Google Chrome incognito mode was one of the first incarnations of additional protection for your web browser.
Whereas in a browsing session, your browsing history, cookies, and any site data will be stored on your computer or device.
Because of this, you are vulnerable to your personal information falling into the wrong hands by various means.
Now, when you open a new incognito window in your web browser, all of this information can be wiped from your device. (Learn How to Delete Google Account History)
In theory, when you use incognito mode, it was supposed to prevent anyone from seeing what you accessed through search engines, the sites you visit, and much more to add to your privacy.
While it does help, it shouldn’t be the only way of keeping your online privacy, as some are still able to see what you do online. One thing it can help with is that you can sign into multiple accounts at the same time.
While web browsing rather than logging out of one and logging in with other credentials.
Here, you can learn what Google Chrome incognito mode does, and if you are safe using incognito, Google Chrome leads you to believe.
What Browsers Have Incognito Mode?
Once you know how to browse privately, you may wonder which web browsers come with this added security feature.
Here’s a handful of the main web browsers you will find that offer this.
Chrome Browser
With Google Incognito Mode, the browser won’t save browsing history, cookies, site data, or form submitted data. It does, however, keep downloaded files and bookmarks.
To go Incognito, click the menu in the top right corner and select New Incognito Window or press Ctrl+ Shift + N inside the browser.
Microsoft Edge
Microsoft’s Private mode, incognito alternative, offers almost the same private browsing mode protection as Chrome. Yet, it disables toolbars and extensions while on the web. To enable click Settings – Safety – InPrivate Browsing, press Ctrl+Shift+P inside the browser.
You can also use this in Internet Explorer. Microsoft doesn’t work the same and won’t offer you private tabs. It opens in a new private window altogether. (Read Can You Permanently Delete A Gmail Account)
Mozilla Firefox
Mozilla’s “Private Browsing” tab mode is similar and delivers additional tracking protection. To launch in Firefox, click the three lines to the top right, select New Private Window, or use the Ctrl+ Shift + P shortcut. You can see your tabs in a different color.
Can Google See My Incognito History?
Incognito mode prevents Chrome from logging surfing sessions. However, It doesn’t prevent others from seeing your online activity.
For instance, websites you visit know you visited, as do its advertisers. They all keep this information saved every time you open a website. Yet on your device, this information is deleted after you close incognito mode for private browsing.
Any website where you sign in will know visited because you logged in.
If the network admin has access to your browsing history at work or school, as does your ISP (Internet service provider).
Search engines still have access to your browsing history and can show search suggestions from your search history; Google is the prime search engine.
All these can spot your IP address, which identifies your basic location, real-time activities, and when you sign in, your IP is associated with your identity—Gmail one of the key examples.
Can I Be Tracked On Incognito Mode?
The incognito meaning is to have one’s true identity concealed. In theory, this means no one can tell who you are.
However, browsing in Incognito mode isn’t so safe, and you may be able to be seen far more than you think Google lets on.
When you open your Incognito tab, Chrome shows the message, “Now you can browse privately, and other people who use this device won’t see your activity.”
You might think no one can see what you are doing. In reality, Incognito doesn’t protect you from website operators and advertisers. All your browsing activity is still recorded in your Google account profile.
Geo-location can still highlight your location, or you would be able to use incognito to access sites like Netflix.
Malware can still find its way onto your computer or device. There is no protection against any threat of this kind, and you still need to take extra precautions against this.
Is Incognito Really Safe?
Your cookies will remain on your machine in regular browsing mode, and private browsing does mean you can wipe your browsing activity, cookies, and data from your computer once you close your browser.
However, this is just on your physical device, and all the websites you visit keep your IP address and any information you pass over. Like other users, you might think you are safe, yet it can be a false sense of security.
If you want to make sure you can hide on a network or the internet, you can log into a VPN service. With these, all your data is encrypted, and you can change your location by selecting a different server.
While using a VPN, you can still visit websites, and you can still log into sites or services you like. However, now you can hide as they record your geo-location of the server you are connected to.
Your browsing history will remain private because it won’t relate to your computer on the network.
Furthermore, all your information will be transmitted with military-grade encryption, thus offering the highest levels of privacy.
If you log in to Facebook, you might leave a trail or record, yet where you are using the websites from will be kept secret as your real IP address is hidden.
By default, of how a VPN works, you are using private browsing mode while carrying on with your daily activities.
Privacy is the main reason for a VPN, and they help keep you safe from many more threats than merely stopping Google from recording your activities in private browsing mode.