Mozilla Updates Firefox For Windows 10 As Edge Browser Looms

By Michael Justin Allen Sexton
published

Even if Mozilla isn't happy about some of the changes in Windows 10, the company still needs to work to optimize its software for the new OS. Mozilla updated the Firefox (opens in new tab) web browser with a tweaked interface and safety features, making the browser more secure and easier to use.

The key focus of these updates was to give Firefox a more streamlined feel, and to overcome the search issues in Windows 10 that Mozilla previously complained about. Although Cortana is designed to work only with Bing, Mozilla stated that, after installing its browser, all Windows 10 web search functions, including those done with Cortana, will be carried out via your default search engine in Firefox.

Currently, Mozilla uses Yahoo as the default search provider on its Firefox browser, and as such, after installing Firefox, Cortana will also carry searches out in the Yahoo search engine. However, this can easily be changed inside of Firefox's settings if you desire to do so.

Although it wasn't the primary focus of this update, Mozilla also instituted some security features related to its browser add-ons. Add-ons allow users to customize the functionality and design of the web browser to suit their needs, but virtually anyone can create them. As a result, someone could use these add-ons for malicious purposes without Mozilla knowing.

To guard against this, Mozilla pushed out a series of guidelines that add-on developers must follow to ensure security. All current add-ons will continue to work during this transitional period, but a warning will be displayed on uncertified add-ons. Mozilla stated that future releases of the Firefox browser will disable these add-ons in the future, though.

Clearly, the recent Windows 10 release and the new Edge browser from Microsoft have destabilized the balance of power in the web browser market, at least in terms of perception. These feature updates and improved security policies may help Mozilla stave off Microsoft's Edge browser.

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Michael Justin Allen Sexton
Michael Justin Allen Sexton is a Contributing Writer for Tom's Hardware US. He covers hardware component news, specializing in CPUs and motherboards.
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16 Comments Comment from the forums
  • TechyInAZ
    Dear Mozilla,

    Your browser is one of the best browsers I've seen. And is my personal 2nd favorite. However, if you manage to make it just as fast as Edge or Chrome then I might use it more often. :)
    Reply
  • a1r
    And they fixed the "Unable to Download" error that caused the install to fail on first time install in Windows 10 for those with a new/clean install.
    Reply
  • zthomas
    firefox.. has been having trouble since switching to 10.. crashing allot.. pages freezing for several seconds.. when moving around.. I like fox it gives different content than chrome.. but chrome I mostly use.. edge.. ahh I dread to use the new browser.. gotta look up all those passwords.. and imput all again.. guess i'm just to dang lazy..

    firefox is still acting up.. its been over a week since last posting flash keeps crashing.. just did so again
    Reply
  • pjmelect
    Edge is not usable to me as most of the features that I regularly use are missing. I think that edge is only suitable for basic web browsing. Edge maybe fast but without the missing features I will be giving it a miss.
    Reply
  • a1r
    Edge is not usable to me as most of the features that I regularly use are missing. I think that edge is only suitable for basic web browsing. Edge maybe fast but without the missing features I will be giving it a miss.

    Edge was released unfinished. It's missing extension/plugin support and that's a big thing for a lot of people. MS will add that later they say.
    Reply
  • alextheblue
    chrome I mostly use.. edge.. ahh I dread to use the new browser.. gotta look up all those passwords.. and imput all again.. guess i'm just to dang lazy..

    I hate letting any browser retain passwords, myself.
    Reply
  • Paul NZ
    One browser I wont use - Chrome. Seen too many people have probs with it. Or somehow get infected after using it

    Or it crashes often, or it crashes window. Thanks but no thanks
    Reply
  • thuckabay
    I really like the Firefox browser. It has one serious flaw, however: stability. After using it for a lengthy period with lots of tabs open, it will eventually crash. I have seen this many times. Other than that, it's a really great browser, and has terrific recovery after a crash. As for the new Edge browser, I have found it to be less stable than Firefox thus far, but also less capable than both IE and Firefox in one key area of functionality upon which I rely: the Edge browser offers no way to create a Windows shortcut to a web page that is currently being viewed. IE allows one to right-click the page and select Create Shortcut, whereas Firefox offers the Deskcut plugin for a similar, though somewhat less polished (i.e., more manual) capability. No such functionality or plugin is exposed or exists right now for the Edge browser, and for me, that alone is enough to cause me not to use it much. Chrome is also great, but like the Edge browser, it too offers no way to create a desktop shortcut to a web page being viewed, so far as I know.
    Reply
  • ohim
    Firefox, let`s be hypocrite about stuff now, let`s complain about MS defaulting some stuff while our browser defaults to Yahoo search ... Your default is bad! My default is good! Bad MS , bad boy!

    Also Edge seems to be a beast of a browser for it`s first iteration, i`ve tested it even on my Lumia 930 phone, damn this browser is fast.
    Reply
  • psiboy
    Firefox on 10 has been flawless for me! Edge is flaky and shows signs it was rushed.
    Reply