Website auto login when in private mode
Thread Starter
Joined: Sep 2004
Aviation Qualifications: PPL
Posts: 881
Likes: 34
From: Berkshire, UK
Website auto login when in private mode
I have my Firefox browser defaulting to private mode operation so that it clears out all of the cookies and crap on termination. I have this so that any websites I visit that I want to keep secure such as banks, share dealers, pension accounts etc are safe should the computer get lost or stolen. I found out the easy way that, if the battery is removed to stop it becoming excessively discharged when the machine is not in use for several weeks, when the battery is replaced the machine boots up without asking for a login or password. All of my stuff is open and accessible.
So, how can I have non sensitive websites automatically login when visited? Clearly, stuff such as the BBC news do not need to be safe and secure as they hold/keep no critical data relating to my life. The BBC News is getting to be a pain with increasing prompts to log in popping up.
Failing that, can anyone recommend a news website that doesn't need logging in to see it?
Rans6.........
So, how can I have non sensitive websites automatically login when visited? Clearly, stuff such as the BBC news do not need to be safe and secure as they hold/keep no critical data relating to my life. The BBC News is getting to be a pain with increasing prompts to log in popping up.
Failing that, can anyone recommend a news website that doesn't need logging in to see it?
Rans6.........
Joined: Jan 2012
Posts: 395
Likes: 18
From: anywhere
A non-admin user account with a decent password to log on to the device is the first line of defence. As to Firefox, you have two options.
In Settings, Privacy and Security, come out of default private browsing mode and, under Cookies and Site Data, check the delete cookies and site data when Firefox is closed option. This gives you an option to Manage Exceptions, setting up a whitelist of sites which are allowed to save login details in a cookie. Any site not on the whitelist should have its cookies deleted when Firefox is closed.
Alternatively, under Logins and Passwords, check the Ask to save option but use the exceptions option to set up a blacklist of websites which should never have logins and passwords saved.
In Settings, Privacy and Security, come out of default private browsing mode and, under Cookies and Site Data, check the delete cookies and site data when Firefox is closed option. This gives you an option to Manage Exceptions, setting up a whitelist of sites which are allowed to save login details in a cookie. Any site not on the whitelist should have its cookies deleted when Firefox is closed.
Alternatively, under Logins and Passwords, check the Ask to save option but use the exceptions option to set up a blacklist of websites which should never have logins and passwords saved.
Joined: Oct 2018
Aviation Qualifications: PPL
Posts: 12,213
Likes: 1,649
From: Ferrara
"should the computer get lost or stolen. "
You have to ask yourself how often this is likely to happen - and if either happens can anyone retrieve the critical data?
Or are they willing to put in the effort - it it's some toe-rag that lifts your laptop from Starbucks - unlikely
If you're Bernie Ecclestone you may want to worry a bit more
You have to ask yourself how often this is likely to happen - and if either happens can anyone retrieve the critical data?
Or are they willing to put in the effort - it it's some toe-rag that lifts your laptop from Starbucks - unlikely
If you're Bernie Ecclestone you may want to worry a bit more
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 1,003
Likes: 16
From: Here
It's pretty easy to bypass a Windows password and has been for, dare I say, decades. Anyone who does PC support at any level can do it very easily using instructions and software from the internet.
The only protection is to encrypt the file system. For a few years PCs have had hardware built in that co-operates with Windows to allow effective encryption. Older PCs can use Bitlocker and achieve a similar result. I think you can encrypt part of the file system.
Be aware that, as I understand it, if the authorities ask for a crypto key and you cannot provide it you will go to jail. Maybe best to write the key on the outside of the computer. Oh wait a minute!
The only protection is to encrypt the file system. For a few years PCs have had hardware built in that co-operates with Windows to allow effective encryption. Older PCs can use Bitlocker and achieve a similar result. I think you can encrypt part of the file system.
Be aware that, as I understand it, if the authorities ask for a crypto key and you cannot provide it you will go to jail. Maybe best to write the key on the outside of the computer. Oh wait a minute!
Joined: Oct 2018
Aviation Qualifications: PPL
Posts: 12,213
Likes: 1,649
From: Ferrara
I was consulting for a very large European company - first day in the office put in front of a workstation - I asked for a password - "Oh that comes from our IT people in the USA - normally takes 2 weeks..............................."
So I checked the desktop - nothing - so then opened the desk drawers. In the bottom drawer was a legal pad with a sticky note underneath with a string of characters. Enter that into the machine et voila!
Three months later, on my last day, I carefully removed the pad and put a sticky note with a 2.5 month old password on it and shut the draw....................
So I checked the desktop - nothing - so then opened the desk drawers. In the bottom drawer was a legal pad with a sticky note underneath with a string of characters. Enter that into the machine et voila!
Three months later, on my last day, I carefully removed the pad and put a sticky note with a 2.5 month old password on it and shut the draw....................
