Firefox privacy settings on Android: Relaxed level

What for: To keep your protection up to date.

Firefox developers consistently add new features and fix vulnerabilities, so it is important to use the latest version of the app. Make sure you have automatic update installation enabled on your smartphone.

1. Open Play Store;
2. Tap your avatar in the right part of the search field;
3. Go to the Settings section, then tap Network preferences;
4. Tap Auto-update apps;
5. Choose if updates should be downloaded over any network or over Wi-Fi only.
6. Tap Done.

Downside: All apps, not just Firefox, will be updated automatically. It may use up a lot of your data plan.

What for: To leave no tracks.

Firefox normally stores data about the pages you open, the passwords you enter and other browser usage information. If you want to hide that information and when using someone else's smartphone, you can switch to private browsing. To open a private tab, tap the mask icon on the start screen.

After you close the browser, all of the browsing history for private tabs will be automatically deleted from the app. Keep in mind that private browsing only applies to data stored by the browser itself. Your Internet service provider or your employer (in case you are connected to an enterprise network) will be able to see what pages you have visited.

What for: To find a balance between privacy and comfort.

Website owners and advertising companies are eager to gather as much information about you as possible. To do this, they use various tracking tools, such as:

• Social media trackers — snippets of code that social networks post on their own and third-party websites. For example, Facebook might embed this type of code in the "share" button on a news portal to find out what websites you visit and track your interests.
• Cookies — small objects containing information about your system and page settings that the website saves on your device.
• Fingerprinters — scripts that record information about your browser and computer, such as the screen resolution, system language, installed extensions and other settings.
• Other tracking elements — code snippets embedded in website content, such as banners, buttons, video players and other page elements.

Using the collected data, various companies create a unique profile of your device to remember your website settings and serve up targeted advertising.

Firefox blocks some of these scripts by default and prevents browser-based cryptominers — malicious objects that attackers use to make money at the expense of your device's resources without your permission — from running.

You can turn on a stricter protection mode to further thwart surveillance or customize the protection to meet your needs.

1. Tap the three dots in the lower right corner of the screen;
2. Select Settings;
3. Go to the Enhanced Tracking Protection section;
4. Select the level that best suits you:
5. Standard (default). Firefox will block social media trackers, cross-website cookies, fingerprinters and cryptominers on all open pages. It will also block other trackers, but only in private browsing windows.
6. Strict. Firefox will block social media trackers, cross-website cookies, fingerprinters, cryptominers and other trackers on all pages.
7. Custom. You can choose which cookies and other tracking elements the browser will block.

Bear in mind that blocking all cookies and trackers can stop some webpages from functioning properly. You can disable tracking prevention for such webpages if you are sure they are safe:

1. Tap the shield icon to the left of the address bar;
2. In the drop-down list, disable Enhanced Tracking Protection.