We are all guilty of using the internet in a way we aren’t always comfortable sharing. From embarrassing questions to awkward explorations, there are tons of reasons why 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 a special setting to help “hide” activity without further action. Google Chrome’s incognito mode is easily one of the most popular privacy features, but is incognito mode all it’s cut out to be?
Examining what incognito mode does may make you think twice about how secure you are while using it.
What Is Incognito Mode?
Incognito mode is a special setting offered to Google Chrome users (although Firefox and Microsoft Edge users also have similar in-private browsing options under a different name). This mode allows you to surf the internet “privately.”
Your browsing history, cookies, site data, and form information do not save to your device during its use. Usually, when you use internet browsers, they keep specific types of information for both monetary and optimization purposes.
Many platforms use the information they store locally on you to help design targeted advertisements or save your address or name to make filling out online forms easier.
We've all experienced this at one point or another on social media where ad placements seem too good to be true. For example, if someone were to visit many different sites that sell backpacks, you may notice that you get ads for similar bags.
Sometimes, platforms take this a step further. They may try to infer information about your demographic to offer further possibly related advertisements with enough information. "Oh, you looked for backpacks and textbooks today? You are probably a college student more likely to click on these specific ads offering back-to-school clothing sales."
Indeed, some people like their personalized ads so platforms argue they enhance user experience. However, many find these practices demonstrate a considerable invasion of privacy and outright exploitation.
Plus, some find it embarrassing when their targeted ads hint at things they would rather keep secret. Imagine if a few wrong clicks landed you with an unstoppable flood of horrible ads you hated.
Incognito mode prevents these actions without having to do anything to your history afterward.
Is Incognito Mode More Secure than Regular Internet Browsing?
Whether or not incognito mode is a better security option boils down to how you define "security". In some ways, 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 you left your laptop or phone unlocked in public.
Saved information allows people to access your bank account or address by simply being in the right place at the right time. Of course, you face some more significant concerns when leaving essential electronics out in the open, and there are many ways to prevent people from accessing information from your device.
Some people are less worried about thieves physically getting their information by stealing their electronics and more concerned over companies selling their 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 give away your private interests to other users.
However, when it comes to things like malicious software or data leaks, incognito mode won’t help you out. These security problems are more complex than robbing your device of locally stored data.
If you accidentally click on a suspicious link, open a shady file, or fall for a phishing scam, pausing your browsing history won’t prevent installing viruses on your computer. These viruses can 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. It also won’t prevent you from scams if you hand over your information willingly but unwittingly.
So what benefits do people get from using this mode?
Can Anyone See Incognito Searches?
Incognito mode doesn’t protect third parties from seeing your information any more than regular browsing would. It means that your searches would come up during any malicious activities or if the government wanted to look into your history.
Using incognito mode is comparable to using an internet explorer typically and then deleting all of your history right after. Of course, this alone already has some perks.
Unless you know some fancy hackers or computer experts, chances are, incognito mode will keep your internet activities private from anyone you share your devices with. You won’t have to panic that your computer will offer embarrassing hints of your search history when someone grabs your devices and starts typing something into the taskbar.
However, if you don’t share your computer with anyone, you will not see much difference here. In many ways, this mode forces you to practice general internet privacy measures like regularly erasing your internet history and never saving your passwords.
It’s a fantastic way to make sure you practice these basic things in cases where you need to use shared devices; however, if you think that incognito mode is going to save you from outside interference, like from the government or police, then you're wrong.
If you break the law by torrenting movies or accessing illegal materials, incognito mode won’t protect you. Don’t let this scare you from looking up harmless, legal things.
Typically, no one is habitually watching your internet activity. Additionally, it takes effort, resources, and paperwork for anyone to contact your internet provider and obtain a record of your online usage.
Authorities reserve the right to do this for hardcore criminals. They won’t serve warrants because you looked up embarrassing symptoms or googled something mortifying. These warrants are generally for people breaking strict laws and putting people in danger.
Should I Use Incognito Mode?
Using incognito mode is a great way to help you keep your internet surfing secure from other users. It helps prevent unwanted information from storing to your computer and leading to unwanted embarrassment. It's not perfect, but in the fight to keep your privacy, every little helps.