How to clear private data in Firefox
If a family member or a friend shares your pc, perhaps you don't want your family members to know the websites that you have visited or the files you have downloaded.
In such a case, you can delete your private data. Whenever you want, you can remove your private data. You can also configure Firefox to clear all your Firefox automatically.
What do you mean by private data?
Private data includes the following information:
Download History, Browsing History and Saved form information: Download history contains a list of files that you have downloaded. Browsing history keeps a log of websites.
Saved form information: It has a list of phrases that you usually enter in text fields. The phrases include web searches, address and name fields
Cache: It stores temporary files including web pages, downloaded from the Web Cookies: These are the files commonly stored on your computer's disk. These files are created by websites to keep a track of the users whenever they visit the websites.
Saved passwords: It contains a list of passwords and usernames that you want to remember.
Authentication Sessions: It keeps users logged into all secure sites that you have used password manager to log into
Clearing private data:
1] Select the tools option that is at the top of Firefox window and then choose “Clear private data” option.
2] Clear private data window opens, giving you the choice to clear private data you want.
3] Checkmark the data you wish to clear and then click on the button “Clear private data now” to remove the data or else you can click on cancel button to shut clear private data window.
How to configure private data removal:
1] You need to click on Edit menu that is at the top of Firefox window and then select “preferences”.
2] Select privacy panel. You will see 3 areas related to privacy: Cookies, history and private data.
3] In private data section, following options will be available.
Clear private data whenever I close Firefox: You can select this option if you want Firefox to clear private data.
Ask before clearing any private data: If you select this option, Firefox will ask you before clearing any specified private data. If you want to immediately clear your private data, you should click on the “Clear Now” button.
Safe mode: This is a special execution mode in Firefox that you can use to resolve Firefox issues. When you open Firefox in safe mode, you can disable themes and extensions or reset some settings that might be causing the problem. You can compare Firefox's behaviour in safe and normal mode with extensions disabled and diagnose the issues.
How to open Firefox in safe mode?
In the run dialog box, you need to type “firefox-safe mode“
Safe mode window
Safe mode window gives you 3 options
1] When you click on exit button, it cancels your attempt to open Firefox in safe mode.
2] Clicking on “continue in safe mode” will start Firefox in safe mode. Once you open Firefox in safe mode, your themes and extensions will be disabled. Toolbar customizations made will be reverted to their defaults. All these changes are temporary. When you exit from safe mode and open Firefox normally, your themes, extensions and settings will be enabled and return to normal state.
The following are the options in safe mode:
Disable all add-ons: When you select this option and click on “Make changes and restart”, Firefox will restart in normal mode, however all your themes and extensions will be enabled.
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Tags: Extensions & Plugins, Mozilla
