Like most modern web browsers, Google Chrome has a private “incognito” browsing mode that does not store cookies or the history of your browsing sessions. But how much privacy does it really offer?
What does incognito mode do?
When you open a new incognito window from the Chrome menu, the browser opens a dedicated Chrome session, separate from any you may already have open. It’s a blank slate, without your usual browsing history or linked accounts, and all temporary data about what you’ve been viewing during the session will be erased from your PC when you close all windows in incognito mode.
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Unlike a standard Chrome session, Incognito mode takes the following measures to protect your privacy:
- Does not store visited websites or search strings in your browsing history.
- Doesn’t automatically sign you into any of your Google or Chrome user accounts.
- Caching (temporarily storing) images and other media content in RAM instead of on your hard drive.
- Blocks third-party cookies by default – this feature is optional and can be disabled.
- Discards all cookies that are saved when you close all currently open windows in incognito mode.
- Does not save any data you have entered into a web form.
What is incognito mode for?
While Incognito mode doesn’t offer cast-iron privacy, it leaves minimal traces of what you’ve read on whatever device you’re using. This makes it ideal for looking up anything you’d rather not accidentally share with other users of this device.
This can be anything from gift shopping to checking health conditions or searching for media that would not be appropriate for other household members. Sharing a device is a useful way to keep your most personal online forays to yourself.
Incognito mode won’t hide everything
Google Chrome’s incognito mode is great if you don’t want to store information about your browsing activity on the device you’re browsing, but it’s not an online invisibility shield. Here’s what incognito mode can’t do:
- It will not erase any data you intentionally saved to your local hard drive during your incognito browsing session.
- It will not hide your IP address. The numeric IPv4 or alphanumeric IPv6 address identifying your connection to the wider Internet is not hidden. Use a VPN or web proxy if you need to hide this.
- It does not prevent websites from locating you based on IP address and displaying content tailored to that location.
- It will not prevent your traffic from being monitored at the ISP or local network level if this is already happening.
- It does not prevent a signed-in Google account from saving your searches to its online record of your browsing history, which may later appear in your local browser. If you want to keep Google out of your business in incognito mode, don’t log into your account!
- When you log into your account in incognito mode on a website like Facebook or Amazon, Chrome doesn’t record a history of what you interacted with there or what you bought there, but rather the website you use, i.e. posts , purchases and the fact that you are connected are probably stored somewhere.
- Chrome sessions that are already open are not switched to incognito mode.
- Finally, if you allow Chrome extensions to work in incognito mode, they may not meet the same privacy standards as your browser and may store some information about your browsing if they normally do.
- Bookmarks you save in Incognito mode will still be there the next time you access them. This can be useful, but could compromise your privacy if someone else is also using Incognito mode on the same Chrome install.
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The safe way to enjoy the internet without compromising on speed is now 34% cheaper at £34.13 a year, the equivalent of £2.84 a month, with coverage for up to 5 devices.
Compatible with Android™ and iOS®
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- Was £52.50
- £34.13/year (£2.84 monthly equivalent)
to offer
Incognito mode may not be available for managed Chrome installs, e.g. B. for those managed remotely from a school or workplace.