Deep Cover: Web Browser Protects Your Privacy

Mozilla’s Firefox 4 Beta 11 web browser, now available for download, aims to protect your privacy (and mollify conspiracy theorists) with its new “Do Not Track” features.

When enabled, user opt-out features prevent personal data from being collected or shared with websites, marketing firms or potential behavioral tracking tools that attempt to monitor browsing habits or delivered targeted advertising.

By checking the “Do Not Track” box in the program’s “Advanced” screen, accessible via the Options section, your browser sends a signal to tracking sites telling them to buzz off. A handy infographic and supporting blog post explain how the system works in principle, and the advantages of maintaining online anonymity.