Mozilla recently announced that it is adding a new security feature to its Firefox Quantum web browser that will alert users when they visit a website that has reported a data breach in the last 12 months.

Although consumers can visit Have I Been Pwned [view related post] to determine if their email has been compromised, this feature specifically addresses data breaches of websites and not email addresses, which is an important additional piece of information for the privacy and security of personal information.

The way it works is that when a Firefox user lands on a website that has had a breach in its recent past, a pop-up notification informing them of some basic details of the breach will appear and suggest that the user check to see if their information was compromised.

“We’re bringing this functionality to Firefox users in recognition of the growing interest in these types of privacy- and security-centric features,” Mozilla stated. “This new functionality will gradually roll out to Firefox users over the coming weeks.”

In addition to this new security feature, Mozilla has also rolled out an evaluation of the security of certain popular products for the upcoming holiday shopping season. Called *Privacy Not Included https://blog.mozilla.org/blog/2018/11/14/your-privacy-centric-holiday-shopping-guide/, the Your 2018 Privacy Focused Holiday Shopping Guide is designed to “help you identify which connected devices provide robust privacy and security features — and which ones don’t.”

The guide features “In-depth reviews of 70 products across six categories: Toys & Games; Smart Home; Entertainment; Wearables; Health & Exercise; and Pets” and gives these products badges when the products meet minimum security features. The brands that Mozilla has given badges to include: “Nintendo Switch, Google Home, Harry Potter Kano Coding Kit, Athena Safety Wearable, and the Behmor Brewer Coffee Maker.”

The guide was compiled by asking questions like “Can this product spy on me?” “Is it tracking my location?” and “Can I control the data it collects about me?” I would add a question about the microphone and camera features too, but maybe in next year’s guide…

It also includes the Creep-O-Meter, which is “an interactive tool allowing readers to rate how creepy they think a product is using a sliding scale of “Super Creepy” to “Not Creepy,” as well to share how likely or unlikely they are to buy it.

It is super interesting and helpful, and worthwhile to check out before you hit the mall or online shopping on Black Friday or Cyber Monday.

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