Is "Do Not Track" dead? Firefox confirms it. Discover the reasons behind this move and what it means for your online privacy.
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| Firefox Ditches "Do Not Track," Embraces Stronger Privacy Controls. Image: Firefox |
Washington, USA --- December 11, 2024:
Mozilla, the non-profit organization behind the popular Firefox browser, has made a significant change by removing the "Do Not Track" (DNT) feature. This decision comes as a response to the increasing ineffectiveness of DNT in safeguarding user privacy.
Originally introduced in 2009, DNT was intended to signal to websites that users preferred not to be tracked. However, many websites have consistently ignored these requests, rendering the feature largely ineffective.
While Firefox is the latest browser to abandon DNT, Apple's Safari made a similar move in 2019. This trend reflects a growing recognition within the industry that DNT is no longer a viable solution for protecting user privacy.
Instead of relying on DNT, Mozilla encourages Firefox users to enable the "Tell websites not to sell or share my data" setting. This setting leverages Global Privacy Control (GPC), a more robust privacy standard that is gaining wider adoption and is recognized by a greater number of websites.
By enabling GPC, users can actively prevent websites from selling or sharing their personal data. This offers a more effective approach to privacy protection compared to the passive nature of DNT.
For those seeking even greater privacy, Mozilla recommends using a VPN (Virtual Private Network). A VPN encrypts internet traffic, making it difficult for third-party trackers to monitor online activities. By combining the use of GPC and a VPN, users can significantly enhance their online privacy and security.