Search Support

Avoid support scams. We will never ask you to call or text a phone number or share personal information. Please report suspicious activity using the “Report Abuse” option.

Learn More

What does Firefox put onto my computer in private browsing mode?

more options

Forgive me if this has been asked a million times before

I love private browsing but for security I'd love to know exactly what I leave on my C: Drive when I exit a Private Browsing session?

- Is there any trace of visited sites - Is there any trace of viewed images - Is there any trace of passwords / email addresses / text entered - Is there any trace of MSN / Yahoo messenger conversations (in web mode)

If I use Private Browsing in combination with CC Cleaner (or similar) am I correct in assuming only my ISP can track where I've been or can other users of the same computer do this?

Forgive me if this has been asked a million times before I love private browsing but for security I'd love to know exactly what I leave on my C: Drive when I exit a Private Browsing session? - Is there any trace of visited sites - Is there any trace of viewed images - Is there any trace of passwords / email addresses / text entered - Is there any trace of MSN / Yahoo messenger conversations (in web mode) If I use Private Browsing in combination with CC Cleaner (or similar) am I correct in assuming only my ISP can track where I've been or can other users of the same computer do this?

All Replies (3)

more options

It puts nothing on the hard drive. Your assumption is correct.

more options

If you visit web pages that use MS software or plugins (WMP, Silverlight) then those plugins use the IE Temporary Internet folder and Cookies and may very well leave tracks there. Other plugins that do not recognize Private Browsing mode may very well do that. Flash 10.1 does recognize that mode, but I don't know about other plugins.


https://wiki.mozilla.org/User:Mconnor/PrivateBrowsing https://wiki.mozilla.org/Firefox3.1/PrivateBrowsing/FunctionalSpec https://wiki.mozilla.org/Firefox3.1/PrivateBrowsing/SecurityReview

more options

Thanks

I have heard that Private Browsing can leave a trace of visited sites in the .sqlite files

Do we know if this is the case?