Firefox 23 is now available for download

Mozilla has released Firefox 23 for Windows, Mac, Linux, and Android. This update brings several new features and improvements across all platforms, including a subtle refresh to the Firefox logo. The headline addition for desktop is a new mixed content blocking filter designed to prevent insecure elements from loading on otherwise secure HTTPS pages, closing off a common attack vector that has been a concern for a while.

What's New in Firefox 23 for Windows, Mac and Linux

The most significant change on desktop is the introduction of mixed content blocking. While HTTPS pages provide an encrypted connection, they have often loaded additional resources such as scripts or images over plain HTTP. That non-secure content has always been a potential weak point even on an otherwise secure page. Firefox 23 now blocks that content by default, preventing it from being tampered with or used as an entry point for attacks. It is a meaningful security improvement that brings Firefox more in line with how other modern browsers handle the same issue.

The release also includes the minor logo refresh that Mozilla previewed ahead of launch, along with the usual round of bug fixes and stability improvements.

What's New in Firefox 23 for Android

The Android release focuses on usability and screen efficiency. Switching between tabs on tablets has been improved, and the address bar now features better auto-complete behaviour making it faster to get where you are going. The title bar now hides automatically so your content takes up as much of the screen as possible, which makes a noticeable difference on smaller displays.

RSS subscription and search engine selection have both been simplified, and language support has been expanded with the addition of Hungarian and Turkish. A solid update for mobile users overall.

Have you updated to Firefox 23 yet? Drop a comment below and let us know what you think of the changes.