Update on Firefox Send and Firefox Notes

As Mozilla tightens and refines its product focus in 2020, today we are announcing the end of life for two legacy services that grew out of the Firefox Test Pilot program: Firefox Send and Firefox Notes. Both services are being decommissioned and will no longer be a part of our product family. Details and timelines are discussed below. Firefox Send was a promising tool for encrypted file sharing. Send garnered good reach, a loyal audience, and real signs of value throughout its life.  Unfortunately, some abusive users were beginning to use Sen...[More]

Update on Firefox Send and Firefox Notes

As Mozilla tightens and refines its product focus in 2020, today we are announcing the end of life for two legacy services that grew out of the Firefox Test Pilot program: Firefox Send and Firefox Notes. Both services are being decommissioned and will no longer be a part of our product family. Details and timelines are discussed below. Firefox Send was a promising tool for encrypted file sharing. Send garnered good reach, a loyal audience, and real signs of value throughout its life.  Unfortunately, some abusive users were beginning to use Sen...[More]

Mozilla CEO Mitchell Baker urges European Commission to seize ‘once-in-a-generation’ opportunity

Today, Mozilla CEO Mitchell Baker published an open letter to European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, urging her to seize a ‘once-in-a-generation’ opportunity to build a better internet through the opportunity presented by the upcoming Digital Services Act (“DSA”). Mitchell’s letter coincides with the European Commission’s public consultation on the DSA, and sets out high-level recommendations to support President von der Leyen’s DSA policy agenda for emerging tech issues (more on that agenda and what we think of it he...[More]

Mozilla CEO Mitchell Baker urges European Commission to seize ‘once-in-a-generation’ opportunity

Today, Mozilla CEO Mitchell Baker published an open letter to European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, urging her to seize a ‘once-in-a-generation’ opportunity to build a better internet through the opportunity presented by the upcoming Digital Services Act (“DSA”). Mitchell’s letter coincides with the European Commission’s public consultation on the DSA, and sets out high-level recommendations to support President von der Leyen’s DSA policy agenda for emerging tech issues (more on that agenda and what we think of it he...[More]

A look at password security, Part V: Disk Encryption

The previous posts ( I, II, III, IV) focused primarily on remote login, either to multiuser systems or Web sites (though the same principles also apply to other networked services like e-mail). However, another common case where users encounter passwords is for login to devices such as laptops, tablets, and phones. This post addresses that topic. Threat Model We need to start by talking about the threat model. As a general matter, the assumption here is that the attacker has some physical access to your device. While some devices do have passwo...[More]

A look at password security, Part V: Disk Encryption

The previous posts ( I, II, III, IV) focused primarily on remote login, either to multiuser systems or Web sites (though the same principles also apply to other networked services like e-mail). However, another common case where users encounter passwords is for login to devices such as laptops, tablets, and phones. This post addresses that topic. Threat Model We need to start by talking about the threat model. As a general matter, the assumption here is that the attacker has some physical access to your device. While some devices do have passwo...[More]

annual flood insurance premium

How much you pay for your annual flood insurance premium depends on many factors such as where you live, the level of flood risk for the area, and where you buy your flood insurance. Private insurance agencies will charge a different rate than the NFIP. But the average yearly cost ranges from $920.What flood insurance covers can be confusing to some people, and not knowing all the basics can lead to people not wanting to purchase flood insurance. In floods caused by weather, flood insurance will cover damages to your property such as foundation...[More]

annual flood insurance premium

How much you pay for your annual flood insurance premium depends on many factors such as where you live, the level of flood risk for the area, and where you buy your flood insurance. Private insurance agencies will charge a different rate than the NFIP. But the average yearly cost ranges from $920.What flood insurance covers can be confusing to some people, and not knowing all the basics can lead to people not wanting to purchase flood insurance. In floods caused by weather, flood insurance will cover damages to your property such as foundation...[More]

Fast, personalized and private by design on all platforms: introducing a new Firefox for Android exp

Big news for mobile: as of today, Firefox for Android users in Europe will find an entirely redesigned interface and a fast and secure mobile browser that was overhauled down to the core. Users in North America will receive the update on August 27. Like we did with our “Firefox Quantum” desktop browser revamp, we’re calling this release “Firefox Daylight” as it marks a new beginning for our Android browser. Included with this new mobile experience are lots of innovative features, an improved user experience with new customization opti...[More]

Fast, personalized and private by design on all platforms: introducing a new Firefox for Android exp

Big news for mobile: as of today, Firefox for Android users in Europe will find an entirely redesigned interface and a fast and secure mobile browser that was overhauled down to the core. Users in North America will receive the update on August 27. Like we did with our “Firefox Quantum” desktop browser revamp, we’re calling this release “Firefox Daylight” as it marks a new beginning for our Android browser. Included with this new mobile experience are lots of innovative features, an improved user experience with new customization opti...[More]

