private browsing session security
When accessing important accounts on websites, like financial websites, I've always heard you should close your browser when you're done with the secure website. If you log on in a PRIVATE window and close the private window afterword but leave the main FireFox window open, is that the same thing? I think it is and the private window will delete any login or activity info as if you closed the browser, I just want to confirm with someone more knowledgeable before I make a bad assumption. It also seems to have the added benefit of deleting anything you might download and save elsewhere from the download folder so you don't have to delete it from the DL folder and then the recycle bin. Seems like it's good practice to use the private window this way. Again, just looking for a 2nd opinion.
Thanks,
الحل المُختار
Hi Patrick,
Private Browsing removes its cookies, cache, history and form & search bar entries when you close the window. For reference, see this article. However:
- Whether the same happens when you close Firefox, depends on your settings (see the corresponding section of the mentioned article).
- Private Browsing does NOT remove any downloaded files, they will just not be displayed in Firefox (but remain on your computer). See Common Myths about Private Browsing.
It will definitely be no harm in using Private Browsing, though I'm not sure it actually provides any security benefits except for not saving logins/passwords. Hope that answers your question.
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الحل المُختار
Hi Patrick,
Private Browsing removes its cookies, cache, history and form & search bar entries when you close the window. For reference, see this article. However:
- Whether the same happens when you close Firefox, depends on your settings (see the corresponding section of the mentioned article).
- Private Browsing does NOT remove any downloaded files, they will just not be displayed in Firefox (but remain on your computer). See Common Myths about Private Browsing.
It will definitely be no harm in using Private Browsing, though I'm not sure it actually provides any security benefits except for not saving logins/passwords. Hope that answers your question.
Thanks Denys,
I'm referring to the financial and gov't websites that recommend that you close your browser after leaving them. I think you've answered my question. I think it's cache's & form entries they're concerned with.
Sometimes when I open a statement on a website and save it to my archive it still shows up in the download folder and I have to delete it and delete it again in the recycle bin. That doesn't ever seem to happen when I use the private browser. So I think best practice is probably to use private when you want slightly better security.
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