Incognito Mode is the specific name for Google Chrome’s private browsing feature, but incognito mode has long become synonymous with privacy modes across all browsers. Just under half of Americans (46%) have used private browsing at least once in their life, meaning that a large percentage of people will already be familiar with its benefits – and this number has stayed pretty consistent for more than a decade.
The idea of not leaving a digital trace is becoming more and more appealing, especially as more users become aware of the importance of online security and privacy. In this blog we’ll explain why you might be interested in private browsing, and answer whether or not incognito mode is safe to rely on for all of your online activities.
What is Incognito Mode?
There is currently a version of incognito mode available in most popular web browsers. When activated, incognito mode allows users to browse the internet without the browser logging any data related to the session. This includes browsing history, cookies, site data, and form inputs (login details, etc.) Any temporary files such as images aren’t retained once you exit a window that was privately browsing.
The main goal of incognito mode is to give users a way to traverse the internet privately, in situations where they might be conscious about not leaving traces of their online activity on the device they are using. It’s particularly useful in situations where you might be sharing a computer or device with multiple people, and want to retain a certain level of privacy.
Why might you need to use it?
Here are some scenarios in which incognito mode might prove useful:
- When using any shared devices, such as a family computer or tablet. Incognito mode prevents your preferences from interfering with other people’s internet use.
- When using public computers, such as those in a library or internet cafe. It can provide an extra layer of privacy by preventing both your browsing history and any login information from being saved on the device for others to find.
- When visiting websites for testing and development purposes, to avoid cached data or cookies from previous browsing sessions interfering with the experience.
- When browsing issues related to sensitive subjects, such as health, finances, relationships and anxieties.
Key Features of Incognito Mode
These are the main features that set incognito mode aside from standard browsing:
- No browsing history – None of your browsing history is tracked and recorded when in incognito mode.
- No cookies or site data – Incognito mode prevents websites from storing any kind of site data on your device, limiting the capabilities of targeted advertising.
- No form data retention – To help protect your privacy when filling out any kind of online form, incognito mode ensures that no form data entered during the session is retained.
- No cached files – Temporary files aren’t retained once the window is closed.
Understanding the limitations of incognito mode
Incognito mode is not without its limitations. It does not make you completely anonymous online in the same way that using a VPN would, and it doesn’t provide protection against malware or viruses. Having private browsing activated when visiting a malicious website will not prevent it from harming your computer.
Some browser features might be disabled when in incognito mode, and preferences you have set on any websites you visit will return to their default settings. This can cause some understandable frustration when using incognito mode, and make carrying out tasks and searches longer.
It’s also important to know that incognito mode doesn’t protect your activity from being observed by administrators or other monitoring systems on the same network – such as one shared for work or school.
How Safe is Incognito Mode?
You might be wondering, is incognito mode safe? Well, the answer is… mostly. Incognito Mode specifically has had a few cases of recording data when it shouldn’t, but when it comes to private browsing in general, the safety of it depends on your understanding of its capabilities and limitations.
When considering the safety of incognito mode, these are the main points to consider.
- Security – is incognito mode safe from hackers? No. It does not provide protection against malware, phishing, or other online threats in the same way antivirus software This means it is still important to be wary of potentially hazardous websites when browsing in this mode.
- Privacy – incognito mode can certainly protect your privacy; but mainly from people who are likely to share your device. It does not provide total anonymity when browsing online, and certain aspects of your activity can still be tracked.
- Effectiveness – depending on what it is you’re using it for, incognito mode can be an effective way to keep your local browsing private, but don’t treat it as a foolproof invisibility shield.
Tips for Secure Browsing in Incognito Mode
To enhance security and privacy while browsing in incognito mode, you might want to consider using a VPN, especially if you’re someone who travels frequently and uses public Wi-Fi networks. VPNs encrypt your internet connection and any data that is sent back and forth between the web and your device.
If you’re in a situation where you have to share a device, try wherever possible to have separate password-protected user accounts. Not only will this give all users an increased sense of privacy, but it will prevent anyone from accidentally viewing browsing history that wasn’t intended for their eyes.
Even when using incognito mode, think twice before sharing personal information online, be it in a social way or as part of data entry on a form. Just because it’ll be cleared from your cache, doesn’t mean it won’t be picked up from elsewhere by someone with malicious intent.
Device Safety with iolo
It’s never fun feeling watched – and it’s even worse feeling paranoid about being watched. If privacy when browsing online is a big concern for you, it might be worth investing in software with antispyware capabilities, or using ioloVPN to ensure that your activities can’t be monitored. We have a wide range of software with features designed around ensuring the privacy and security of our users, so they can use the internet safely and with confidence.
