Google Chrome’s Incognito mode is a godsend for people who value their personal space. There are some important things you’ll want to know about the feature, though.
While browsing Google Chrome, you’ve probably come across Incognito mode at some point. It’s a handy feature if you need some extra privacy on the World Wide Web.
But there are some important things you’ll want to know about the private feature. We’ll go over the main points with you briefly so you can be well prepared to surf.
Here’s how Google Chrome’s Incognito mode works
Incognito mode in Google Chrome is a kind of secret hiding place for your browsing habits. When you use the feature, Chrome does not keep a history of the websites you visit. Google also does not store cookies, cache and other data.
If you want to use Incognito mode, press the three dots in the upper right corner. There you select “New incognito window. Once you have done this, a new window will open where you can browse freely without others being able to see what you have been doing.
How do people use Incognito mode?
According to a Mozilla Foundation survey, most Incognito sessions are fairly short, about 10 minutes at a time. But there are busy periods between 11 a.m. and 2 p.m., around 5 a.m. and between 9 and 10 in the evening. And a small spike about an hour or two after midnight.
After you close the window, other users can’t see what you’ve been viewing on Google Chrome. But you’re not completely invisible. The website itself and your Internet service provider still collect data about your browsing habits. Keep that in mind when using Incognito mode.
Also, there are still ways you can be tracked. Sometimes your activities can still be noticed by your operating system, security vulnerabilities in your browser, or even by pesky hackers. So Incognito mode is definitely not a substitute for a VPN.
Why you can never fully trust the feature
So Incognito mode is actually a lot less secure than you think. In fact, Google itself gets a piece of the action as well. The tech giant also collects data from Incognito users, including your IP addresses, device data, browser history.
A number of users felt that Google Chrome didn’t warn about the risks well enough and took the company to court. It eventually came to a settlement between the company and the plaintiffs.
You will now see this when you open an incognito window. (Image: Google)
This shows that Google is going to delete billions in data. In addition, it is going to automatically block third-party cookies for the next five years unless you uncheck the feature. In addition, it also agrees not to deploy technology that allows it to recognize which users have incognito mode on.
What are the alternatives?
So whether you are really one hundred percent safe with Google Chrome, you can never be sure. That’s why it doesn’t hurt to also look at alternatives. DuckDuckGo, for example, is a good option. The Web browser does not collect data and also gives you extra protection against hackers. Thus, you actually always surf in a kind of Incognito mode.
And it also remains very convenient to use a VPN. This creates an encrypted connection between your device and the Internet. You can pay for the service, but there are also a number of free options. In the article below you will find our favorite free VPNs for Android:
