Private browsing is a feature that most browsers offer and can be useful in certain situations. However, it is important to understand that private browsing does not make you completely anonymous online. In this article, we will explore what private browsing does and what it doesn’t.
What Private Browsing Really Does
Private browsing mode discards your browsing history while in incognito mode, so your movements will not be recorded in your browser’s history. Your cookies are created but will be deleted as soon as you close a private window. Some extensions/plugins will be disabled if their developers decide on their behalf. Private browser windows have access to previously stored data such as saved passwords.
What Private Browsing Does Not Do
Private browsing does not make you completely invisible online. Each site knows and records its actions on that particular site. For example, analytics software/plugin/engine wants to know how much time the number of people spend on a site. Websites save cookies for behavior analysis, which is why websites that make you log in for certain services ‘guilty’ of such tracking.
Situations Where Private Browsing Can Be Useful
Private browsing can be useful in situations where you need to log in to an account on a shared computer, as cookies are not stored on your logins. It also helps you manage multiple accounts at the same time, such as Google accounts. If you want to visit sites that you’ll be clearing from your browsing history, private browsing can be a helpful tool.
How To Stay Hidden Online
If you want to stay as hidden as possible online, you can log out of any account before closing the service websites, enable “Do Not Track” mode in Firefox, use a different browser, or use a virtual private network like AnchorFree. However, it is important to understand that even with these precautions, it is still impossible to be completely anonymous online.
FAQs
Is private browsing completely private?
No. Private browsing only prevents your browser from storing your browsing history and cookies. It does not prevent trackers, search engines, or ISPs from tracking your online activity.
Can I use private browsing to hide my IP address?
No. Private browsing does not hide your IP address. You can use a virtual private network (VPN) to hide your IP address.