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User interface of the private browsing window

Rodraven
Rodraven
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Dear Sir / Madam:

Ordinarily I browse the web in non-private mode. It is very handy to have access to one's browsing history ... to later go back to an interesting page ... or to later save an interesting page ... etc.

In the middle of my browsing, I then suddenly want to visit a web page in private mode. As I open up a separate Firefox private window, that new private window still contains a list of my browsing history. My fear, read ignorance, tells me that maybe the web site (which I prefer to visit in private mode) can also access my browsing history ...?!? Question: is this the case?

I don't ... immediately ... succeed in understanding why the browsing history in the first place needs to be tagged along into the new private mode window? The user specifically wants "isolation": from the past, in the presence, and for the future. Personally, I would feel much better, if the private mode window showed no browsing history (and had no access to my earlier browsing history). - In this regard I find the present Firefox user interface solution counter-intuitive: How are you to understand that nobody else can see your browsing history ... as you yourself can see it ...? Keep in mind that the knowledge levels of all users vary a lot. Inter alia, there is no rock bottom.

One solution is to entirely clear my history prior to starting my private mode surfing. However, I'd rather keep my browsing history (for weeks, for months ... you never know when you want to go back to that "interesting" page again).

A second solution is to use another web browser (Chrome, Internet Explorer, ...) for my private surfing. But ... I do like my Firefox a lot.

(I am not able to attach an image for demonstration. Pressing "PrtScn" or alternatively "Alt + PrtScn" makes the history list collapse/disappear in the new private mode Firefox window.)

Thank you very much for your advice on the issue! (And/or for a change in the user interface of the Firefox private mode window.)

Best regards,

Rodraven

Dear Sir / Madam: Ordinarily I browse the web in non-private mode. It is very handy to have access to one's browsing history ... to later go back to an interesting page ... or to later save an interesting page ... etc. In the middle of my browsing, I then suddenly want to visit a web page in private mode. As I open up a separate Firefox private window, that new private window still contains a list of my browsing history. My fear, read ignorance, tells me that maybe the web site (which I prefer to visit in private mode) can also access my browsing history ...?!? Question: is this the case? I don't ... immediately ... succeed in understanding why the browsing history in the first place needs to be tagged along into the new private mode window? The user specifically wants "isolation": from the past, in the presence, and for the future. Personally, I would feel much better, if the private mode window showed no browsing history (and had no access to my earlier browsing history). - In this regard I find the present Firefox user interface solution counter-intuitive: How are you to understand that nobody else can see your browsing history ... as you yourself can see it ...? Keep in mind that the knowledge levels of all users vary a lot. Inter alia, there is no rock bottom. One solution is to entirely clear my history prior to starting my private mode surfing. However, I'd rather keep my browsing history (for weeks, for months ... you never know when you want to go back to that "interesting" page again). A second solution is to use another web browser (Chrome, Internet Explorer, ...) for my private surfing. But ... I do like my Firefox a lot. (I am not able to attach an image for demonstration. Pressing "PrtScn" or alternatively "Alt + PrtScn" makes the history list collapse/disappear in the new private mode Firefox window.) Thank you very much for your advice on the issue! (And/or for a change in the user interface of the Firefox private mode window.) Best regards, Rodraven

Solution choisie

Websites do not have access to your browsing history, in private or regular windows. Allowing a website access to your personal browsing history would be a massive security and privacy breach, and that is not allowed.

Private Browsing's purpose is to keep the history in your private browsing session from being stored on your computer. So for example, let's say there is a website you want to visit that you don't want anyone else who uses your computer to know you visited, you'd use Private Browsing to access that website.

If you are worried about websites tracking you, than i suggest you enable tracking protection. What happened to Tracking Protection?

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Toutes les réponses (2)

user633449
user633449
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Solution choisie

Websites do not have access to your browsing history, in private or regular windows. Allowing a website access to your personal browsing history would be a massive security and privacy breach, and that is not allowed.

Private Browsing's purpose is to keep the history in your private browsing session from being stored on your computer. So for example, let's say there is a website you want to visit that you don't want anyone else who uses your computer to know you visited, you'd use Private Browsing to access that website.

If you are worried about websites tracking you, than i suggest you enable tracking protection. What happened to Tracking Protection?

Modifié le par user633449

the-edmeister
the-edmeister
  • Moderator
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Rodraven said

I don't ... immediately ... succeed in understanding why the browsing history in the first place needs to be tagged along into the new private mode window? The user specifically wants "isolation": from the past, in the presence, and for the future.

Private Browsing mode does temporarily "save" browsing history, but only for as long as that Private Browsing session is open. When the user exits PB, the "history" is cleared. That "data" is never saved to disk.

As far as multiple PB windows being opened and the browsing history being "connected" to other PB windows, that is a planned feature and part of Electrolysis (or e10S) with Quantum. https://wiki.mozilla.org/Electrolysis/Multiple_content_processes

Hopefully, this will help you understand a but about what's going on in the background when using PB mode.