A look at password security, Part IV: WebAuthn

As discussed in part III, public key authentication is great in principle but in practice has been hard to integrate into the Web environment. However, we’re now seeing deployment of a new technology called WebAuthn (short for Web Authentication) that hopefully changes that.1 Previous approaches to public key authentication required the browser to provide the user interface. For a variety of reasons (the interfaces were bad, the sites wanted to control the experience) this didn’t work well for sites, and public key authentication didn’t g...[More]

A look at password security, Part IV: WebAuthn

As discussed in part III, public key authentication is great in principle but in practice has been hard to integrate into the Web environment. However, we’re now seeing deployment of a new technology called WebAuthn (short for Web Authentication) that hopefully changes that.1 Previous approaches to public key authentication required the browser to provide the user interface. For a variety of reasons (the interfaces were bad, the sites wanted to control the experience) this didn’t work well for sites, and public key authentication didn’t g...[More]

Changing World, Changing Mozilla

This is a time of change for the internet and for Mozilla. From combatting a lethal virus and battling systemic racism to protecting individual privacy — one thing is clear: an open and accessible internet is essential to the fight. Mozilla exists so the internet can help the world collectively meet the range of challenges a moment like this presents. Firefox is a part of this. But we know we also need to go beyond the browser to give people new products and technologies that both excite them and represent their interests. Over the last while...[More]

Changing World, Changing Mozilla

This is a time of change for the internet and for Mozilla. From combatting a lethal virus and battling systemic racism to protecting individual privacy — one thing is clear: an open and accessible internet is essential to the fight. Mozilla exists so the internet can help the world collectively meet the range of challenges a moment like this presents. Firefox is a part of this. But we know we also need to go beyond the browser to give people new products and technologies that both excite them and represent their interests. Over the last while...[More]

Virtual Tours of the Museum of the Fossilized Internet

Let’s brainstorm a sustainable future together. Imagine: We are in the year 2050 and we’re opening the Museum of the Fossilized Internet, which commemorates two decades of a sustainable internet. The exhibition can now be viewed in social VR. Join an online tour and experience what the coal and oil-powered internet of the past was like.   Visit the Museum from home In March 2020, Michelle Thorne and I announced office tours of the Museum of the Fossilized Internet as part of our new Sustainability programme. Then the pandemic hit, and we ...[More]

Virtual Tours of the Museum of the Fossilized Internet

Let’s brainstorm a sustainable future together. Imagine: We are in the year 2050 and we’re opening the Museum of the Fossilized Internet, which commemorates two decades of a sustainable internet. The exhibition can now be viewed in social VR. Join an online tour and experience what the coal and oil-powered internet of the past was like.   Visit the Museum from home In March 2020, Michelle Thorne and I announced office tours of the Museum of the Fossilized Internet as part of our new Sustainability programme. Then the pandemic hit, and we ...[More]

Fast Company Recognizes Katharina Borchert as one of the Most Creative Business People

We are proud to share that Katharina Borchert, Mozilla’s Chief Open Innovation Officer, has been named one of the Most Creative People by Fast Company. The award recognizes her leadership on Common Voice and helping to collect and diversify open speech data to build and train voice-enabled applications. Katharina was recognized not just for a groundbreaking idea, but because her work is having a measurable impact in the world. Among the 74 receiving this award are leaders such as Kade Crockford of the American Civil Liberties Union of Massac...[More]

Fast Company Recognizes Katharina Borchert as one of the Most Creative Business People

We are proud to share that Katharina Borchert, Mozilla’s Chief Open Innovation Officer, has been named one of the Most Creative People by Fast Company. The award recognizes her leadership on Common Voice and helping to collect and diversify open speech data to build and train voice-enabled applications. Katharina was recognized not just for a groundbreaking idea, but because her work is having a measurable impact in the world. Among the 74 receiving this award are leaders such as Kade Crockford of the American Civil Liberties Union of Massac...[More]

Latest Firefox rolls out Enhanced Tracking Protection 2.0; blocking redirect trackers by default

Today, Firefox is introducing Enhanced Tracking Protection (ETP) 2.0, our next step in continuing to provide a safe and private experience for our users. ETP 2.0 protects you from an advanced tracking technique called redirect tracking, also known as bounce tracking. We will be rolling out ETP 2.0 over the next couple of weeks. Last year we enabled ETP by default in Firefox because we believe that understanding the complexities and sophistication of the ad tracking industry should not be required to be safe online. ETP 1.0 was our first major s...[More]

Latest Firefox rolls out Enhanced Tracking Protection 2.0; blocking redirect trackers by default

Today, Firefox is introducing Enhanced Tracking Protection (ETP) 2.0, our next step in continuing to provide a safe and private experience for our users. ETP 2.0 protects you from an advanced tracking technique called redirect tracking, also known as bounce tracking. We will be rolling out ETP 2.0 over the next couple of weeks. Last year we enabled ETP by default in Firefox because we believe that understanding the complexities and sophistication of the ad tracking industry should not be required to be safe online. ETP 1.0 was our first major s...[More]