[Bug 1664520] [NEW] Firefox fails to clear local storage

[Paul Crawford]

Public bug reported:

I noticed that Firefox is keeping site-specific information even after
using the 'Clear Recent History' option. For example, with a new firefox
profile (e.g. start a guest session) go to www.youtube.com and view some
video, then look in the location:

~/.mozilla/firefox/<randome name>/storage/default/

You should see a subdirectory named "https+++www.youtube.com". Now clear
all history using the menu option History -> Clear Recent History... by
selecting "everything" and ticking all boxes.

Result should be no sign of having visited youtube. However the site-
specific storage directory still exists which is a significant laps of
privacy. It seems not to happen in a private tab, but that is not an
excuse for failing to clear on requested.

$ lsb_release -a
No LSB modules are available.
Distributor ID:	Ubuntu
Description:	Ubuntu 14.04.5 LTS
Release:	14.04
Codename:	trusty

$ apt-cache policy firefox
firefox:
  Installed: 51.0.1+build2-0ubuntu0.14.04.2
  Candidate: 51.0.1+build2-0ubuntu0.14.04.2
  Version table:
 *** 51.0.1+build2-0ubuntu0.14.04.2 0
        500 http://gb.archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu/ trusty-updates/main amd64 Packages
        500 http://security.ubuntu.com/ubuntu/ trusty-security/main amd64 Packages
        100 /var/lib/dpkg/status
     28.0+build2-0ubuntu2 0
        500 http://gb.archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu/ trusty/main amd64 Packages

** Affects: firefox (Ubuntu)
     Importance: Undecided
         Status: New

** Package changed: grub2 (Ubuntu) => firefox (Ubuntu)

** Description changed:

- I noticed that Fierfox is keeping site-specific information even after
+ I noticed that Firefox is keeping site-specific information even after
  using the 'Clear Recent History' option. For example, with a new firefox
  profile (e.g. start a guest session) go to www.youtube.com and view some
  video, then look in the location:
  
  ~/.mozilla/firefox/<randome name>/storage/default/
  
  You should see a subdirectory named "https+++www.youtube.com". Now clear
  all history using the menu option History -> Clear Recent History... by
  selecting "everything" and ticking all boxes.
  
  Result should be no sign of having visited youtube. However the site-
  specific storage directory still exists which is a significant laps of
  privacy. It seems not to happen in a private tab, but that is not an
  excuse for failing to clear on requested.
  
  $ lsb_release -a
  No LSB modules are available.
  Distributor ID:	Ubuntu
  Description:	Ubuntu 14.04.5 LTS
  Release:	14.04
  Codename:	trusty
  
  $ apt-cache policy firefox
  firefox:
-   Installed: 51.0.1+build2-0ubuntu0.14.04.2
-   Candidate: 51.0.1+build2-0ubuntu0.14.04.2
-   Version table:
-  *** 51.0.1+build2-0ubuntu0.14.04.2 0
-         500 http://gb.archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu/ trusty-updates/main amd64 Packages
-         500 http://security.ubuntu.com/ubuntu/ trusty-security/main amd64 Packages
-         100 /var/lib/dpkg/status
-      28.0+build2-0ubuntu2 0
-         500 http://gb.archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu/ trusty/main amd64 Packages
+   Installed: 51.0.1+build2-0ubuntu0.14.04.2
+   Candidate: 51.0.1+build2-0ubuntu0.14.04.2
+   Version table:
+  *** 51.0.1+build2-0ubuntu0.14.04.2 0
+         500 http://gb.archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu/ trusty-updates/main amd64 Packages
+         500 http://security.ubuntu.com/ubuntu/ trusty-security/main amd64 Packages
+         100 /var/lib/dpkg/status
+      28.0+build2-0ubuntu2 0
+         500 http://gb.archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu/ trusty/main amd64 Packages

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Title:
  Firefox fails to clear local storage

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