Thread Starter
Joined: Sep 2004
Aviation Qualifications: PPL
Posts: 881
Likes: 34
From: Berkshire, UK
I am not using a PC/Windows laptop, the machine is running Linux Mint 19 .........
Secondary question, what does one need to do to stop almost every website asking for cookie permissions? Drives me spare, having to drag to the bottom of the screen using the sidebar to get to the "decline" box as the page down key scrolls the background page rather than the full page plus some cookie window (youtube!!!!!) Aaaarrggghhh!
Rans6......
Secondary question, what does one need to do to stop almost every website asking for cookie permissions? Drives me spare, having to drag to the bottom of the screen using the sidebar to get to the "decline" box as the page down key scrolls the background page rather than the full page plus some cookie window (youtube!!!!!) Aaaarrggghhh!
Rans6......
Joined: Jan 2012
Posts: 395
Likes: 18
From: anywhere
The Brave browser apparently blocks cookie consent pop ups by default. I'm not a user so can't vouch for its effectiveness.
Alternatively, there are Firefox add ons that can block cookie consent pop ups, just search for cookie consent in the Firefox add on page.
On a side note, if you reject all cookies a lot of websites will set the cookie consent cookie expiry to a ridiculously short period. I've seen as little as a week but a month or two is quite common. That means that you will continually be pestered to accept all cookies every time the consent cookie expires. If you install a cookie editor add on you can scroll through each cookie for a website that you visit regularly and set expiry dates to 20 or so years in the future. Bit of a faff but once it's done it's done.
Alternatively, there are Firefox add ons that can block cookie consent pop ups, just search for cookie consent in the Firefox add on page.
On a side note, if you reject all cookies a lot of websites will set the cookie consent cookie expiry to a ridiculously short period. I've seen as little as a week but a month or two is quite common. That means that you will continually be pestered to accept all cookies every time the consent cookie expires. If you install a cookie editor add on you can scroll through each cookie for a website that you visit regularly and set expiry dates to 20 or so years in the future. Bit of a faff but once it's done it's done.
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 315
Likes: 57
From: LONDON
It's pretty easy to bypass a Windows password and has been for, dare I say, decades. Anyone who does PC support at any level can do it very easily using instructions and software from the internet.
The only protection is to encrypt the file system. For a few years PCs have had hardware built in that co-operates with Windows to allow effective encryption. Older PCs can use Bitlocker and achieve a similar result. I think you can encrypt part of the file system.
Be aware that, as I understand it, if the authorities ask for a crypto key and you cannot provide it you will go to jail. Maybe best to write the key on the outside of the computer. Oh wait a minute!
The only protection is to encrypt the file system. For a few years PCs have had hardware built in that co-operates with Windows to allow effective encryption. Older PCs can use Bitlocker and achieve a similar result. I think you can encrypt part of the file system.
Be aware that, as I understand it, if the authorities ask for a crypto key and you cannot provide it you will go to jail. Maybe best to write the key on the outside of the computer. Oh wait a minute!
The good news is that I don't think the windows password is as bad as you say. I went on a Cyber-Security course about 3 years ago and the status then was that any Windows 5 password could be cracked in a few seconds, but from Windows 7 onwards it depends on the strength of the password. The cracking algorithms starts with all the 1 character options, then all the 2-characters etc. At each level they first try from a list of names and dictionary words. At that time were were told that anything over 8 characters would require a serious amount or processing power to crack in a reasonable time and anything over 10 characters wouldn't be worth attempting unless you already knew what was on the computer and that it would be worth it. I always use 12 characters for anything that could give access to my money.
Thread Starter
Joined: Sep 2004
Aviation Qualifications: PPL
Posts: 881
Likes: 34
From: Berkshire, UK
Thanks Prop Swinger, I already have the Ask to Save Password option enabled and no list of exceptions set up so maybe this doesn't work in Private Mode..........
If I go to normal mode and save passwords for all of the sites I don't worry about security on, will they still take effect when I return to private mode?
Rans6.........
If I go to normal mode and save passwords for all of the sites I don't worry about security on, will they still take effect when I return to private mode?
Rans6.........
Joined: Jan 2012
Posts: 395
Likes: 18
From: anywhere
I think the problem is that private browsing won't save text box inputs. Deleting my saved Pprune login details, opening a Pprune link in a private window & manually logging in gets me in but the username & password are not saved in the Firefox password manager. You can manually add a website & login details in the password manager & that will be saved, even in a private window.
Your alternative of saving logins in a normal window will also work, private windows have access to all saved passwords. You won't be auto logged in though as that requires a cookie & private windows won't save them after the browser is closed. Click on the username field & Firefox will find the relevant details.
Your alternative of saving logins in a normal window will also work, private windows have access to all saved passwords. You won't be auto logged in though as that requires a cookie & private windows won't save them after the browser is closed. Click on the username field & Firefox will find the relevant details.
