

That way, if someone else visits the same site as you (such as a social media website), your account will be logged out, keeping unauthorized users from accessing your accounts. Protects sensitive data on shared devices: Every time you close out of an incognito session, your login information, cookies, and other temporary browsing files are wiped from the device.For example, this can be useful if you’re trying to view multiple social media accounts without having to log out of one. Use of multiple accounts simultaneously: Using incognito mode is a handy way to log in to multiple accounts on the same website at once.Extension-free browsing experience: If you usually use browser extensions or toolbars while surfing the internet, opening an incognito window is a quick way to search without any extensions or toolbars interfering with your experience.Keep in mind that not all browsers block third-party cookies by default, so even though cookies won’t be stored on your device, your activity may still be tracked by the sites you visit. This can help prevent companies from tracking you and may limit your exposure to targeted ads and dynamic pricing. Prevents some forms of internet tracking: After completing a browsing session using incognito mode, your browser will clear cookies from your device.

Private browsing on shared devices: Incognito mode is a great option for those using shared devices because your browsing history will not be accessible by other people sharing the device.People may opt to use incognito mode to take advantage of its privacy benefits, including: To help you better understand why people use incognito mode, let’s look at the pros and cons. Why do people use incognito mode?Įven though incognito mode may not make your internet activity completely invisible, there are still a variety of reasons people use it. In addition, logging in to personal accounts while using incognito mode can help other sites identify you and link your browsing behavior to your name. It's also crucial to remember that your incognito mode activity is never entirely invisible, whether it's from the websites you visit or your ISP. Even if you’re using incognito mode, your network administrators may still be able to see your incognito search history if they decide to check.Īs a rule of thumb, you should always treat borrowed devices as such even if you’re surfing the web in incognito mode. For example, let’s say you decide to search for new jobs on your work computer. With all of this in mind, you may wonder “Is incognito safe?” Yes, using incognito mode is safe, though it doesn’t mean you can expect to have a totally private browsing experience. So, if you want to hide your IP address from other network users, websites, or your ISP, you’ll need to use a VPN instead. It doesn’t hide IP addressesĮven though incognito mode provides a more private internet experience than traditional browsing, it still doesn’t hide your IP address, which is a crucial part of your digital footprint. But even if you block third-party cookies, you may still be vulnerable to tracking, especially if you log in to any personal accounts while using incognito mode. If third-party cookies aren’t blocked, they may still be able to track your browsing activity using tracking cookies to help provide you with targeted advertisements or dynamic pricing.Īn example of dynamic pricing is when companies use your data to raise prices on items you’ve shown interest in. Even in incognito mode, third parties can still gather data about you when you visit a website, including your operating system, location, browser, and more.ĭepending on your browser, incognito mode may block all third-party cookies, therefore limiting the data third parties can collect from you. While incognito mode can keep prying eyes from viewing your search history, it doesn’t completely protect you from internet tracking. When using incognito mode, your browsing history will not be saved to your device, making it invisible to anyone else using the same device. But it's important to note that your incognito history will still be visible to third parties, such as your internet service provider (ISP), search engines, and the sites you visit. It hides browsing history from other users To gain a better understanding of incognito mode, let’s break down what it does and doesn’t hide. Using incognito mode can also prevent you from having a personalized web experience based on your previous browsing activity. This eliminates stored passwords, login information, and auto-filled web forms you’d normally experience when surfing the web. Incognito mode allows you to browse the internet as if you’re a new user at each site you visit.
