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In Firefox 23, with private browsing enabled, why are the addresses of websites visited being added to the file places.sqlite?

  • 4 replies
  • 4 have this problem
  • 19 views
  • Last reply by cor-el

chalk68
chalk68
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In Firefox documentation it is claimed that while a user is in private browsing Cached Web Content, Offline Web Content or User Data will be saved. I am using Firefox beta 23. With 'do not track' and 'private browsing' enabled.

An examination of the file places.sqlite stored in my profile shows it is adding to the file the addresses of every website I visit. This information is not cleared when I close Firefox. When I have closed Firefox I have deleted the file but it reappears unchanged at each fresh machine start.

As I regularly update my versions of Firefox and the file is one carried over with each update the entries in places.sqlite also record my browsing history over a long period - all of it is there whether I had private browsing enabled or not.

How is this true private browsing when this file keeps a complete record of browsing history?

In Firefox documentation it is claimed that while a user is in private browsing Cached Web Content, Offline Web Content or User Data will be saved. I am using Firefox beta 23. With 'do not track' and 'private browsing' enabled. An examination of the file places.sqlite stored in my profile shows it is adding to the file the addresses of every website I visit. This information is not cleared when I close Firefox. When I have closed Firefox I have deleted the file but it reappears unchanged at each fresh machine start. As I regularly update my versions of Firefox and the file is one carried over with each update the entries in places.sqlite also record my browsing history over a long period - all of it is there whether I had private browsing enabled or not. How is this true private browsing when this file keeps a complete record of browsing history?

All Replies (4)

jscher2000 - Support Volunteer
jscher2000 - Support Volunteer
  • Top 25 Contributor
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I'm not aware of changes to this feature in Firefox 23.

Are you using a Private window (purple Firefox button or purple mask on the menu bar) or automatic/permanent private browsing (starting Firefox in private mode)?

chalk68
chalk68 Question owner
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As made clear in my question I am using automatic/permanent private browsing from start-up.

chalk68
chalk68 Question owner
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Further to: In order to delete the now very large places.sqlite I exported my Bookmarks to a html file. Then from my profile I deleted the 9 bookmark.json files in the folder bookmarkbackups.

With Firefox shutdown I then deleted places.sqlite. Then with Firefox open I imported the html bookmark file.

The new places.sqlite generated now only contains the links kept in Bookmarks. I do not yet know if this has solved the problem. I will use the Firefox browser for a couple of days without adding any bookmarks and then check the places.sqlite file again.

cor-el
cor-el
  • Moderator
  • Top 10 Contributor
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Problems with bookmarks or history not working properly can be caused by a corrupted places.sqlite database file.

You can check for problems with the places.sqlite database file in the Firefox profile folder.