Why is the Washington Post detecting private mode?
I've been using Firefox in private mode when reading articles from the NY TImes and Washington Post for years. Both sites recently started detecting private mode and blocking access unless I turn private mode off (which is a nuisance when reading emails etc). Someone else posted this problem re: NY Times. I just updated to FIrefox 68.0.2 and the problem still exists. Can this be fixed?
All Replies (6)
This not a Browser issue but site issue where they are tracking and using private browsing will block them and in return they will block you from accessing it.
Hi dave d, private windows restrict sites from using certain kinds of persistent storage. Sites test whether they can use persistent storage and when it fails, they figure you're probably using private browsing. Last time I checked, there wasn't yet a way to set Firefox to pretend that it is storing something persistently in private windows (and just throw it away or keep it in memory), although that has been suggested as a workaround.
Is there a special reason to use private windows for these newspaper sites? Or are you using automatic private browsing mode, so you don't have the option to open the sites in a regular window?
Hi jscher2000, I'm using automatic private browsing mode so I don't have the option. I read lots of news, many articles with links, and like the automatic feature. So I could log out, change browser settings, then log back in. But that wasn't necessary until perhaps 2 Firefox updates ago ... The pretend storage feature would be great ...
Modified by dave d
The real question is when will Firefox fix this. Chrome has fixed this, so you can use their incognito mode to visit the paywall sites like wapo and NYT.
Is this even on the TODO list?
ghstark said
The real question is when will Firefox fix this. Chrome has fixed this, so you can use their incognito mode to visit the paywall sites like wapo and NYT. Is this even on the TODO list?
The issue is that Firefox does not enable use of certain kinds of storage, especially IndexedDB databases, in private windows.
There is work underway to allow pages to use IndexedDB databases in private windows without leaving identifying traces on the computer (not leaking data about sites visited in private windows is the prime directive).
One developer indicated they hope to complete the work by the end of the year. There is no patch ready to test yet, but as usual, when they are ready, the changes will appear in the Nightly version of Firefox first. I'm sure when a test version becomes available, there will be discussion about it on the Firefox subreddit at https://www.reddit.com/r/firefox/.
Ok, thank you for that answer, that's good news. I should have said that I don't expect Firefox to slavishly follow chrome without doing their own analysis of the pros and cons.