Alternatives to incognito mode: 5 surprising tricks 😲
Summary
- Incognito mode offers limited privacy by not saving your browsing history or data, but it doesn't make you anonymous, leaving you vulnerable to tracking by internet providers and websites. 🕵️♂️
- To improve your online privacy and security, consider additional tools like VPNs, tracker-blocking extensions, and privacy-focused browsers. 🔒
- Maintaining good digital hygiene practices, such as logging out of services and deleting cookies, can protect you from being tracked. 🧼
Incognito mode. Privacy mode. InPrivate mode. Whatever your browser calls it, it's probably your preferred option when you want to browse the web more privately. But if it's all you're using, your activity isn't as hidden as you thought. 🤔
Incognito Mode Isn't As Private As You Think
Incognito mode is a browser-based privacy solution. Its effects are limited to what happens inside your web browser and do not extend beyond that.
When you use incognito mode, your browser doesn't save your history or the data you enter into forms, and it doesn't allow sites to save cookies or access cookies they've already saved. Closing your private tab deletes all traces of your browsing session.
Incognito mode is private because it doesn't log the sites you've visited, makes it harder for sites and advertisers to track you, and lets you access services like Google Search or YouTube without logging in. 👀
However, it doesn't offer privacy in the way many people think, and its benefits are often exaggerated. It doesn't make you anonymous, and it doesn't encrypt your connection. This means your ISP can still see what sites you're visiting, as can the owner of the network you're connected to, such as your employer or school. Websites can also see your IP address, which reveals your approximate location and allows them (and the advertisers they use) to track you more easily. 🌐
Incognito mode is useful for providing privacy on your computer or phone. If you share your home computer or use a public computer at a library, it's very practical. But relying solely on Incognito mode as your sole privacy solution will leave you far less protected than you might have imagined. ⚠️
How to Protect Your Online Privacy
To stay safe online, incognito mode is just one of many tools and tips you should use. What you need will depend on what you want to achieve. 🌈
For the greatest privacy and security, you should use a VPN. This fully encrypts your internet connection and helps hide your online activity. It doesn't make you completely anonymous, but your ISP won't be able to see what sites you visit, sites won't be able to see where you came from, and it becomes much harder to track you when using torrents and other services where you might not want your ID known. 🔑
Additionally, you can help prevent advertisers from following you around the web by using tracker-blocking extensions like Privacy BadgerMany web browsers now have similar anti-tracking tools built in, but some collect large amounts of data about your browsing habits. 📊
Disabling autocomplete in searches can help reduce this. An even better option is to switch to a browser that focuses more on privacy. Instead of using Google Chrome or Microsoft Edge, try something like Vivaldi or FirefoxVivaldi now includes a built-in VPN, via Proton's excellent service, making it a great option. 🌟
Google Search routinely tracks and saves all your searches. Assuming you don't want to log out of your Google account, you could switch to an alternative search engine. I've been using DuckDuckGo for a few years now, and despite one or two drawbacks, I'm quite happy with it. It even lets you use ChatGPT in a more privacy-focused way. 🦆
You can also take some simpler steps to maintain your digital hygiene. Log out of services when you're not using them to avoid the risk of being tracked and your activities tracked. You can also regularly delete cookies in your browser. 🍪
It's true that this can come with some inconvenience, so you'll have to find a balance that makes you happy. On the one hand, you'll no longer be automatically logged into your social media accounts, the contents of your shopping cart will be lost, and so on. But on the other hand, this means sites won't be able to track you, creating a terrifyingly detailed profile of you. Social media sites like Facebook, in particular, are notorious for following you around the web if you give them half a chance. 👁️🗨️
Incognito mode is useful for maintaining basic privacy within your laptop or phone's browser. But it doesn't go beyond that. If it's the only thing you're using to protect your privacy, your online browsing isn't very private at all. 🚫
