Are you concerned that someone might come across your google search history? Do you want to go gift shopping without having anyone else find out or annoying ads pop up? Or, maybe you’d like to watch videos on YouTube without having to manage the recommended videos once you log in again? If any of these scenarios sound familiar, then you should consider private browsing.

What is private browsing mode?

Private browsing, or incognito mode, is a privacy feature found in some web browsers such as Google Chrome, Firefox, or Safari that allows you to browse sites privately, without your history being saved on your device or your Google account.

Is incognito mode the same as private browsing?

Incognito mode and private browsing are the same thing. Different browsers simply use different names for this feature since Chrome calls it incognito while Safari and Firefox calls it private browsing.

What does incognito mode do?

When enabled, a private browser creates a temporary session that is isolated from the main browser session and does not save your browser history. When the incognito mode is closed, browsing history, web cache, and cookies are immediately cleared from the device, preventing others from seeing your online activities.

Private browsing vs Anonymous browsing – What’s the difference

While private and anonymous browsing are often thought to be the same, they’re actually two different things. Anonymous browsing masks your IP address and any other identifying information related to internet activity so that you can’t be traced.

So does incognito mode hide IP addresses? The short answer is no. While incognito mode does not keep your browsing history, web cache, and cookies, it does not stop web tracking. Your employer, search engines like Google, and other third parties can still track your activity. You may therefore still get ads and such related to your recent activity.

How to enable private browsing

Enabling and disabling private browsing mode is simple, no matter which web browser you choose to use. Just follow these simple steps to start browsing in incognito mode.

Google Chrome

  1. Open the Google Chrome browser.
  2. Click on the three dots in the browser’s upper-right corner and choose New Incognito window.

You can also use the keyboard shortcut CTRL + Shift + N in Windows and Command + Shift + N on a Mac to open a new incognito window.

Google Chrome Mobile

  1. Open Google Chrome.
  2. Tap the three dots in the upper-right corner of the screen and choose New Incognito window.

Firefox

  1. Open Firefox.
  2. Click on the three horizontal lines (hamburger menu) in the browser’s upper-right corner and select New Private Window.

You can also open a new private window by using the keyboard shortcuts CTRL + Shift + P on Windows and Command + Shift + P on a Mac.

Firefox on Android

  1. Open Firefox.
  2. Tap the eye mask icon in the upper-right corner of the screen.

Safari 

  1. Open Safari.
  2. Go to File > New Private Window

To enable Safari private browsing, you can also open a new private window by using the keyboard shortcut Command + Shift + N.

Safari on iPad or iPhone

  1. Open Safari.
  2. In the bottom-right corner of the screen, tap the Tabs icon > (number) Tab > Private > Done.

Microsoft Edge

  1. Open Microsoft Edge.
  2. Click on the three dots in the upper-right part of the browser and select New InPrivate window.

Alternatively, you can open an InPrivate window using the keyboard shortcut CTRL + Shift + P.

Microsoft Edge on mobile

  1. Open Microsoft Edge.
  2. Tap the three dots an the bottom of the screen and choose InPrivate.
  3. You can tap on an existing InPrivate window to continue your session, or tap the + button to open a new window.

What is the best private browser?

In terms of privacy, Brave is often recognized as the best private browser based on their cookies policy, privacy settings, and speed. Other more common choices include Firefox or DuckDuckGo.

Does Incognito hide IP addresses?

Even in Incognito mode, Google and other third parties can still track your activity. Incognito mode does not hide your IP address. If you want to hide your IP address, you should get a VPN or rely on anonymous browsing.

Is incognito safe?

There’s no harm in using incognito mode. Using incognito mode or private browsing will not attract more viruses than regular browsing (as long as you stay off dodgy sites of course!).

How to get out of incognito mode

To turn off private browsing and get out of incognito mode, you can simply close the browser window or tap the incognito mode icon at the top and select “close incognito”

If you want to learn more about protecting your activities on your phone or desktop, give our experts a call today.