Incognito mode stops Chrome from saving your browsing activity to your local history. Your activity, like your location, might still be visible to the Websites you visit, including the ads and resources used on those sites. Websites you sign in to. Your employer, school, or whoever runs the network you’re using. And while incognito mode deletes browser cookies, login information, and other website data from your device at the end of your private session, your website visits can still be tracked and recorded while you’re online. Incognito mode is available in the Chrome browser app on Android phones and tablets and the Chrome desktop browser for Macs, Windows machines, and, of course, Chrome OS.
Incognito Mode is a privacy feature that allows to you browse the web without storing browsing data on your browser. It is an internet browser setting that is also referred to as private window, private browsing, or In Private Browsing. If you enable this setting in your browser like Google Chrome, it prevents your browsing history from being stored. Generally, when you search anything on the browser or visit any web page, any picture, and cookies are stored on your computer. An Incognito mode does not store this data and clears your browsing history automatically after you close your private window. The private browsing feature is available in some browsers such as Google Chrome, Microsoft Edge, Mozilla Firefox, Internet Explorer, and Apple Safari.
Private browsing or Incognito mode in the browser helps you to protect from people who try to track the online activities on your computer. Its use is beneficial when you use a public computer or share your computer with others. Furthermore, it might also be used for booking hotel rooms or flight tickets at lower prices. As private browsing prevents storing the cookies, the hotel or airline website might not know that you have chosen your dates before, and their prices have increased.
How is private mode safe?
Private browsing is not designed for completely unidentified users on the internet, and as it has been explained that it only helps to prevent your browsing history and cookies from being stored on the computer. While using the private mode, there are some additional ideas to be considered, which are given below:
- Your IP address: Your browsing history does not store on your computer in private mode, but still you are not unidentified on the internet. Your IP address recognizes each page that you visit on the browser. If someone has access to view your IP address history with legal objective, you can be tracked by a website, an ISP, and even a search engine server log and the pages you visit.
- Other monitoring software: There is multiple monitoring software such as keyloggers or parental controls that are used to monitor activities on the computer. If you have installed any monitoring software on your computer, it can capture all activities on the browser, even if you are in private mode. Additionally, private browsing can also be monitored at the network level. Any corporate or school monitoring, which may be running on the network can capture any private browsing.
- Add-ons and plugins: If you have installed any add-on or plugin in the browser, it can capture or store your browsing history. For example, even if you are in private mode, the initial edition of the Adobe Flash plugin allows cookies to be saved in Adobe Flash.
- People standing behind you: It may be that anyone is shoulder surfing trying to watch the activities you are doing on the computer, even in private mode. Shoulder surfing means a person who tries to gain any information by looking over another person’s shoulder. Thus, anyone can try to watch your computer or other device screens what you are viewing, even if you are in private mode. Additionally, this technique can also be used by an unauthorized person to gain your computer password, ATM pin, or credit card number.
Advantages of Incognito mode in browser?
There are different advantages of using Incognito mode; which is as follows
Deletes cookies
Cookies may keep a record of your information, such as your login credentials, what you search on the browse, or what you’ve put in your shopping cart; they also, track your sensitive personal information. But if you do not want to capture or store your personal information to avoid cyber criminals, you can choose Incognito mode. If you use this mode, it deletes your cookies or browser history after closing it. It also helps to prevent storing multiple users’ cookies. If your computer stores multiple users’ cookies, it might be annoying and confusing. Because, if your information is relevant to another user, it shows you frequently pop up while you are online.
Prevents third parties to collect your data
Private browsing may help to book hotels or airfares at lower prices. As private browsing prevents storing the cookies, it means websites will not able to follow you and not be able to track your location in some cases.
Multiple Sessions
The Incognito mode allows users to log in to a second account on any website without logging out of the first one. For example, you could open an Incognito window, and both you and your friend can log in to their Instagram accounts on the same device.
Help troubleshoot problem extensions
If any plugin extensions on your computer are not working properly, you may be able to resolve the problem with the help of enabling a private mode that can deactivate toolbars and extensions.
Disadvantages of Incognito mode
The Incognito mode also has some disadvantages, which are as follows:
It doesn’t hide your activities on a network level
Even if you are in private mode, your activities are hidden on a local level, and no one can know what you have done on the browser. But who monitors your network can still capture your activities and whatever you have done. It could be a hacker gaining your personal information. If you are using the internet from your school or office, it can be a network team or staff member. In this case, you cannot hide your activities from them even if you are in Incognito mode.
You need to activate it
If you want to use a private window in browsers like Chrome, or Firefox, you have to open a special window for it. The normal windows are regular. Therefore, if you forget to click on the open Incognito window, and you start the work on a regular window and may leave history traces. You will be required to delete browser history, passwords, cookies, and all records stored on the local level. If you forget to delete this all history, your browsing details can be seen by anyone. Additionally, you can avoid this mistake by using the Kingpin browser as it always works in incognito mode.
It cannot hide tabs
Incognito mode does not hide open tabs. For example, if you are working on incognito mode and opened 8-9 tabs. Then, someone calls you. So before leaving your seat, you need to close the all opened tabs to hide your activities and what you were doing. But you cannot reopen these all tabs as private browsing prevents storing of the browser history on the device. Incognito users regularly face this issue. However, you can hide all your tabs with a single click in the Kingpin browser. You can set up a 4-digit PIN to unlock the tabs that will keep your information safe.
Advertisers can still track you
Advertisers can capture which websites you open and what you have visited, even if you are using incognito mode.
