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Incognito mode is a setting for your web browser which doesn’t keep a record of the web pages you visit, but that doesn’t mean it’s a 100% private way to search the web. Here’s what you need to know about incognito mode, private browsing and the pros and cons browsing under the radar.
What Is Incognito Mode?
The majority of web browsers (which you use to access the internet) keep a record of the websites and pages you visit by default. By storing your search and access history, these browsers can then help you easily find and revisit content later on.
Most browsers have an option to temporarily suspend this record keeping, meaning the web pages you visit will be kept private—at least to anyone else using that same browser. It’s often referred to as ‘incognito mode’, but every browser actually has a different name for the setting.
In Chrome it’s Incognito Mode, in Microsoft Edge it’s InPrivate Mode, in Safari it’s Private Browsing and in Firefox it’s Private Mode. The list goes on.
These private browsing tools are useful for a variety of reasons, such as if you were planning a surprise for someone you share use of a computer or tablet with and didn’t want them to see your search history, for example.
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How Do I Use Incognito Mode?
To use incognito mode, you should click or tap the button in your browser you’d usually use to open a new tab (typically three vertical dots or lines in the top right-hand corner) and select ‘open new private/incognito tab’.
Everything you do in that new tab(s) will go unrecorded by your browser.
Do I Need to Manually Clear My History, Cache and Cookies?
No, private browsing modes don’t save your browsing history, cached pages or cookies, so there’s nothing to delete.
If you don’t use a private browsing mode, deleting your history, cache and cookies has a similar effect to browsing privately, in that nobody else who uses your device will be able to see what you’ve been doing.
Is Incognito Mode Really Private?
From anyone else using your device, yes–but not from the wider world.
The browser won’t keep a record of your activity, but this doesn’t mean a record of the pages you visit won’t exist. For example, if you visited ABC News using private browsing, its analytics would record your (relatively anonymised) on-site activity, even though your device wouldn’t.
Any website you have an account with and sign in to—Instagram, for example—would keep records of where and when you accessed your account too.
Similarly, most search engines you use could keep records of the searches you make, unless you tell them not to. And If you’re using a school or work network, the IT department can probably see records of your activity.
Finally, but fundamentally, your broadband provider will also likely keep records of what you do online. And if you were accused of pirating movies online, for example, a movie studio or distributor could take legal action to get your browser history from your broadband provider in order to seek damages from you.
Is It Possible To Browse The Internet Privately?
It is possible to browse the internet privately, but not by using a browser’s incognito or private mode. Instead, you’ll need a VPN.
Related: VPNs Explained
Virtual Private Networks (VPNs) conceal your IP address—the unique identifier your computer, phone or tablet is assigned on the internet—so that websites you visit don’t know who or where you really are. They also encrypt the data you send and receive over the internet, making it unintelligible to anyone without a decryption key.
Any VPN worth its salt will also have a no-log policy that means even it won’t keep a record of what you do online and so can’t be compelled to hand it over to anyone.
Related: Our Pick Of The Best VPNs In Australia 2023
Another way to browse the web privately and anonymously is the Tor Browser. The software blocks trackers, encrypts traffic, defends against surveillance and makes it harder for users to be identified via fingerprinting (a profile of you based on your browser and device information).
While VPNs have become a big, mainstream method for protecting your privacy online, the Tor Browser has long been associated with accessing the ‘dark web’ and the cyber crime found there. The Tor Browser, while unlike the best VPN services is free of charge, is arguably more risky and less secure.
And, as with VPNs, while the Tor Browser is legal to use, any illegal activity while using the browser is still illegal.
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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Can you use incognito mode on an iPad?
Yes, you can still access incognito mode when using an iPad. You will access it in the same way as if you were browsing on a computer, by going to the internet browser or app that you use on your iPad.
Do I have incognito mode?
Yes, if you can access a web browser, you will be able to access an incognito mode tool. These may be called something different depending on the web browser you use. For example, in Chrome it’s Incognito Mode, in Microsoft Edge it’s InPrivate Mode, in Safari it’s Private Browsing and in Firefox it’s Private Mode.
When should I use incognito mode?
Incognito mode can be used for a plethora of reasons. It might be because you are wanting to find the best deals online, and therefore do not want your history tracked so that you can continue to look for cheap alternatives (a lot of websites now track your history in order to upsell). It could also be because you are sharing the computer with someone else that you are wanting to hide a surprise from.
Of course, as mentioned in the article above, incognito mode is not the same as browsing the internet anonymously. Your history can still be found, whether by your broadband provider, workplace or other analytics.