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How to delete browsing data stored by Mozilla Sync?

  • 2 replies
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  • Last reply by bronko

bronko
bronko
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I was on my laptop and I was shocked to find browsing history from my desktop, on my laptop. History which was supposed to have been securely deleted. I was mystified by how that could happen. Then I thought about Mozilla Sync which I just started. That must be it. Mozilla synced the browser history quickly, just before it was securely deleted. Now this data is stored by Mozilla - where? In the cloud, I presume. I don't even know what the hell the cloud is, but I know I don't want Mozilla storing my browsing history there. So what can be done about this? Browsing history plus other sensitive data poses a security and privacy risk. Perhaps I didn't read all of the information and instructions about Sync when I started it. BUT Mozilla really needs to be more upfront about the fact that Sync will be storing this data away from the user's local computer! Is it possible to delete this data stored by Mozilla? I know the user can control what data is Synced, but Mozilla should have had a more obvious explanation about how this Synced data will be stored!!

I was on my laptop and I was shocked to find browsing history from my desktop, on my laptop. History which was supposed to have been securely deleted. I was mystified by how that could happen. Then I thought about Mozilla Sync which I just started. That must be it. Mozilla synced the browser history quickly, just before it was securely deleted. Now this data is stored by Mozilla - where? In the cloud, I presume. I don't even know what the hell the cloud is, but I know I don't want Mozilla storing my browsing history there. So what can be done about this? Browsing history plus other sensitive data poses a security and privacy risk. Perhaps I didn't read all of the information and instructions about Sync when I started it. BUT Mozilla really needs to be more upfront about the fact that Sync will be storing this data away from the user's local computer! Is it possible to delete this data stored by Mozilla? I know the user can control what data is Synced, but Mozilla should have had a more obvious explanation about how this Synced data will be stored!!

Chosen solution

You can change the password of the Sync account to wipe all data stored on the Sync server.

The currently used new Sync version still uses the Sync key to encrypt data locally before uploading, but this Sync key is generated internally from the password of your Firefox account, so you no longer need to worry about it. This means that the Sync key changes when you change the password of the Firefox account and you lose all data stored on the Sync server doing that.

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cor-el
cor-el
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Chosen Solution

You can change the password of the Sync account to wipe all data stored on the Sync server.

The currently used new Sync version still uses the Sync key to encrypt data locally before uploading, but this Sync key is generated internally from the password of your Firefox account, so you no longer need to worry about it. This means that the Sync key changes when you change the password of the Firefox account and you lose all data stored on the Sync server doing that.

bronko
bronko Question owner
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Oh, I see. Very well. Thank you for that information, that puts my mind at ease over this issue. And thanks for the speed of your reply, too.

Modified by bronko