When it comes to Incognito Mode/Private Mode, most people think it works something like hiding completely from those perceived to invade the privacy of others like investigators.
However, things are pretty different in reality.
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When it comes to Incognito Mode/Private Mode, most people think it works something like this
Source: UGC
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“Wait does that mean Incognito Mode can’t secure your privacy?”
Well, yes and no – the answer requires a bit more detail.
I’ll cover everything you need to know about Incognito Mode and also offer you some useful tips on how to protect your privacy online.
So, let’s get started.
What Incognito Mode Does
Incognito Mode will delete cookies, your browsing history, and won’t save anything you type into search engines or login fields once you close the browser.
Its main purpose is to make online browsing more private if you share a computer or device with other people, like your roommates or family, but it also makes it possible to log into multiple accounts simultaneously – something not many websites allow you to do.
Besides that, it can also help you avoid paywalls (especially on news websites). Don’t expect that to work every single time but it’s still a useful trick.
What Incognito Mode Doesn’t Do
Incognito Mode won’t hide your online browsing from other people. It doesn’t encrypt your traffic, so anybody can spy on it – especially if you don’t use HTTPS websites.
Your ISP, for example, will still be able to see what websites you look up, what you type on unencrypted platforms, what files you download, and how much time you spend on a website or web page.
Similarly, school network admins and employers will still be able to see what you do on the web.
What’s more, Incognito Mode won’t hide your IP address from other online users and websites. So, anyone who sees it will know:
- What country you are from.
- What city you live in.
- Who your ISP is.
- What your ZIP code is.
Also, websites will still be able to target you with geo-blocks, preventing you from accessing various content and web pages if you’re not from a whitelisted region.
I cannot stress this enough – Incognito Mode won’t protect you from viruses and malware. It just isn’t designed to do that. Sure, it might delete malicious cookies, but it can’t secure your device against them or any other malicious files you might accidentally download.
And lastly (and probably one of the most “shocking” revelation) – Incognito Mode won’t actually make your porn browsing sessions private.
In fact, Google, Oracle, and Facebook can actually track what adult content you watch even when you use Incognito Mode. While the data doesn’t get stored on your device, it still is shared with those tech giants by websites that use tracking tools.
Learn all you need to know about Incognito mode to stay save.
Source: UGC
So How Can You Protect Your Privacy on the Web?
Here are some great ways you can make sure you enjoy a private and safe online experience:
1. Use a Secure Browser
Just because a web browser has an Incognito Mode doesn’t mean your privacy is 100% safe. For example, if you use Google Chrome with Incognito Mode, you won’t really achieve much since it’s like having spy software installed on your device at this point.
What makes a browser really secure, though?
Well, here are some nice things to have:
- Open-source code (bonus points if it’s been audited).
- Protection from phishing websites.
- Features that force unsecured websites to use HTTPS (if possible).
- Non-tracking options.
- Clear Privacy Policies you can understand without a lawyer’s help.
- Anti-fingerprinting options (to protect you from WebRTC leaks).
- No telemetry, ideally.
Now, there are a lot of browsers to choose from, which makes finding a secure one that’s right for you tough and time-consuming.
Luckily, some browsers already come with built-in privacy features. That narrows it down a bit, but talking about all of them would still take a lot of time. So follow the link I left to get a clear, in-depth, and easy-to-understand overview of the best privacy-oriented web browsers.
2. Use a VPN
VPN stands for Virtual Private Network, online tools designed to hide your IP address and encrypt your Internet traffic.
If you run a VPN every time you browse the web, you won’t need to worry about websites, advertisers, and anyone else tracking your digital footprints with your IP address. Or, even worse, finding out personal info about you with it.
Plus, websites will no longer manage to block your access with geo-restrictions. They won’t be able to see your geo-location if your IP address isn’t visible, after all.
Also, by encrypting your traffic, a VPN can secure your online privacy by:
- Making sure cybercriminals can’t intercept your web traffic when you use unsecured Wi-Fi to steal data like credit card details, login credentials, or bank account info.
- Stopping government surveillance agencies from keeping tabs on every single thing you do on the Internet – including what kind of porn you like to “relax” with.
- Not allowing ISPs to log your browsing history and sell it to advertisers.
3. Use Antivirus/Antimalware Software
Back in 2017, around 360,000 different types of malware got released every single day. In 2018, things didn’t improve – new malware popped up every seven seconds.
So, you should always have antivirus/antimalware software installed on your devices. Also, make sure you keep it up to date, otherwise it can’t detect new strains of malware.
Oh, and always (seriously – always) run regular scans each day.
Not sure which security software to get? Check out Malwarebytes, Norton, and ESET for starters, and see which one works best for you.
You should consider Incognito Mode to be safe.
Source: UGC
Should You Bother Using Incognito Mode at All?
Yeah, definitely. While it might not offer complete online privacy, that doesn’t mean it isn’t useful.
Just make sure you use a reliable browser, a VPN, and antivirus/antimalware programs alongside it at the very least. That way, you get to enjoy great privacy and security while also keeping your browsing private from anyone who might have access to your device.
Of course, if you’re not sharing your compute or device with anyone, you don’t really need to use it – unless it makes you feel safer.
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