Firefox Readies Tougher Stance on Cookies

Up until now, only Apple's Safari browser had blocked third-party cookies by default. Last week's release of Firefox 22 to its developer's channel also came with the feature, indicating that the option will soon make it to all Firefox users. Firefox 22 Aurora blocks third-party cookies by default, putting the ad industry on notice that browsers are about to start looking askance at them. While Safari has had the feature for a long time, no other major browser has supported it until now. Mozilla first announced in February that it was changing its third-party tracking cookie policy.

The browser vendor cited "many years of observing Safari's approach to third-party cookies, a rapidly expanding number of third-party companies using cookies to track users, and strong user support for more control" as the reasons why Firefox will soon block third-party cookies by default.