Mozilla Tests Private Browsing Feature

Mozilla is testing a private browsing feature for Firefox that would make it seem as if the browser session never occurred.

Mozilla has been planning a private browsing feature for its Firefox browser for a long time, but only now is that beginning to become reality, according to CNET. Although users can already use an extension to achieve the effect, it’s expected that it will be among the advances making its way into Firefox 3.1.

The application is currently being tested in Minefield, where Mozilla tests applications.

When the feature is enabled, all the history, cookies and passwords – everything – vanishes when the window is closed, as if the session had never happened. Users can even start a browsing session in the privacy mode.

It can be started at any time during a session, although that will mean the current public session will have to close before re-opening in privacy mode.