Is it Safe to Browse in Incognito Mode?

When you browse online, switching to Incognito Mode makes you feel as if you’re suddenly in private mode, that your browsing activity is safe and anonymous. But is this really the case?  Let’s find out the truth…  

What Browsing in Incognito Mode Really Means

You might not find the setting Incognito Mode on your Browser, as, depending on which browser you use, it can be called something different. Perhaps yours is called InPrivate, or Private Browsing instead. No matter what its name is, it tells you that whatever you’re browsing, no matter your online activity won’t be stored on your computer. Many people use this to browse unsafe, or unsavoury websites, or ones they are unsure of. Others use this mode to search for private data they don’t want visible in their search history, for whatever reason.

Look for this setting in the top right-hand corner of your screen. Until you switch on this “private” mode, whatever you’re browsing online, including cached files, cookies, forms and history is stored on your computer so it’s easily accessible the next time you’re looking for it.

Let’s say you use Chrome as your browser. To click on Incognito, you’d go to the three-dot menu in the right-hand top corner of your screen. You’d then select New Incognito Window. On your mobile device, it’s found under the tab New Incognito Tab when you check your three-dot menu at the bottom of your screen. On your computer, if you prefer, you can use Ctrl+Shift+N (if you use Windows) or Cmd+Shift+N (on Mac).

What Incognito Does & Doesn’t Do

Incognito Mode Does The Following:

• Prevents your local browser from saving your browsing history, cookies and temporary files.
• Deletes cookies after you close, so it’s more difficult for websites to track you.
• Deletes temporary files.
• It affects the information that is stored on your computer or mobile device.
• Blocks third-party cookies. But be aware: sites can still identify you through your browser, device settings, privacy settings, even your browser version. 

Incognito Mode Does Not Do The Following:

Before we start, be aware: it doesn’t make you invisible! And it doesn’t:

• Hide your identity, track protection or secure data. It’s not a completely invisible browsing experience at all.
• Hide the sites you access. Your IP address, location and what type of device you’re using is still visible.
• Delete any files you download if you save these to your device, even after you close the Incognito
• Protect you from malware or block viruses, ads and phishing attempts usually found on pirate sites.
• Prevent legal action if your illegal activity is tracked and you are identified.
• Protect your anonymity when you log onto social media and certain accounts.
• Act as a malware shield. You are still vulnerable to data theft, viruses and cyberattacks. When you click or download a suspicious link or an infected file, you are just as vulnerable in this mode.
• Encrypt your data. For this you still need SSL certificates.
• Hide your file downloads and bookmarks. These are saved to your computer’s hard drive.

When Incognito Mode Is OK

This mode doesn’t save your browser history or what you search for in your search bar, nor does it save information such as names, email addresses and passwords you type into forms when you fill them in.

There will also be no trace of any temporary data, so sites can’t track you through cookies from any sessions. Also, any new cookies you create during the session are eliminated when you leave a site. (Cookies are those tiny bits of information that let sites remember your login details, the contents of your shopping cart and any other activity.)

These cookies and site data are still created to ensure the website operates properly, but they’re only stored temporarily; they are deleted when you return to normal mode. This also applies to your browsing history and search queries. However, not everything is deleted. Any downloads will stay on your device, and bookmarks you create will be saved.

So, When Should You Use it?

Although you can’t mask what you do online, this private mode gives you a new, clean browser window. Use it for the following:

1. When you’re using public WiFi.
2. When you’re using a public or shared computer, to ensure your login details won’t be saved and preventing whoever next uses the computer from accessing your or your company’s private information.
3. As you’re “incognito”, your previous searches and cookies aren’t visible, so you can view new sites that you might not be able to access if you were using your personal browsing history. This is especially advantageous if you’re searching for a product or a service and don’t wish to be targeted with adverts, as those cookies won’t be saved to your device.
4. If you wish to log in to another account while you’ve already logged in, you won’t need to log out of your current session. You can stay logged in and open a private window in Incognito to log into another account and won’t need to log in or out of both.

Incognito Mode vs a VPN

You can use this private mode if you add other security tools and know how to browse safely. But remember: using Incognito may prevent your browser from saving your history on your device, your cache and your cookies. But your internet provider can still see whatever you’re doing, as can the sites you visit.

However, if you want total invisibility, a Virtual Private Network (VPN) is what you need. This encrypts your online actions and routes them through a separate server. This way, it hides your IP address and makes it seem as if you’re elsewhere, say in another country. As a result, advertisers, ISPs and websites cannot track what you’re doing online or where you’re located. Currently 25% of Internet users have VPNs.

Which Browser Is Best?

We all love Chrome, but there are hints that not everything is hidden when you use Incognito in Chrome. Apparently, Mozilla Firefox has focused better on security, especially if you use a browser extension such as uBlock Origin, which might stop you from being tracked as you browse, and also making your search results more biased.

Whatever browser you use, ensure you set it HTTPS-Only. This will prevent your data from being intercepted when you visit older websites that don’t have active SSL certificates.

How to Browse Safely

No matter how much you try and stay invisible, the bottom line is: data privacy is your problem. Here’s what you need to do to stay safe:

• Clear cookies regularly.
• Clear your browser data cache.
• Never use a password more than once. And when you choose one, make it a strong one.
• Try not to use public WiFi, as unsecured networks expose your data. Be especially careful about logging into accounts including social media, email, and banking, unless you’re in a safe space.
• Ensure all your software is regularly updated, as hackers prey on those who don’t.
• Be aware constantly. If a link looks suspicious, trust your gut. Or, if a pop-up appears telling you to download or update something, rather ignore it.