Mozilla releases Firefox 156 with new VPN and performance updates

Mozilla has released Firefox 156, introducing several technical enhancements and new features across different platforms. For Android users, the update includes a free VPN service that provides 50 GB of data per month, accessible via a free Mozilla account. This VPN service will be rolled out gradually in the coming months. Additionally, Android users can now use AI to summarize websites or translate content directly from Custom Tabs.

Technical improvements in this version include a PDF viewer that starts up to 45 percent faster by loading the PDF.js process upon browser startup. The update also features more efficient image processing for large JPEG files, which can reduce memory usage by up to 20 times.

Mozilla is also introducing sponsored suggestions in the address bar for users in Germany, France, and Italy. These advertisements can be disabled through the search and suggestion settings. Other updates include a Wrexham AFC themed background for Android and improved media notification controls.