Firefox 91 is here with a slew of new features. Among other things, it enables HTTPS by default on all supported websites. According to Mozilla, while most websites now support HTTPS some of them don’t use the secure connection by default. Instead, they make it optional for users.
With Firefox 91, the browser will default to HTTPS if the website supports the more secure protocol, even if the user manually enters HTTP. The connection will also be switched to HTTPS if a user clicks on an HTTP link unless the website doesn’t support it. In such cases, your connection will fall back to the insecure protocol.
HTTPS by Default is currently only available when browsing in a private window in Firefox. Mozilla expects to expand the feature beyond private windows in the coming months. Moreover, the company says that HTTPS by Default only ensures the secure loading of a webpage if possible. It doesn’t necessarily apply to in-page components like images, styles, or scripts.
“However, loading a page over HTTPS will, in the majority of cases, also cause those in-page components to load over HTTPS,” Mozilla notes.
Next up, we have another privacy feature called Enhanced Cookie Clearing. Built on Mozilla’s Total Cookie Protection feature rolled out to the Firefox browser in February this year, it takes cookie clearing to a whole new level. Clearing cookies from a site will not only remove cookies from that site but also third-party trackers embedded on it. This prevents the trackers from identifying and tracking you again the next time you visit that site.
Enhanced Cookie Clearing requires you to enable Strict Tracking Protection in Firefox. You can find the technical details of how this feature works here.
Windows SSO, eBay Search, and more
The latest Firefox update adds a new Windows SSO feature that allows you to quickly log in to Microsoft, work, and school accounts. It uses credentials from your Windows 10 operating system. Firefox 91 also brings back the “simplify page when printing” feature. You will now be able to print a simplified, clutter-free version of any webpage. The option is available under More settings > Format.
Additionally, Firefox 91 for Android is adding eBay Search, something that was already available on the desktop version. It also changes the default layout of the tabs tray from list view to grid view, though you can always switch back to list view.
There are also many more minor user-facing changes, bug fixes, and security fixes in tow. You can find the full changelog for both desktop and Android versions here.
If you’ve Firefox already installed on your computer, the browser should automatically download the latest version. You can also manually download Firefox 91 for your computer from the browser’s official website. For Android users, the new update is now rolling out on the Google Play Store. Click the link below to download or update to the latest version.