Firefox Enhanced Tracking Protection

Active

support.mozilla.org

Country: United States (US)
Founded: 2019
Developer: Mozilla
Pricing: Free
Open source: No
Platforms: Windows, macOS, Linux, iOS, Android

Indexes

Ad Blockers

Overview

Firefox Enhanced Tracking Protection (ETP) is a built-in privacy feature that automatically blocks trackers and tracking cookies as users browse the web. It is designed for Firefox users who want to prevent third-party companies from collecting data about their browsing habits without manual configuration. The feature operates transparently through a shield icon in the address bar and offers multiple protection levels to balance privacy with website functionality.

Key Features

Social Media Tracker Blocking - Blocks trackers from social media platforms that follow users across websites
Cross-Site Cookie Blocking - Prevents third-party tracking cookies from being stored and used across different websites
Cryptominer Protection - Blocks scripts that use browser resources to mine cryptocurrency
Fingerprinter Blocking - Prevents scripts from collecting device and browser characteristics for identification
Bounce Tracking Protection - Detects and clears cookies from redirect trackers that gather data through intermediate URLs
Private Window Tracking Content Blocking - Blocks all tracking content when browsing in private or incognito mode
Multiple Protection Levels - Offers Standard, Strict, and Custom settings to adjust privacy versus website compatibility
Visual Protection Indicator - Displays a shield icon showing when trackers are blocked or protection is active

Pricing

Plan	Price	Includes
Standard (Default)	Free	Blocks social media trackers, cross-site tracking cookies, cryptominers, and fingerprinters; tracking content blocked in private windows only
Strict	Free	Blocks all cross-site cookies, social media trackers, tracking content in all windows, cryptominers, and fingerprinters
Custom	Free	User-configurable settings allowing selective blocking of cookies, cryptominers, fingerprinters, and other tracking mechanisms

Platforms & Requirements

Firefox Enhanced Tracking Protection is available on Windows, macOS, Linux, iOS, and Android platforms. It is built into Firefox and requires no additional installation. The feature is enabled by default for all new Firefox installations since June 2019 and has been rolled out to existing users. Performance and website compatibility may vary depending on the protection level selected, with Strict mode potentially causing some websites to malfunction.

Integrations & Ecosystem

Facebook Container extension for additional social media tracking prevention
Firefox Monitor for breach notification
Disconnect list for tracker classification
Total Cookie Protection for enhanced cookie isolation
Firefox Sync for cross-device settings synchronization

Alternatives

App	Difference
uBlock Origin	Third-party extension offering more granular filtering rules and broader ad-blocking capabilities beyond Firefox's built-in protection
Privacy Badger	Standalone extension that learns which trackers to block based on user behavior rather than relying on predefined lists
Brave Browser	Alternative browser with built-in tracking protection and ad-blocking as core features without requiring configuration
Safari Intelligent Tracking Prevention	Apple's built-in tracking prevention for Safari browser with similar default protection but limited customization options

Reputation

Firefox Enhanced Tracking Protection is widely recognized as an effective and user-friendly privacy feature that successfully blocks thousands of trackers by default without requiring technical configuration. Strengths include its transparent operation, multiple protection levels, and continuous updates adding features like Bounce Tracking Protection. Criticisms focus on occasional website breakage in Strict mode and the reliance on Disconnect's tracker list, which some argue may not catch all trackers. The feature has been credited with improving browser performance and pushing the industry toward less invasive tracking practices.

Sources (7)