Mozilla Releases Firefox 149.0 With Free Built‑In VPN Offering 50 GB Monthly Data
Mozilla has launched Firefox 149.0 on the Release channel, introducing a comprehensive suite of privacy and security upgrades to the browser.
The most notable addition is a free, integrated VPN designed to safeguard users on public networks and protect sensitive browsing activities.
This new VPN routes web traffic through a secure proxy, effectively masking users’ IP addresses and location data.
Users are allocated 50 GB of protected data per month and have the flexibility to enable or disable the VPN for individual websites.
The VPN feature is initially being rolled out progressively to users in the United States, United Kingdom, Germany, and France. This phased approach allows Mozilla to collect early user feedback and resolve any potential bugs before a global launch.
Beyond the VPN, Firefox 149.0 enhances defenses against online threats.
The browser now uses data from SafeBrowsing to automatically block background notifications from websites flagged as malicious. By revoking these permissions permanently, Firefox helps prevent unsafe sites from displaying spam, intrusive ads, or phishing schemes.
Mozilla has also bolstered internal browser security by tightening the requirements for JavaScript files loaded within the parent process, adding a crucial layer of defense-in-depth against potential exploits.
Users can now easily monitor site safety using the new TrustPanel, which consolidates privacy and security settings into a single, accessible interface directly from the browser’s address bar.
The update also delivers several significant usability and developer-focused improvements.
A new Split View function allows users to display two web pages side-by-side within a single window, improving research and multitasking efficiency.
Under the hood, the browser enhances the robustness of HTTP/3 upload speeds during unstable network conditions and introduces the Reporting API. This API offers web applications a standardized method to track Content Security Policy violations and monitor feature deprecations.
| Feature Overview | Category | Technical Description |
|---|---|---|
| Built-in VPN | Privacy | Provides 50 GB of monthly proxy-routed data for protected browsing. |
| Malicious Site Blocking | Security | Revokes notification permissions for sites flagged by SafeBrowsing. |
| JS Loading Restrictions | Security | Tightens requirements for JavaScript executed in the parent process. |
| TrustPanel | UI/UX | Combines page-specific privacy and security settings in the address bar. |
| Reporting API | Web Platform | Standardizes platform feature reporting for Content Security Policies. |
| Split View | Productivity | Enables side-by-side tab viewing within a single browser window. |
Additionally, Firefox 149.0 includes platform-specific integrations and performance upgrades.
On Linux, the browser defaults to the XDG portal file picker for improved desktop environment integration. Windows users benefit from the modern Windows.Devices.Geolocation API for location services.
General performance sees a notable boost, particularly with significantly faster PDF loading times driven by hardware acceleration.
For developers, the Storage Inspector toolbar now features a dedicated button for instantly clearing selected storage entries.
This version also addresses multiple underlying security vulnerabilities through routine fixes detailed in advisory MFSA2026-20, ensuring a more hardened and stable browsing experience.