Why this is useful: browsers and start pages expose frequently visited sites that can leak sensitive information (shared devices, work contexts). A focused paper can evaluate threats, user needs, and design/technical mitigations and provide practical recommendations.
Firefox offers a "Sponsored Shortcuts" toggle, but for true Most Visited control, you use the "Customize" menu.
To remove a specific site:
To disable the section:
Firefox allows you to disable "Top Sites" (their name for Most Visited) entirely via the settings menu. remove most visited pages
Result: Immediately, without restarting, your new tab page will lose the thumbnail grid. You can leave other options checked (like Pocket) or uncheck them all for a truly blank page.
If you do not want to change your settings permanently but need a quick fix for privacy, the simplest solution is to use Incognito Mode (Chrome), Private Browsing (Firefox/Safari), or InPrivate (Edge). Why this is useful: browsers and start pages
Browsers specifically designed these modes so that history is not recorded. Consequently, if you visit a site in Incognito Mode, it will never appear on your "Most Visited" grid in your standard window. This is the best strategy for one-off visits to sites you don't want stored.
Alternative: Use a browser extension like Empty New Tab Page or Start.me for more control. To disable the section: Firefox allows you to
Apple’s Safari is notoriously stubborn about customization. It assumes you want the Apple way. Removing "Most Visited" (called "Frequently Visited") is possible, but Apple hides the switch.