The browser remembers every move you make on the web. The idea is very benign – to improve your browsing by faster loading or easily accessible URLs. But the footprint left also opens a hole in our privacy. On the one hand, someone else using the same computer can easily monitor your web activity, and on the other hand, hackers can use internet cache to bypass your defenses.
Thankfully, privacy and safe browsing requirements have been met with browser updates, ensuring that we can enter and exit the site without leaving a trace of our activities. Here are three ways that allow you to share your Firefox or Chrome browser without revealing your data.
Private and Incognito Mode
Firefox is equipped with private mode while Chrome can use Incognito mode. Essentially, both protect your privacy by disabling the browser’s ability to store links of visited websites, forms and search bar entries, passwords, site preferences, and cookies. The previous two articles delve into the simple process in more detail.
- How to enable private browsing in Firefox permanently
- How to force Chrome, Firefox and Internet Explorer to start in private browsing mode
Basically, in both browsers it’s a single click process.
In Chrome: Click the wrench icon – New Incognito Window.
In Firefox: Tools – Start Private Browsing.
Create separate browser profiles
In a household, it is prudent to create separate browser profiles to keep user data separate. For example, you wouldn’t want a family member to disturb the ‘sanctity’ of your carefully curated bookmarks with a few of their own. Both Firefox and Chrome make it easy to create individual profiles for each user.
- How to Create a New Profile in Firefox
- Use Switchy to create and manage Firefox profiles
- How to backup Chrome profiles and create new profiles using Google Chrome backup tool
In Chrome, you can also create your own user profiles manually. Just follow these 5 steps:
1. First exit Google Chrome completely.
2. Go to Start menu – Run.
3. Enter the following information for your OS version in the Run box.
Windows XP: %USERPROFILE%Local SettingsApplicationDataGoogleChromeUserData
Windows Vista/ Windows 7: %LOCALAPPDATA%GoogleChromeUserData
4. Locate the folder named “Default” in the folder window that opens and rename it “Backup Default”.
5. Try opening Google Chrome again. A new “Default” folder is created automatically when you start using the browser. You can name it accordingly.
Now each individual profile can keep their own data without disturbing other profiles on the same computer.
Multiple user accounts (in Chrome)
The latest version of the Chrome browser introduces multiple user accounts. This is easier than creating and managing separate browser profiles, however, a particular user’s browsing history will not be hidden from other users. So, depending on your preference, you can choose the previous method or this method.
Show us how to use this new Chrome feature.
1. Click the gear icon and go to Preferences.
2. The Add New User option is available under Personal Content – Users.
3. A new browser window opens. This is actually one from a new user account. Notice that the window has a new icon on the left. Chrome automatically names this user account with fancy names like Agent X or Moonbeam.
The original user account is named First User. You can double-click either name and rename it to the appropriate name. Each account can be customized with its own icon.
Add as many user accounts as you like. They can be deleted easily by clicking the little cross next to the name.
4. A new session can be switched to another user by clicking on the icon on the left and selecting a username. A new browser window opens allowing the user to maintain a separate set of browsing data.
Multiple profiles and separate modes do not hide browsing data from individual users on the same machine. It merely kept them separate in their private space. Each user can use their profile to maintain their individual browsing aids such as bookmarks and extensions (for example).
Categories: How to
Source: thpttranhungdao.edu.vn/en/
