Do you use Google Chrome’s private browsing feature, incognito mode? Here’s what it does and (more importantly) doesn’t do. Find out if incognito mode is completely safe?
We are all guilty of using the Internet in a way that we don’t always feel comfortable sharing. From embarrassing questions to awkward explorations, there are many reasons most people don’t actively share their search history.
Although some users constantly delete their history and cookies the old-fashioned way, most browsers offer special settings to help “hide” activity without taking any other action. Google Chrome’s incognito mode is easily one of the most popular privacy features, but is incognito mode all it’s made of?
Examining what incognito mode does can make you think twice about how secure you are while using it.
Is incognito mode completely safe?
What is incognito mode?
Incognito mode is a special setting offered to Google Chrome users (although Firefox and Microsoft Edge users also have similar private browsing options under a different name). This mode allows you to browse the Internet “privately”.
Your browsing history, cookies, site data, and form information are not saved to your device during use. Generally, when you use Internet browsers, they save specific types of information for monetary and optimization purposes.
Many platforms use the information they store locally about you to help design targeted ads or save your address or name to make it easier to fill out online forms.
We’ve all experienced this at one time or another on social media where ad placement seems too good to be true. For example, if someone were to visit many different sites that sell backpacks, they might see ads for similar bags.
Sometimes platforms take this one step further. They may try to infer information about your demographics in order to serve more possibly related ads with enough information. “Oh, did you look for backpacks and textbooks today? You’re probably a college student most likely to click on these specific ads offering back-to-school clothing sales.”
In fact, some people like their personalized ads, which is why the platforms argue that they improve the user experience. However, many find that these practices demonstrate a considerable invasion of privacy and outright exploitation.
Also, some find it embarrassing when their targeted ads hint at things they’d rather keep secret. Imagine if a few wrong clicks led to an unstoppable flood of horrible ads you hated.
Incognito mode prevents these actions without having to do anything to your history afterwards.
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Whether incognito mode is a better security option comes down to how you define “security.” Somehow it does.
Not saving your personal information in forms can help preserve your privacy if someone ever gets their hands on your device. Imagine the information someone would have at their disposal if they left their laptop or phone unlocked in public.
Saved information allows people to access your bank account or address simply by being in the right place at the right time. Of course, you face some bigger concerns when you leave essential electronics out in the open, and there are plenty of ways to prevent people from accessing the information on your device.
Some people are less concerned about thieves physically obtaining your information by stealing your electronic devices and more concerned about companies selling your data. By not allowing your device to track your history, you prevent large corporations from using your data to target you or ads on your computer to reveal your private interests to other users.
However, when it comes to things like malware or data leaks, incognito mode won’t help you. These security issues are more complex than stealing locally stored data from your device.
If you accidentally click on a suspicious link, open a suspicious file, or fall for a phishing scam, pausing your browsing history will not prevent viruses from being installed on your computer. These viruses may use keyloggers or other software to steal your login information, even if you don’t save it to your device.
No amount of deleting your Internet history will protect your machine from hardware-damaging viruses. You also won’t prevent scams if you give up your information voluntarily, but inadvertently.
So what benefits do people get from using this mode?
Can anyone see incognito searches?
Incognito mode does not protect third parties from viewing your information any more than normal browsing would. It means that your searches will show up during any malicious activity or if the government wanted to investigate your history.
Using incognito mode is comparable to using an internet browser normally and then deleting all of your history right after. Of course, this alone already has some advantages.
Unless you know some sophisticated hackers or computer experts, incognito mode is likely to keep your internet activities private from anyone you share your devices with. You won’t have to panic about your computer giving up embarrassing hints of your search history when someone grabs your devices and starts typing something on the taskbar.
However, if you don’t share your computer with anyone, you won’t see much of a difference here. In many ways, this mode forces you to practice general Internet privacy measures, such as regularly deleting your Internet history and never saving your passwords.
It’s a great way to make sure you practice these basics in cases where you need to use shared devices; however, if you think that incognito mode will save you from external interference, such as the government or the police, you are wrong.
If you break the law by torrenting movies or accessing illegal materials, incognito mode will not protect you. Don’t let this scare you from looking for harmless, legal stuff.
Normally, nobody regularly looks at your activity on the Internet. Additionally, it takes effort, resources, and paperwork for anyone to contact your Internet provider and get a record of your online usage.
The authorities reserve the right to do this for hardcore criminals. They won’t serve warrants because you searched for embarrassing symptoms or Googled something mortifying. These warrants are generally for people who break strict laws and put people in danger.
Should I use incognito mode?
Using incognito mode is a great way to help keep your internet browsing safe from other users. Helps prevent unwanted information from being stored on your computer and causing unwanted embarrassment. It’s not perfect, but in the fight to maintain your privacy, everything helps.
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