Private Browsing is not safe
According to research ( PDF) recently presented to Usenix Security Symposium Washington , navigation functions offered by private major browsers (Internet Explorer , Firefox, Chrome and Safari) do not work as promised and can give a false sense of security.
In theory, these functions should allow you to visit a Web site without trace on your computer, but it is not. For example, when a user visits in a private mode of the many sites that use SSL security certificates , if using IE , Firefox and Safari , however this visit is recorded in a file on his computer. In Firefox , the private mode leaves traces whenever a user sets preferences for a specific site or use a Plug-in or extension ( browser add-on ) or visit a site that uses the advanced features dell’HTML5 . Internet Explorer is instead caught in those sites which carry query SMB for any reason.
In general, browsers do not properly insulate browsing sessions private and non- private , so a specially crafted web site can track who visit it before in public mode and then in private mode . The authors of the research also found a way to allow a site to find out if your visitors use the mode: just careful use of an IFRAME and a bit ‘ of Javascript.
Even more interesting, the researchers used this system to know which situations are using the private browsing . Although manufacturers advertise these functions as solutions to buy gifts without the recipient to come to know in advance, in fact the most common use of private browsing sites on the red light . This statistical result may not surprise anyone. The real surprise is that the proportion of users adopting the private mode risqué sites is very close to that of those who use it for shopping or browsing for generic : respectively 8% and 6%.
The other interesting aspect is that there is much variability from one browser to another. Internet Explorer users are those that use less functions of privacy ( 2% , including pornographic sites ), and Safari users are at the opposite end with a remarkable 14%. The fundamental problem is that whatever type of site visited , the research clearly shows that users’ confidence in the pro – privacy features navigation programs is misplaced. Whatever you do online , is best know to be observed and believe to be invisible.
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