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inprivate privacy

When using a shared computer, Private Browsing is great for viewing websites without saving stuff like cookies, temp files and a history of the pages you visit.

As you browse the web, Firefox remembers lots of information for you: sites you've visited, files you've downloaded, and more. There may be times, however, when you don't want other users on your computer to see this information, such as when shopping for a birthday present. '''Private Browsing allows you to browse the Internet without saving any information about which sites and pages you’ve visited.''' This article explains what information is not saved when in Private Browsing and gives you step-by-step instructions for using it. {warning}'''Warning:''' Private Browsing doesn't make you anonymous on the Internet. Your Internet service provider, employer, or the sites themselves can still track what pages you visit. Private Browsing also doesn't protect you from [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Keylogger keyloggers] or [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spyware spyware] that may be installed on your computer.{/warning} __TOC__ {for win}[[Video:Private Browsing]]{/for} = What does Private Browsing not save? = {for not fx11} * '''Visited pages''': No pages will be added to the list of sites in the History menu, the Library window's history list, or the [[Search your bookmarks, history and tabs with the Awesome Bar|Awesome Bar]] address list. * '''Form and Search Bar entries''': Nothing you enter into text boxes on web pages or the [[Search bar - Easily choose your favorite search engine|Search bar]] will be saved for [[Control whether Firefox automatically fills in forms with your information|Form autocomplete]]. * '''Passwords''': No new passwords will be saved. * '''Download List entries''': No files you download will be listed in the [[Use the Downloads window to manage downloaded files|Downloads Window]] after you turn off Private Browsing. * '''Cookies''': [[Cookies - Information that websites store on your computer|Cookies]] store information about websites you visit such as site preferences, login status, and data used by plugins like Adobe Flash. Cookies can also be used by third parties to track you across web sites. For more info about tracking, see [[How do I turn on the Do-not-track feature?]]{note}'''Note:''' To prevent Flash from storing cookies, you must be using its latest version. See [[Flash Plugin - Keep it up to date and troubleshoot problems#w_updating-flash|Updating Flash]] for instructions.{/note} * '''Web cache files''': No temporary Internet files or [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cache cached] files from web pages will be saved. {/for} {for fx11} * '''Visited pages''': No pages will be added to the list of sites in the History menu, the Library window's history list, or the [[Search your bookmarks, history and tabs with the Awesome Bar|Awesome Bar]] address list. * '''Form and Search Bar entries''': Nothing you enter into text boxes on web pages or the [[Search bar - Easily choose your favorite search engine|Search bar]] will be saved for [[Control whether Firefox automatically fills in forms with your information|Form autocomplete]]. * '''Passwords''': No new passwords will be saved. * '''Download List entries''': No files you download will be listed in the [[Use the Downloads window to manage downloaded files|Downloads Window]] after you turn off Private Browsing. * '''Cookies''': [[Cookies - Information that websites store on your computer|Cookies]] store information about websites you visit such as site preferences, login status, and data used by plugins like Adobe Flash. Cookies can also be used by third parties to track you across web sites. For more info about tracking, see [[How do I turn on the Do-not-track feature?]]{note}'''Note:''' To prevent Flash from storing cookies, you must be using its latest version. See [[Flash Plugin - Keep it up to date and troubleshoot problems#w_updating-flash|Updating Flash]] for instructions.{/note} * '''Cached Web Content''' and '''Offline Web Content and User Data''': No temporary Internet files ([http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cache cached] files) or files that websites save for offline use will be saved. {/for} {note} '''Note''': * If you create new [[How to use bookmarks to save and organize your favorite websites|Bookmarks]] while using Private Browsing, they will not be removed when you stop Private Browsing. * If you save files to your computer while using Private Browsing, they will not be deleted when you stop Private Browsing. However, any files you open in an external application will be cleared from the system's temporary folder, and none of the files you download will appear in the [[Use the Downloads window to manage downloaded files|Downloads window]] list. {/note} = How do I turn on Private Browsing? = To start a Private Browsing session: #{for win}At the top of the Firefox window, click the {button Firefox} button ({menu Tools} menu in Windows XP) and select {menu Start Private Browsing}.{/for}{for mac}On the menu bar, click the {menu Tools} menu and select {menu Start Private Browsing}.{/for}{for linux}At the top of the Firefox window, click the {menu Tools} menu and select {menu Start Private Browsing}.{/for}{for win}<br>[[Image:Private Browsing Win1]]{/for}{for mac}<br><br>[[Image:Private Browsing Mac1]]{/for}{for linux}<br>[[Image:Private Browsing Lin1]]{/for} # When you turn on Private Browsing, Firefox alerts you that it will save your current windows and tabs for after you finish using Private Browsing. Click {button Start Private Browsing} to continue.{for win}<br><br>[[Image:Private Browsing Win2]]{/for}{for mac}<br><br>[[Image:Private Browsing Mac2]]{/for}{for linux}<br>[[Image:Private Browsing Lin2]]{/for} #* Check the box next to "Do not show this message again" if you don't want to receive this alert when you turn on Private Browsing. # The Private Browsing information screen appears to confirm that you're in Private Browsing mode.{for win}[[Image:Private Browsing Win3]]{/for}{for mac}[[Image:Private Browsing Mac3]]{/for}{for linux}[[Image:Private Browsing Lin3]]{/for} When browsing in Private Browsing mode, {for not win}the Firefox window title will say '''(Private Browsing)'''{/for}{for win}the {button Firefox} button will be purple (for Windows XP the window title will say '''(Private Browsing)''' instead){/for} during your session. = How do I turn off Private Browsing? = To end a Private Browsing session: #{for win}At the top of the Firefox window, click the {button Firefox} button ({menu Tools} menu in Windows XP) and select {menu Stop Private Browsing}.{/for}{for mac}On the menu bar, click the {menu Tools} menu and select {menu Stop Private Browsing}.{/for}{for linux}At the top of the Firefox window, click the {menu Tools} menu and select {menu Stop Private Browsing}.{/for}{for win}<br>[[Image:Private Browsing Win4]]{/for}{for mac}<br><br>[[Image:Private Browsing Mac4]]{/for}{for linux}<br>[[Image:Private Browsing Lin4]]{/for} # The windows and tabs you were using when you enabled Private Browsing will appear, and you can use Firefox normally. {for not win}The Firefox window title will no longer say '''(Private Browsing)'''{/for}{for win}The {button Firefox} button will turn orange again (for Windows XP the Firefox window title will no longer say '''(Private Browsing)'''){/for} when Private Browsing is off. = How do I always start Firefox in Private Browsing? = There is a setting in the [[Settings for privacy, browsing history and do-not-track|{for win}Options{/for}{for mac,linux}Preferences{/for} window]] that automatically enables Private Browsing whenever you start Firefox. {note}If you enter Private Browsing this way, {for not win}the Firefox title bar won't say '''(Private Browsing)'''{/for}{for win}the {button Firefox} button won't turn purple (Windows XP, the Firefox title bar won't say '''(Private Browsing)'''){/for} but Firefox will still not retain history as described above.{/note} # [[T:optionspreferences]] #[[T:customhistory]] # Check the box next to '''Always use private browsing mode'''.{for win}[[Image:Private Browsing Win5 Fx7]]{/for}{for mac}[[Image:Private Browsing Mac5]]{/for}{for linux}[[Image:Private Browsing Lin5]]{/for} # [[T:closeOptionsPreferences]] [[Template:ShareArticle|link=http://mzl.la/MNBtnG]]