Firefox Focus Android

The most private version of Firefox for Android

At present, safeguarding the privacy of users has become a capital issue for many developers. And it's not about having something to hide but about not wanting anyone to snoop around in matters that don't concern them.

Well, Mozilla has finally released for Android the version of their browser that focuses on user privacy. It goes by the name of Firefox Focus and is a browser that intends to make your web experience totally anonymous and private: it deletes your history and passwords, as well as all cookies so nobody can track down your movements.

From the moment you open the app until you close it: no web trackers.

Private browsing always enabled

This Firefox still isn't available to be downloaded on Google Play, so you'll have to get hold of its APK file and install it on your mobile device. At the precise moment you open it, you'll be browsing in private mode just as if you had opened an incognito tab.

These are its main features:

• Automatically blocks web trackers without having to configure anything.
• Automatically deletes history, passwords, cookies, and trackers.
• Faster browsing without adverts and with fewer data demands.
• No bookmarks or tab management.
• Button to clear the session's history.

This isn't a conventional browser so you won't come across tabs or favorites. It's meant to be used for sessions in which you don't want to be tracked down, therefore, any function that involves data storage isn't available.

At the same time, it comes along with other configurable options that are enabled by default, such as the possibility to block screenshots.

Which one's better? Firefox Focus or Orbot?

Orbot is the version of Tor for Android, developed by Tor Project, but it doesn't really have much in common with Mozilla's development. Mainly because Focus has been conceived for private browsing but Tor goes one or two steps further, hiding your device's IP. If you looking for total anonymity (which involves slower browsing) you should go for Tor's browser; if you only want to browse privately without leaving any traces, Focus will be enough for you.

Requirements and additional information:

• Minimum operating system requirements: Android 5.0.