Private Browsing STARTED remembering passwords ... ?
I have used Private Browsing for over two years. I particularly like the feature that prohibits the browser from remembering passwords and log-ins while in Private Browsing mode, even if you are logged in to that same website in another (non-private) Firefox browser. For instance, it allows me to have two separate Yahoo email accounts open at the same time in Firefox. For some reason, however, my Firefox browser has begun to not only remember but keep me logged in to those sites, even after closing the private browser.
To be clear, for the past two years that I've used this feature, I could open a Private Browsing window or tab, sign into a Yahoo account, and once I closed all open Private Browsing windows, this automatically logged me out. When I would reopen a new Private Browsing window and navigated to Yahoo, I would have to re-enter my login and password info. For some reason, they are now keeping me logged in ... DESPITE having closed ALL Private Browsing windows.
What is going on? Could this be a result of malware or other indication of compromised security?
Any and all help is greatly appreciated.
All Replies (5)
Are you sure that you entered PB mode correctly and aren't still in normal mode?
Start Firefox in Safe Mode to check if one of the extensions (Firefox/Tools > Add-ons > Extensions) or if hardware acceleration is causing the problem (switch to the DEFAULT theme: Firefox/Tools > Add-ons > Appearance).
- Do NOT click the Reset button on the Safe Mode start window.
- https://support.mozilla.org/kb/Safe+Mode
- https://support.mozilla.org/kb/Troubleshooting+extensions+and+themes
Future Firefox versions will support Private Browsing per tab, this is already available as an extension.
The Firefox menu button gets a purple background or you get a purple PB mask on the menu bar or tab bar (Linux) when you are in a PB tab and all Private Browsing mode tabs get a dashed underlining unless you are in permanent PB mode.
C'mon Cor-el, lol ... I wouldn't go to the trouble of posting a 2 1/2 paragraph inquiry in this forum if I wasn't sure whether I was in Private Browsing mode or not ;-)
... that's like your obligatory "are you sure it's plugged?" equivalent I guess though.
In any case, part of your suggestion solved the problem ... it's strange ... I didn't even look at any of the extensions or hardware acceleration ... all I did was start it in safe mode, close it, re-open in normal mode, and then the problem gone. Does this make any sense to you?
thanks again for your help, btw.
You're welcome.
It is still possible that you hadn't entered PM properly.
Did you use the check box in Tools > Options > Privacy for permanent PB mode or the entry in the Firefox menu?
Modified by cor-el
was DEFINITELY in Private mode. I triple checked to see what was going on. Sometimes I open from the dropdown menu in an existing browser, and sometimes I right-click>'new private window' from the Firefox tray icon. I have no idea how starting in safe mode and then restarting in regular solved the problem, but it did. Just wish I knew why!
Hello,
The Reset Firefox feature can fix many issues by restoring Firefox to its factory default state while saving your essential information.
Note: This will cause you to lose any Extensions and some Preferences.
- Open websites will not be saved in Firefox versions lower than 25.
To Reset Firefox do the following:
- Go to Firefox > Help > Troubleshooting Information.
- Click the "Reset Firefox" button.
- Firefox will close and reset. After Firefox is done, it will show a window with the information that is imported. Click Finish.
- Firefox will open with all factory defaults applied.
Further information can be found in the Refresh Firefox - reset add-ons and settings article.
Did this fix your problems? Please report back to us!
Thank you.