Table of Contents
Incognito Mode Explained
What are the Benefits from Using Incognito Mode?
Drawbacks from using Incognito Mode
Should You Use Incognito Mode?
In addition to offering professional web design services, at Prominent Web Design, we often are a resource for answers to some of our clients’ web related questions.
Among those questions is one regarding incognito mode in Chrome (or private browsing mode in Firefox). And that question is whether we could explain incognito mode to them.
So, what exactly is Incognito Mode? Is it some type of invisibility cloak of privacy protection? Or is it something more nuanced? The truth, as is often the case, lies somewhere in between.
Incognito Mode Explained
Essentially, incognito mode (in Chrome) is a feature designed to prevent your web browser from storing certain pieces of information (called cookies) locally on your device, after you close the browsing session. Thus, when you close all your Incognito windows, your browsing history, cookies and/or form data is wiped clean from your device. However, incognito mode does not hide your online activity from entities who have access to your network traffic, such as an Internet Service Provider (ISP), employer, or educational institution.
What are the Benefits from Using Incognito Mode?
Privacy
Perhaps one of the main benefits from using incognito mode is that it can safeguard your privacy from others (your significant other, friends, family and/or work colleagues) who might have access to your device (computer or smartphone), as they would not be able to see your browsing and search history.
Tracking
Since incognito mode clears cookies after each session, it assists in stopping websites from tracking your activity across different websites and in so doing, can decrease the number of certain kinds of personalized ads popping up on other websites you may visit.
Testing
Using incognito mode can be helpful for web developers and web designers testing their websites in that it offers a first-time visitor experience by creating web browsing session free from any browsing history and cookies.
Drawbacks from using Incognito Mode
Privacy
As mentioned earlier, use of incognito mode has limitations when it comes to privacy. That is because your ISP, employer, or educational institution (if you are using their network) can still see your online activity. Thus, regardless of whether you are using incognito mode or not, your ISP can still see which IP addresses you are connecting to and the amount of data you are transmitting. While they might not see the actual content of an encrypted connection (SSL), they know you visited a website.
Additionally, if you are using a computer or network provided by your workplace or educational institution, they have administrative control and can implement logging and monitoring software that bypass your browser’s Incognito mode. That means your employer or network administrator can still monitor your online activity, including the websites you visit, the applications that you use and potentially even the content you interact with, regardless of your private browsing settings.
Tracking
Even while using incognito mode, it is still possible for websites that you are visiting to track you. How? Even without cookies, websites can utilize a technique called browser fingerprinting. This involves collecting a unique set of characteristics about your browser and device (such as screen resolution, installed fonts, operating system and plugins) to create a digital fingerprint. This can then be used to identify you across different browsing sessions and even across different websites. Thus, this method effectively bypasses the traditional cookie-clearing function of incognito mode.
Google Searches
If you use Google search while still logged into your Google account, such as Gmail, YouTube, Analytics, etc., even when using incognito mode, Google can still associate your search history with your account. And while the Incognito session itself won’t be added to your local browsing history on that specific device, Google’s servers will record your searches if you are logged in.
Security
Incognito mode does not protect you against malware or cyber-attacks, thus, your privacy can still be compromised. In other words, incognito mode is not anti-virus protection.
Should You Use Incognito Mode?
While using incognito mode is a personal and individual choice, there is little doubt that it offers a number of benefits when surfing the web, but it is also important to understand its limitations as pointed out in this article.
EMAIL US