Why doesn't "Delete cookies when Firefox is closed" also delete the Cache?
Firefox's Clear Data control allows you to clear both Cookies AND the Cache. This makes perfect sense, since both of these things can be used to identify/track people.
But from what I can tell, if you enable the option Delete cookies and site data when Firefox is closed, this doesn't clear the Cache, only Cookies?
In fact, the only way to clear the Cache at restart is to dig deep into the Clear history when Firefox closes settings, which few people would know to look in.
So, correct me if I'm wrong here, but isn't this giving users a false sense of security? They think all the Cookies will be deleted when they open Firefox, but actually the Cache is still there, allowing them to be easily identified?
Personally, I'm less concerned about cookies because they are opt-in (here in the UK). But as for being tracked via the cache, we have no say in that, so that's what I'm more concerned about.
Modified by MartyJames
All Replies (4)
Using "Delete cookies and site data when Firefox is closed" to clear the cookies only removes cookies that do not have a cookie allow exception. You can't clear the disk cache for only specific domains. Clearing the cache is all or nothing, so it doesn't make sense to have it under that section.
Using "Clear history when Firefox closes" to clear data like cache or cookies removes the complete disk cache an removes all cookies regardless of an allow exception, so using that feature removes everything including data you keep via "Delete cookies and site data when Firefox is closed". The Site Preferences include exceptions like exceptions you have created for cookies.
Thanks Cor-el. I have read this answer many times and found it hard to understand. My fault though, not yours!
I would say that I definitely want the entire cache cleaned every time with no exceptions.
If you want to clear the disk cache then you need to use "Clear history when Firefox closes" to clear the cache, but not the cookies as this removes all the cookies. You need to use "Delete cookies and site data when Firefox is closed" to only clear cookies that do not have a cookie allow exception. Unfortunately because this is done in two places this is extra work.
Thanks Cor-El. I find it strange that the two options are in two different places. But perhaps that's just me.