I've noticed that searches retain information about my previous searches after I close the browser; 'Delete cookies and site data when Firefox is closed' setting is selec… (மேலும் படிக்க)
I've noticed that searches retain information about my previous searches after I close the browser; 'Delete cookies and site data when Firefox is closed' setting is selected. My tests seem to point to a security loophole with Cached Web Content.
Question: how can I ensure privacy settings are honored, or, if there is a loophole, how can I get Firefox to also clear Cached Web Content on close?
In my repeated test cases, I used bing to search for '5/8 irrigation kit', then closed the browser and reopened. Cookies and site data show 0 bytes (see attached images), Cached Web Content show something greater than 0.
Next, I go to bing.com/news, scroll through stories, and see an advert for an irrigation kit as one of the sponsored adverts.
As a further test after the original search, I try the following to see if I was being track another way, with the same resulting sponsored advert showing:
- Restarted laptop
- Restarted ONT (to get a new IP) and wifi
The following 2 scenarios seemed to resolve the issue after the original search and seeing the same resulting sponsored advert:
- Turned on VPN
- Cleared Cached Web Content
Clearing Cached Web Content seems to be the solution, and a possible privacy loophole. Cached Web Content is not part of the auto-delete-at-close feature.
Oddly, I haven't been able to consistently replicate the above starting with the VPN on and having it on through the tests. It sometimes shows the same resulting sponsored advert, and sometimes not.
I tried to replicate this with Safari. It's auto-delete feature at close and similar privacy setting seems to work according to what I would expect with the same test scenario; which is, no previous search-informed sponsored advert.
Details:
- Firefox 76.0.1 (64-bit)
- Firefox privacy settings shown in attached images
- MacBook Air 2019
- macOS Catalina Version 10.15.4
- Verizon Fios