[tbb-bugs] #28259 [Applications/Tor Browser]: Is not saving history hurting Tor Browser retention rates?

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#28259: Is not saving history hurting Tor Browser retention rates?
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 Reporter:  arthuredelstein                      |          Owner:  tbb-
                                                 |  team
     Type:  defect                               |         Status:  new
 Priority:  Medium                               |      Milestone:
Component:  Applications/Tor Browser             |        Version:
 Severity:  Normal                               |     Resolution:
 Keywords:  gallagher2018, ux-team, tbb-         |  Actual Points:
  usability                                      |
Parent ID:                                       |         Points:
 Reviewer:                                       |        Sponsor:
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Comment (by mikeperry):

 Before migrating Torbutton options into Firefox, we had a checkbox for
 "Store browser history on disk". I did treat that as a first-class
 supported option, and I still use it today.

 I don't think it is over-complicated to allow the user to opt-in to saving
 browser history to disk. I do not think we should consider having to
 encrypt it first, especially given lack of solutions to the swap file:
 https://trac.torproject.org/projects/tor/ticket/17367

 I think instead we should try to detect if full disk encryption and swap
 encryption is enabled, and warn the user if it is not. Possibly regardless
 of history settings, due to swap file and registry leaks.

 I do think that users will want an option to store history on disk. We've
 done similar user surveys about bookmark-based solutions for onion service
 names, and only a small percentage were concerned about this risk. Those
 that were concerned did not bookmark (but then ran the risk of not
 finding/typing the correct onion service address). I bet if we did a
 survey about disk history, we'd find similar results.

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Ticket URL: <https://trac.torproject.org/projects/tor/ticket/28259#comment:4>
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