Updated Firefox to encrypt Google searches

The latest Firefox update is set to increase the focus on security for its users. As part of this, the browser will automatically encrypt searches conducted through Google in the address bar, the search box or the right-click menu.

Mozilla, the company behind Firefox, noted in a recent blog post that the change is designed to “protect your data from potentially prying eyes, like network administrators when you use public or shared WiFi network”.

Google is still the default search engine for use in Firefox browsers but users can opt to use alternatives if desired. For now Google is the only search engine that will support encrypted searches through the browsers but Mozilla is looking forward to “supporting additional search engines with this feature in the future”.

Other security changes introduced in the update include a new way of displaying the security icon to the left of a URL to make it clearer to users when they can trust a site.

Non-security focus updates include the support of Pointer Lock API to allow applications, such as first-person games, to better control the mouse and the introduction of native fullscreen mode on OS X Lion 10.7 for a better experience with videos and web games.

The release of Google's own browser, Chrome, has cast doubt on its relationship with Firefox as the two have effectively become rivals. But for now Google's prominence within Firefox is set to continue.