Firefox is the best and easiest, for all the reasons you already know.

I was just wondering what people felt was the best web browser for hobby research / porn if you are keeping this quiet from the SO / Kids. As a married man with kids in the house and with multiple computers (literally 4 laptops and a desktop) and everyone generally grabbing the nearest turned on computer to check the internet, I have been a big fan of Firefox 4. It has a private browsing feature where all passwords, cookies, and history are not recorded or wiped out after you exit the private browsing feature. It's really subtle to turn on and off (even has a hot key combo CTRL+SHIFT+P). And when you need to be sure - I feel it is the fastest to wipe out the main cache for everything. IE seems to take like 10 minutes for that window to disappear.

Opinions? Suggestions?

you answered your own question. Firefox is the best so far.

Only other thing I can think of is get yourself and iPad and lock everyone out from it.
Not sure it will work with kids in the house (Angry Birds),
But you could give it a try

Only true plus side if Apple is they don't get virus or Trojan when surfing for porn.
Last thing you want is you PC coming up with the website Big Wet Asses.
Have fun explaining that one.

-Fastest browser on the market for both browsing and clearing stuff.  I can clear everything in less than 10 secs
-Incognito mode (similar to Firefox's private browsing) started the trend. I like it because it always opens in a new window so that I always know which mode I'm in
-Clearing cookies, passwords, history isn't enough to keep people/companies from tracking your hobby whereabouts.  You have the clear the Adobe Flash Player cache as well.  Almost any website that has video content + most Google websites (Gmail, Maps, etc) use Flash.  If you don't clear this, then companies that have websites with Flash content can continue to track your activity.  Only Chrome offers this feature
-The most secure browser on the market.  Hackers have the toughest time cracking Chrome and Google regularly organizes hacking competitions to check for vulnerabilities so that they can improve the browser.

Mainly, there should be a browser that you only use for hobbying purposes.  This reduces your chances of making mistakes and getting caught by forgetting your clearing procedure.

Probably TMI but I hope that I was helpful.

....I love my my Mac....and the private browsing feature in Safari, especially since I learned my SO likes to browse through my history looking for gift ideas.  I don't think an hour (or two) with my favorite courtesan is what she'd have in mind.