Topic: Firefox gets privacy mode

[Clive]

Mozilla is to add a secrecy mode to its Firefox 3.1 browser which lets surfers browse the web without leaving a trace.

Both the beta versions of Internet Explorer 8 and Google's Chrome browser have this feature, which has been referred to as 'porn mode.'

Firefox 3.1 is still under construction but developer Ehsan Akhgari has blogged about the details of Private Browsing ahead of its full release.

When Private Browsing is enabled, Firefox will not record the browser, download or search history. Cookies and temporary files will also not be recorded.

Explaining the benefits of this new secret mode, Akhgari said: "Suppose you're doing something online, and you don't want your co-workers know about it. An example scenario would be looking for a new employer while at work!"

"Private Browsing will help you here," he said. However, he added that it will not keep you anonymous from websites or your ISP, or protect you from certain kinds of spyware applications.

Akhgari said that the privacy mode would appear in Firefox 3.1 beta 2, which should be released later this month.

Firefox confirmed its status as the world's second most popular browser; according to web analytics firm Net Applications Mozilla's browser had a 20 per cent global market share for two out of four weeks in October.

www.mozilla.org
www.netapplications.com

[sam]

that's a bit misleading.. you will still leave a trail of IP registers on the servers you visit... but against it will stop the wife seeing your sheep porn eh Clive? 

[Simon]

It's nothing you can't do yourself anyway, with the Clear Private Data tool, and you can set that to clear stuff automatically when FF closes.  All this new thing does, by the sound of it, is stop the data being stored in the first place, which will, in some cases, render sites such as forums unusable, as they require a cookie to operate.

[sam]

exactly!

[Camstop]

You guys are so 2006 

I'm really liking Chrome, which is making Firefox look like what Firefox made IE look like 

[sam]

nah, nothing will beat Iceweasel (open source firefox for linux) - nice and light.

[Simon]

'Iceweasel'     Who thinks up these names?

[Camstop]

'Iceweasel'     Who thinks up these names?

Linux users   

[Lona]

Tell me about Chrome, Cammy.  Are you using it and is it better than firefox?

Last time I encountered Chrome is when I cleaned hubby's hub caps with a brillo pad. 

[Camstop]

Yes i think it's far better Lona.

Set it up the way you like and i doubt you'll not move back if you give it a couple of days. 

[Simon]

By then, it will have gathered so much information on you that it won't allow you to move back! 

[Camstop]

By then, it will have gathered so much information on you that it won't allow you to move back! 

I set it not to do that!

It give's you the option 

[Simon]

To be fair, last time I tried it, there were hardly any options.  I still wouldn't trust Google not to snoop, though.  .dunno:

[Tony]

I've every respect for Cammys judgement so I may be tempted to give it a try. But I think I'll wait to see what Lorna makes of it. 

[Camstop]

I've every respect for Cammys judgement so I may be tempted to give it a try. But I think I'll wait to see what Lorna makes of it. 

I guess it's like a lot of things in life...

80% in yer head and 20% reality


I'm sticking