Make sure you close all PB mode windows as all PB windows share the same PB mode cookie jar.

Make sure you close all PB mode windows as all PB windows share the same PB mode cookie jar.

Yes, of course all private windows were closed. This does not solve the issue.

Hmm, unless there is a hidden private window, closing the last private window should empty the private window cookie jar.

I assume if you exit Firefox using the menu or by closing all the non-private windows, the problem does not recur.

Visit the Firefox Task Manager (Shift+Esc) and make sure there are no processes ending with "— Private".

Hmm, unless there is a hidden private window, closing the last private window should empty the private window cookie jar. I assume if you exit Firefox using the menu or by closing all the non-private windows, the problem does not recur.

If I end firefox entirely using task manager then sometimes the problem will recur right away and sometimes it will recur after a random period of time. This is not a solution as the private window should be private all the time. Users should not have to check and recheck each time whether their private session was actually private or not. This is a severe security risk which is why official Mozilla developers need to address this immediately, NOT community volunteers. No offense to you all

Visit the Firefox Task Manager (Shift+Esc) and make sure there are no processes ending with "— Private".

There are no processes ending with - private and yet reopening a private window still contains all saved logins and other data. A gross security risk. Official mozilla developers need to address this immediately

Does it still happen in Troubleshoot Mode?

This is not a solution as the private window should be private all the time. Users should not have to check and recheck each time whether their private session was actually private or not.

It sounds like the windows are private: data is not saved to disk, which you can prove by crashing Firefox and not having those windows restore and not finding their history when you review history. But you've encountered a situation where the in-memory cookie jar doesn't flush when expected (only non-private windows still open). The mystery is why.

Question 1: Which method(s) do you use to launch private windows? For example:

• menu > New Private Window (or the keyboard shortcut Ctrl+Shift+P)
• right-click a link > Open Link in New Private Window
• the Windows shortcut with a "mask" icon labeled "Firefox Private Browsing"
• some other method

Question 2: Does your Firefox save history normally in regular windows or have you noticed any unusual behavior there?

Please note that if you change the History selector on the Settings page to "Firefox will: Never remember history" (or "Firefox will: Use custom settings history" + "Always use private browsing mode") then your entire session is a private session and the in-memory cookie jar won't flush until you completely end your session using the Exit button.

This is a severe security risk which is why official Mozilla developers need to address this immediately, NOT community volunteers. No offense to you all

Sure, if it's a repeatable problem, it definitely should be referred to the developers (filed as a bug). But since this isn't how it usually works, we want to help you identify the exact steps and scenario to replicate the problem.

Does it still happen in Troubleshoot Mode?

not currently but that's due to starting troubleshoot mode requiring an entire restart of firefox entirely. the same as if i end firefox with task manager. when it will start doing it again is up in the air. could be immediately, sometimes a week or two goes by before it happens again. wouldn't the devs be better equipped to figure this out as opposed to me?

sardonicpillow said

This is not a solution as the private window should be private all the time. Users should not have to check and recheck each time whether their private session was actually private or not.

It sounds like the windows are private: data is not saved to disk, which you can prove by crashing Firefox and not having those windows restore and not finding their history when you review history. But you've encountered a situation where the in-memory cookie jar doesn't flush when expected (only non-private windows still open). The mystery is why.

Question 1: Which method(s) do you use to launch private windows? For example:

• menu > New Private Window (or the keyboard shortcut Ctrl+Shift+P)
• right-click a link > Open Link in New Private Window
• the Windows shortcut with a "mask" icon labeled "Firefox Private Browsing"
• some other method

Question 2: Does your Firefox save history normally in regular windows or have you noticed any unusual behavior there?

Please note that if you change the History selector on the Settings page to "Firefox will: Never remember history" (or "Firefox will: Use custom settings history" + "Always use private browsing mode") then your entire session is a private session and the in-memory cookie jar won't flush until you completely end your session using the Exit button.

This is a severe security risk which is why official Mozilla developers need to address this immediately, NOT community volunteers. No offense to you all

Sure, if it's a repeatable problem, it definitely should be referred to the developers (filed as a bug). But since this isn't how it usually works, we want to help you identify the exact steps and scenario to replicate the problem.

my preferred method to start private browsing is ctrl shift P. But it also happens if i use the file menu or by opening a link in private window. I have never a shortcut icon.

firefox history is operating normally in regular windows. have not noticed anything unusual there. regarding the always use private browsing mode setting i do not use that. I normally use regular windows and private windows only for select functions which are meant to be secure

sometimes a week or two goes by before it happens again.

If you cannot intentionally reproduce it after many attempts, you are most likely leaving a private window open by accident. If you are 1000% sure this is not the case, you should refresh your profile, disable third-party modules, disable third-party virus scanners and scan for malware.

sardonicpillow said

sometimes a week or two goes by before it happens again.

If you cannot intentionally reproduce it after many attempts, you are most likely leaving a private window open by accident. If you are 1000% sure this is not the case, you should refresh your profile, disable third-party modules, disable third-party virus scanners and scan for malware.

9000% sure there is not a private window left open. next time I will take a video if you do not believe me. whatever i must do to get the devs to actually address this severe security violation.

0 malware on my computer

Does it still happen in Firefox Beta? It might have been fixed in version 117 by Bug 1842030.