Private browsing mode is a new option that all popular web browsers are offering by now (the latest to add this mode was the Opera web browser that had the mode implemented in the recently released Opera 10.50 pre-alpha release. Once turned on private browsing mode ensures that data that is generated during that browsing session will not be stored on the local computer system. This includes temporary files, cookies or entries in the web browser’s web history.
Most web browsers come with a switch to enable private browsing mode once the web browser has been started. The option in the Firefox web browser is available under Tools > Start Private Browsing or by pressing the Ctrl Shift P keyboard shortcut.
This can be a nuisance for some Firefox users who prefer to always browse the Internet in private browsing mode. This can for instance be interesting for users who use a portable version of Firefox on an USB stick to prevent that data gets stored on the system they use Firefox on.
Firefox comes with a configuration switch since version 3.1 which can be set to true to turn on private browsing mode automatically whenever the web browser is started. The following steps need to be performed to autostart Firefox in private browsing mode:
- Enter about:config in the Firefox address bar. If that is the first time click on the I’ll be careful button.
- Paste browser.privatebrowsing.autostart in the form at the top to filter for the entry needed.
- Double-click the entry. This will automatically change the value from false to true.
Firefox will start up in private browsing mode on the next start of the browser. The changes can be undone by performing the same steps that are outlined above.
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Hi,
I’m not sure you need to twick in the about:config for Firefox to start in Private Browsing Mode every time you launch the app.
In Firefox 3.5.4 & later, under Tools>Options>Privacy there’s an option “Automatically starti Firefox in a private browsing session”. If you tick this, after making a choice about everything else about Privacy, every time you launch Firefox it’ll start in Private Mode and every time you exti Firefox, everything gets celaned.
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