Firefox 72 hides annoying site notifications, and you can download it now

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Mozilla's browser gains CCPA-compliant data deletion options

Mozilla's Berlin office
(Image credit: Mozilla)

Mozilla has released version 72 of its Firefox web browser, introducing new features for Windows, Mac and Linux users, including a new option to delete telemetry data.

The latest version of the browser takes steps to make notification requests generated by websites less irritating and intrusive. Now, rather than a message popping up on screen to ask if you'd like to receive notifications from a particular site, Firefox will simply display an icon in the address bar to let you know that notifications are available.

For Mac and Linux users the picture-in-picture mode is now available giving users of these operating systems the option of watching videos in a little pop-out window while continuing to browse other sites.

Privacy options

For anyone who has kept up to date with the beta and nightly builds of Firefox, the changes in Firefox 72 will be familiar. The browser now no longer allows user fingerprinting – a technique used to track people online without their consent, and without using tracking cookies.

One of the most interesting features of Firefox 72 comes in response to the California Consumer Privacy Act (CCPA) which came into force at the start of the year. The act is specific to California and it gives people the right to request that companies delete data that has been collected about them. Mozilla took the decision to not only respect this law in California, but to give the same option to user around the world.

With Firefox 72 installed, users are able to request that Mozilla delete telemetry data that the company has collect through the browser.

At time of writing, Mozilla is yet to publish the full changelog for Firefox 72, but as soon as it is ready, you'll be able to check it out here.

You can download the latest version of Firefox here; if you already have the browser installed, check for updates by clicking the menu button to the upper right of the program window and select Help > About Firefox.

Sofia Elizabella Wyciślik-Wilson
Sofia Elizabella Wyciślik-Wilson
Freelance writer

Sofia is a tech journalist who's been writing about software, hardware and the web for nearly 25 years – but still looks as youthful as ever! After years writing for magazines, her life moved online and remains fueled by technology, music and nature.

Having written for websites and magazines since 2000, producing a wide range of reviews, guides, tutorials, brochures, newsletters and more, she continues to write for diverse audiences, from computing newbies to advanced users and business clients. Always willing to try something new, she loves sharing new discoveries with others.

Sofia lives and breathes Windows, Android, iOS, macOS and just about anything with a power button, but her particular areas of interest include security, tweaking and privacy. Her other loves include walking, music, her two Malamutes and, of course, her wife and daughter.

You can find her on Twitter and Mastodon.