Avatar for Username

Search Support

Avoid support scams. We will never ask you to call or text a phone number or share personal information. Please report suspicious activity using the “Report Abuse” option.

Learn More

This thread was archived. Please ask a new question if you need help.

nytimes detecting Private Mode

  • 4 replies
  • 2 have this problem
  • 3 views
  • Last reply by Jeenu

Jeenu
Jeenu
more options

I updated to Firefox 66 on Linux yesterday. I don't know if it's the browser version, but I noticed that nytimes.com started picking up that I'm browsing the site in private mode.

Interestingly, this is something that used to happen on my Chrome book when I used private mode, but this on Firefox, this is a first for me. It may well be that nytimes changed their code to do this, but I wonder upgrade to FF 66 contributed to this.

In any case, I wonder how a site can pick up if the user is browsing in private mode.

I updated to Firefox 66 on Linux yesterday. I don't know if it's the browser version, but I noticed that nytimes.com started picking up that I'm browsing the site in private mode. Interestingly, this is something that used to happen on my Chrome book when I used private mode, but this on Firefox, this is a first for me. It may well be that nytimes changed their code to do this, but I wonder upgrade to FF 66 contributed to this. In any case, I wonder how a site can pick up if the user is browsing in private mode.

All Replies (4)

WestEnd
WestEnd
more options

PB if detected by the site might now let you access since they sometimes require tracking or cookies to work.

Modified by WestEnd

jscher2000 - Support Volunteer
jscher2000 - Support Volunteer
  • Top 10 Contributor
more options

In private windows, Firefox disables saving data to disk using IndexedDB, so that is one possible characteristic sites might use.

jscher2000 - Support Volunteer
jscher2000 - Support Volunteer
  • Top 10 Contributor
more options

There was a thread on Reddit recently:

https://www.reddit.com/r/firefox/comments/b0c5ea/preventing_incognito_mode_detection/

Jeenu
Jeenu Question owner
more options

Thanks.

A 7-years-old bug!