg" data-orig-size="1440,810" data-comments-opened="0" data-image-meta="{"aperture":"0","credit":"","camera":"","caption":"","created_timestamp":"0","copyright":"","focal_length":"0","iso":"0","shutter_speed":"0","title":"","orientation":"0"}" data-image-title="catherine" data-image-description="" data-image-caption="

Image: NASA

” data-medium-file=”https://cdn.slashgear.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/catherine-1280×720.jpg” data-large-file=”https://cdn.slashgear.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/catherine-1280×720.jpg” />NASA has a long and storied record achieving many of the greatest scientific and technological achievements in history. Most recently, it successfully launched and deployed the James Webb Space Telescope which seeks to unlock the secrets of the early universe, including the birth of stars and planets as well as the formation of galaxies. While there are numerous skills and … Continue reading

A Nintendo Switch Online and microSD bundle is half off on Amazon

Hunkering down for the winter months can mean more time to play some new games while you stay inside. For Switch owners that want to play with friends remotely and get access to classic games, a Nintendo Switch Online membership is well worth the price. Now, Amazon has a deal on a bundle that includes one year of the Switch Online family plan and a 128GB SanDisk microSD card for $35. Since both the membership and the card normally cost $35, you’re essentially getting the extra storage for free.

Buy Switch Online Family Plan bundle at Amazon – $35

At its debut, the main selling point of the membership was online play, but Nintendo has added more perks to it over the years. It now includes online backups for gameplay data, access to the Switch Online mobile app that lets you voice chat with friends while you’re playing together, and access to a library of more than 70 NES and SNES titles to play at any time. This particular bundle is best for those with large families, and possibly more than one Switch in the house, since up to eight users can take advantage of the membership’s benefits.

One of the things we usually recommend new Switch owners buy is a microSD card since it’s easy to quickly fill up the console’s built-in, 64GB of storage with games. The licensed 128GB SanDisk model included in this bundle is a solid one, with read speeds up to 100 MB/s and write speeds up to 90 MB/s. Even if you don’t think you’ll need the extra space, you probably will as you collect more titles, save files and screenshots over time.

Follow @EngadgetDeals on Twitter for the latest tech deals and buying advice.

Jimmy Kimmel Debunks ‘The New Bad Idea’ For Coronavirus That He Considered, Too

Definitely don’t try this at home.

The 15 Most Groundbreaking NASA Missions

<img width="1280" height="720" src="https://cdn.slashgear.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/01nasashuttleearth-1280×720.jpg" class="webfeedsFeaturedVisual wp-post-image" alt="Image of NASA shuttle and Earth" loading="lazy" style="margin: auto;margin-bottom: 5px;max-width: 100%" data-attachment-id="706039" data-permalink="https://www.slashgear.com/the-15-most-groundbreaking-nasa-missions-11705988/01nasashuttleearth/" data-orig-file="https://cdn.slashgear.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/01nasashuttleearth.jpg" data-orig-size="1440,810" data-comments-opened="0" data-image-meta="{"aperture":"0","credit":"","camera":"","caption":"","created_timestamp":"0","copyright":"","focal_length":"0","iso":"0","shutter_speed":"0","title":"","orientation":"0"}" data-image-title="01nasashuttleearth" data-image-description="" data-image-caption="

Dima Zel/Shutterstock

” data-medium-file=”https://cdn.slashgear.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/01nasashuttleearth-1280×720.jpg” data-large-file=”https://cdn.slashgear.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/01nasashuttleearth-1280×720.jpg” />Humankind has yearned to explore space since our ancestors began to study the night sky millennia ago. What we’ve been able to accomplish in the last 63+ years has taken the dedication, perseverance, and imagination of countless people. While many nations have aided in scores of missions outside of the Earth’s atmosphere, NASA has certainly had the lion’s share of … Continue reading

Instagram is exploring a customizable profile grid

Your Instagram profile’s grid might soon be more than just a snapshot of your most recent posts. Leaker Alessandro Paluzzi has discovered that Instagram has been developing an “edit grid” feature that would let you reorder the posts in your profile. This could help musicians or stores using multi-post collages to plug their latest work, but it might also be helpful if you want to highlight an important post or prioritize your favorites.

We’ve asked Instagram for comment. It’s not clear if the social network plans to test or widely distribute the feature.

It wouldn’t be surprising if the customizable profile grid became a mainstay, though. Instagram has spent more and more of its time courting businesses and shops, and the option to rearrange the grid might attract companies wanting to fine-tune their public image. This might also help if you’re an artist or photo enthusiast hoping to showcase your best shots regardless of how old they might be.

China's Chang'e-5 probe finds on-site evidence of water on the Moon's surface

China’s Chang’e-5 lunar lander has found water on the surface of the Moon, marking the first-ever time scientists have found on-site evidence of the substance on Earth’s satellite. In a study published in Science Advances, Chinese researchers claim the lander detected signs of water molecules or hydroxyl, a close chemical cousin of H2O. Chang’e-5 used a spectrometer to analyze the composition of regolith in close proximity to its landing site. It found that most of the soil had a water concentration of less than 120 parts per million, making the surface of Luna much drier than that of the Earth.

Chang'e-5
Honglei Lin et al.

Chinese scientists believe most of the molecules came to the Moon through a process called solar wind implantation. Charged particles from the sun drove hydrogen atoms to the lunar surface where they later bonded with oxygen to form water and hydroxyl. The study builds on findings NASA published in 2018 when it found evidence of water on the sunlit surfaces of the Moon using an airborne infrared telescope. For decades, scientists had believed the Moon was completely dry due to its almost nonexistent atmosphere. With no atmosphere, the thought was there was nothing there to protect water molecules from the sun’s harsh radiation.

Logitech's Litra Glow Makes YouTube-Level Lighting As Simple As It Gets

I wish I had a solution like the Logitech Litra Glow when I started buying odds and ends to build my perfect office lighting situation. It took me a few years to land on my current setup for video chats and live streaming, and that was after a bit of trial and error. And even still, it sometimes feels like a bit of…

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‘Sorry, Crazies’: GOP Lawmaker Dismantles Latest Right-Wing Conspiracy Theory

Adam Kinzinger debunks a new myth about the Capitol riot pushed by Sen. Ted Cruz and Fox News’ Tucker Carlson.