Google clarifies Chrome’s ‘Incognito Mode’ isn’t as private as you might think

Although incognito mode hides your viewing history, it doesn’t completely protect your privacy or stop websites from tracking you.

Incognito Mode Isn’t As Private As You Thought​

In 2020, a class-action lawsuit was launched against Google for monitoring user behavior, even though the company assured users that their Chrome Incognito session was private. Late in 2023, Google decided to reimburse the amount of $5 billion to settle the case after failing to persuade a U.S. District Court that the lawsuit should be thrown out. Now that the matter is completely resolved, Google is on its way to updating its description of Chrome’s Incognito mode, reassuring the users about privacy.

What incognito mode is, and why it’s useful

First, let’s define incognito mode on Chrome so we can understand why Google is doing this. Every time you browse something over the search engine, your online activity, along with the websites and media, is recorded by the web browser you use.

Suppose you want to keep something private either from your close ones or with someone whom you share your device with. Incognito mode helps you through this. Incognito mode neither saves your passwords nor cookies and also hides websites you visit from your search history.

How does incognito mode work

Using incognito mode is very simple. Open the browser you want to use for your research and then open incognito mode. Your private browsing session has started.

• Your computer stops keeping track of the websites you visit in your browsing history.
• Your login credentials and any other data you submit to the forms will no longer be saved.
• In the incognito tab, extensions are disabled until you manually turn them on.
• Although your login credentials are saved on your devices, every time you turn on incognito mode, you will have to enter your passwords again.

Closing the incognito tabs or the browser ends the private browsing experience. It deletes all cookies and page data that were saved during the session.

Once you try to go back, you’ll find the list of the websites you visited back in the search history. Secondly, there won’t be any cookies on the websites either. However, all of your recently added bookmarks, downloaded files, and reading list items will still be accessible.

Why is Google updating its disclaimer on incognito mode

Another question that makes the users curious is why Google is involved in this. It started back in 2020 when this tech giant was hit with a $5 billion lawsuit over allegations that it had secretly collected user data when using incognito mode.

It had a deeper effect than anyone might think. Generally, incognito mode is a browser where your search history is all hidden, but that’s not really true.

What incognito mode can and cannot hide

Your search history doesn’t show the sites and searches you do, but keep in mind that your internet service provider or, say, the IT manager at your office can see them.

The data is accessible to your internet service provider (ISP) at all times since it goes via them. It also applies to your smartphones, whether they are connected to a network at home, at the office, or to a public network in a coffee shop or airport.

One more common misunderstanding is that the owners of the websites you view can’t see your user data through cookies or analytics. Yes, to a certain point, it is correct. Every time you close Incognito mode, all of your cookies are erased.

Is Incognito Mode Safe to Use?

You can use incognito mode without any risk. If you’re using a secure and up-to-date browser, it’s safe to use. However, it doesn’t safeguard your privacy as much as some may think (but you know better now).

Even with incognito mode enabled, your data is just as vulnerable as it would be in the regular browser mode. If you click on any sort of fake website or malicious link, you are very prone to getting trapped in a cyberattack.

Conclusion

Google has finally started phasing out cookie trackers in general, as promised a long time ago. It comes after the lowkey rollout of the Incognito disclaimer change. In a “Tracking Protection” experiment that deactivated cookies by default on Chrome, the corporation stated earlier this month that about one percent of its users, or over 30 million individuals, would take part. Estimates indicate that the 30-year-old data mining technology will have finished its full distribution by the middle of 2024. However, there are many things you can do right now to keep your browsing the web safer and prevent cookies from being saved.