You just opened Flipkart and look at photo frames. Now, you will see these photo frames on whichever website you visit. If you have got tired of looking at these photo frames and thinking to switch to the incognito mode, it will be useless. However, browsers like Kingpin can protect you from being tracked by advertisers. Sometimes, Ads can be harmful to you by following you around everywhere you go. In this situation, the Kingpin browser is helpful as it does not have cookies, history, and even Ads.
Your downloaded data is all there
If you are surfing the internet using a private window, and downloading important pictures that you do not want to share with anyone. But all the downloaded data stays on your computers, such as torrent files, images, videos, and documents, which can be viewed by all users. Therefore, make sure you delete all the confidential downloaded files manually, even if you have downloaded these data while using incognito mode.
You can be browser fingerprinted
The browser includes some exclusive features. For example, if you are using the Google Chrome browser with five specific extensions, the other Chrome browser can see the website you visit, but it uses other extensions. So, if your browser has more plugins, it will make the browser more insecure, and you will become more visible on the internet. Therefore, if you install several plugins in the browser, the website will detect it, even if you’re using incognito mode.
DNS queries will reveal it all
If anyone queries DNS on your device can see which websites you have opened, even if you have used private browsing mode. But everyone does not know how to search the DNS database; hence anyone might not be able to know what you have ordered from Flipkart or any other site.
Others
Let’s discuss where the incognito mode lacks.
- It doesn’t hide your activities on a network level
On a local level, your activities are hidden. So anyone who has access to your device won’t get to know what you did on it. However, someone monitoring your network can still see whatever you’ve done. And this someone could be your ISP, the government, or a hacker lurking on your system. If you’re using the internet from your office, it can be the network team and if you’re in your school or college, it can be staff members.
Even if you open incognito in your office or school, you’re can’t hide your activities from them. - You need to “activate” it
Whether you’re opening an Incognito window in Chrome or a Private Browsing session in Firefox, you need to open a special window for it. The default windows are regular. So if you forget to click on the special window, you’ll leave history traces. You’ll need to delete this history, cookies, passwords, and everything else that’s recorded on a local level. If you forget to do that, your browsing details will be left in the open for everyone else to view. One good solution to this problem is using an incognito browser. Browsers like Kingpin browser always operate in incognito so you never make a mistake and always stay incognito. - Advertisers can still track you
Even if you’re incognito, advertisers can still keep a track of what you visit and which websites you open. Did you just open Amazon and look at photo frames? Congratulations, now there are photo frame ads on whichever website you visit. If you’re tired of this monitoring and are switching to incognito because of that, it will be useless. However, private browsers such as Kingpin can protect you from being tracked by advertisers. Ads can sometimes get downright creepy with the way they follow you around everywhere you go. With Kingpin browser, there is no history, no cookies, and no ads. It’s a clean internet experience with true private browsing. - It cannot hide tabs
You’re working on your computer on incognito mode. You have 7-8 tabs open and someone calls you. You need to get up from your seat but you’ll need to close the tabs before that. And of course, this means you cannot open them again because they won’t be remembered by the browser. That’s a regular issue faced by incognito users. However, with Kingpin browser, you can hide your tabs with a single click. Set up a 4-digit PIN that will be used to unlock the tabs when you return. Your browsing is safe now. No need to lose your work if you have to leave your desk. - Your downloaded data is all there
You’re browsing the internet, casually stalking the profile of your ex. Hmm… she’s with another guy. You download that image and later forget about it because you were on incognito so there’s nothing to worry about, right? Wrong! Whatever you download using the incognito mode stays on your computer – the torrent files, the images, videos, documents, and just about everything else. So if you’re using incognito, make sure you delete all the downloaded files manually. - You can be browser fingerprinted
Each browser has some unique characteristics that set it apart from others. For example, if you’re using Chrome with 5 specific extensions, the website you visit can tell it apart from another browser that’s also Chrome but uses other extensions. So the more plugins you install, the more visible you become on the internet. If your browser has a number of plugins, the website will detect it even if you’re using incognito. If you’re using plugins to enhance the security of your browser, you’re actually making it more insecure by increasing your fingerprint. If you want security features, it’s better to use a secure browser such as Kingpin instead of adding too many plugins. - DNS queries will reveal it all
Even if you have used incognito mode, anyone who queries DNS on your device will get to see which websites you have opened. The good thing is that not everyone knows how to search the DNS database so your family might not know what you have ordered from Amazon on Christmas.
Incognito – Some good, some bad
Incognito is mainly used to hide your activities from someone who has access to your device. It’s a good idea but the bad thing about it is the false security it provides.
When it comes to safe browsing, many people prefer Tor. However, there are some problems with Tor, the primary one being slow speeds. Tor takes forever to open and browsing speed is super slow even if you’re on fast internet.
This is the reason people want a secure browser that can let them live in peace but with fast speeds. Try Kingpin browser. It doesn’t store history, doesn’t let advertisers track you, and helps keep your incognito tabs private.
How to open incognito mode in browsers
Google Chrome
- To open incognito mode in Chrome, you need to click on the three-dotted icon available at the top right corner of the browser screen.
- Then, click on the New incognito window to turn on private browsing as shown in the below screenshot:
Furthermore, you can also use the shortcut key Ctrl+ Shift + N in Windows and Command + Shift + N for Mac, to open incognito mode without entering the Chrome settings menu. The incognito window will look like the below picture:
There are also keyboard shortcuts available for other browsers to open incognito mode, which are given below:
- Firefox: Press Control + Shift + N.
- Internet Explorer: Press Control + Shift + P.
- Safari: Press Control symbol + Shift + N.
