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What Good is Incognito Mode?

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You're both right, and you're both wrong.

Incognito mode in Google Chrome, also referred to as "Private" or "InPrivate" in Firefox, Internet Explorer, Edge, and other browsers, protects your privacy to a point.

It's critical to know where that is, because beyond that point, Incognito does exactly nothing to keep you more private.

The Incognito line

The good news is that the point to which Incognito has effect, and beyond which it has no effect at all, is easy to understand.

Incognito affects only the information stored in your computer. Information stored or seen elsewhere is completely unaffected by Incognito.

Incognito does disable extensions

Entering Incognito mode varies based on browser, and there are multiple ways, but in Chrome, click on the ellipsis menu at the right end of the menu bar, and click on "New Incognito Window".

You can browse within that window normally, with the exception that your browser extensions may not be enabled in Incognito. If you need an extension to work in Incognito mode (for example, perhaps you need your password management software to be enabled) you'll need to enable it in the browser's extensions page. When you do, your browser may point out:

Warning: Google Chrome cannot prevent extensions from recording your browsing history. To disable this extension in Incognito mode, unselect this option.

Browser extensions are one way your activities can be exposed, so disabling them by default makes a lot of sense. You can then choose which extensions you trust.

Incognito does delete history

The primary function of Incognito mode is that it doesn't save any history. This comes into play when you close the Incognito window or exit your browser. At that time, the following information about your Incognito activities is deleted:

• The history of websites you visited within Incognito windows (though any bookmarks you create will be retained).
• The history of files you've downloaded within Incognito windows (though the files themselves are left intact).
• The history of searches kept by the browser.
• Cookies left by the sites you've visited within Incognito windows.
• Form-fill information entered into Incognito windows that would normally be remembered for future auto-complete.
• The browser cache related to your Incognito activities.

Any normal, non-Incognito windows are unaffected.

The idea is that once you exit an Incognito window, no trace of the activity that happened within that window is left on your computer.

Incognito does not hide what you're doing from others

Incognito only affects the data that is kept on your PC.

For example:

• Your network traffic is unaffected. Your ISP can still see what you're up to.
• The websites you visit have no idea you're incognito. They can still identify you by various means not limited to cookies, and they can still keep a record of your visit.
• The search history saved in the online account you might have with the search provider, like Google, is not affected.
• Any malware on your machine can see what you're up to.
• It's unlikely your browser performs a "secure" delete — meaning that the files it created might still be recoverable after your session.1

The bottom line is that Incognito (or Private or InPrivate) mode is great at preventing anyone with access to your computer from easily finding your activities there — but it does nothing to protect your online privacy.

It certainly shouldn't be considered as any kind of absolute privacy or security tool.

Related Links & Comments: What Good is Incognito Mode?
https://askleo.com/27929

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So Much Information....

...so little time.

At least, that's the way it seems, sometimes.

One way I've solved that for myself is to make use of some of the time I spent on the road, or even just working outside: listening to audio-books from Audible. One of my favorite "listens" in recent months is "The Book Of Joy". It recounts the meeting of Desmond Tutu and the Dalai Lama in honor of the later's milestone birthday. As the description states, "...they are also known for being among the most infectiously happy people on the planet." Who couldn't use a little additional happiness these days. In a completely different direction, I'm currently listening to the first book in Stephen King's The Dark Tower series, in preparation for the movie coming out later this year. If you're as strapped for time as I am, consider an Audible book, or even a monthly subscription. There are just so many great titles out there, it's a great way to make use of what might otherwise be "down time".

-Leo

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