When we surf the Internet with google Chrome, Safari, Firefox or Opera, there is an option that promises privacy, called Incognito Mode or Private Browsing, depending on the browser you use.
Now you can assume (without judging) that saying “Incognito” or “Private” means that no one can see what you’re doing. That you are not connected to the network and that you surf completely confidentially. But not so fast.
Private browsing only hides certain things and not always what you might expect from someone. What does it actually protect you against and what doesn’t it protect you against? We ask cybersecurity experts for an explanation.
the myth
Many of us assume that incognito mode makes your browsing completely private, so no one can see what you’re doing. Not your employer, your internet service provider or the websites you visit. You are reserved, aren’t you? You are incognito.
It’s easy to see why this idea has stuck. Everything about private browsing seems mysterious. The little Chrome spy icon, the dark window, the reassuring messages like “No history saved.” It’s like he’s gone into stealth mode.
But in reality, incognito mode was never designed to make you anonymous online. This misconception is so widespread that in fact Google is facing legal action about users who say they were misled about the level of privacy that incognito mode offers.
What the experts say
So is incognito mode really private? “It depends on your definition of private,” says János Moldvay, vice president of measurement at the Marketing Intelligence Platform. arm. “Incognito mode primarily protects you from being spied on by people you share your computer with. It’s the best protection for user privacy.”
TL; DR
Incognito mode hides your browsing history from other users of your device, not from the Internet. Websites, employers and ISPs can still track you if you don’t use additional tools like VPN.
In other words, it’s designed to keep your local history and any forms or account details you fill out clear, rather than making you completely anonymous. “Incognito mode does not protect against online tracking or surveillance,” Moldvay explains.
It tells me that it blocks third-party cookies, which are small data files that advertisers use to track you across websites and create a profile of your browsing habits. But beyond that, websites can still see a lot. “They can detect the specifications of your device and browser, which can be used for fingerprinting, a method of identifying users,” he told me. “You can also see your IP address and ISP, upload tracking scripts to track users, and see any login and account information you’ve entered.”
So where does this myth come from? “It’s clear that the names used by the browsers suggest that they are private,” said Lee Gilbank, co-founder and CEO of the cybersecurity firm. YorCyberSec. “Chrome has Incognito, Edge has InPrivate, and Firefox and Safari call it private browsing. Three out of four literally say ‘private’, so it’s easy to see why people assume it means complete privacy.”
Visual cues also reinforce this impression. “In addition, there is no browsing history and pop-ups appear with the text ‘Third-party cookies blocked’ or ‘Ads blocked’, reinforcing the impression that the browsing session is completely safe,” says Gilbank.
But there are things you can do if you want more privacy. “First, some browsers offer better privacy protections by default,” says Gilbank. “Brave and DuckDuckGo block cookies and trackers and sometimes even automatically hide your IP address.”
For greater anonymity, the best option is to choose one of the best VPNs. “If you don’t want to reveal information like your IP address or ISP details, use a VPN,” advises Gilbank. “Many browsers now have built-in VPN options for a small fee, or you can use a dedicated tool like nordvpn, ExpressVPN or ProtoVPN.”
However, there are trade-offs. “VPNs can cause issues such as slower browsing, limited functionality, and some websites even block VPN traffic,” says Gilbank.
While incognito mode is useful for keeping your local activities private and leaving no traces on your device, it is not a safeguard against online invisibility. If you really want to browse anonymously, you need to go further: check out our guide to private browsing in Chrome on windows, android and ChromeOS for detailed instructions.
