Random Incognito Browsers (15 items)

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  (#9) Will Incognito Mode Keep Me From Getting Hacked Or Getting Viruses?

  Only somewhat. What incognito mode can do is make it difficult for anyone who gets access to your computer to look back at your history in order to hack you. There won't be autofill records of your bank log-ins, passwords, or personal information, as long as you've avoided running programs that store that data.

  However, incognito mode does not make your computer itself any safer. If there's any spyware on your computer, hackers will still be able to see what you're doing while you're browsing. Additionally, private browsing modes can't stop you from downloading files that have viruses, or opening emails that can download viruses automatically.
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  (#5) Will Private Browsing Keep Other Applications From Storing And Recording My Information?

  Using a private browsing mode does prevent your web browser from storing data about you and your activity, but it doesn't have the power to stop other applications on your computer from keeping track of what you're doing. If you have a keylogger on your computer, it will still be able to keep track of what buttons you push, and can thereby monitor your searches. Any spyware installed on your computer will also be able to see what you are up to, incognito mode or not, while you are doing the actual browsing.

  Once you're done, however, your history is deleted, so nothing - including any programs or apps on your computer - can go back and see where you went once you end your session.

  And, of course, private browsing won't protect you against most parent lock or parent monitoring software and apps installed on your computer. Mom and Dad will still be able to see if you're visiting any off-limits websites.
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  (#12) Can The Government Still See What I'm Doing?

  If they want to, yes. Your IP address is not hidden by private browsing modes, and can be used to track your information over a long period of time. The NSA can also install tracking cookies on your computer to monitor what you do, even if you've got incognito mode on. They can see where you've been online, who you've been talking to, what has been said, and what things you search.

  They can even check in reverse, starting with a specific site or search, and seeing which IPs have been associated with that activity.

  Local law enforcement can also track your history and your IP address, and can request your full Internet history from your provider without much trouble. If you've broken the law, the federal government can ask for your history as well. In other words, incognito mode is useless against the law or the feds.
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  (#13) Will I Still Have All My Browser Extensions?

  When you use incognito mode, the browser may inform you that all your extensions have been disabled. It does this because your browser cannot control how your extensions handle your personal data. Those extensions could store information and make it visible to other computer users, so incognito mode turns them off.

  You can re-enable them individually using your extension manager, but this makes your private browsing mode less private in the long term. In other words, assess whether or not you really need that extension before you turn it on again.
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  (#8) Is Google Really Watching What I Search?

  Oh, definitely - just maybe not in the way you think. You may notice that ads on sites like Facebook seem to magically adapt to things you like, or things you looked at recently. That's due to Google; as you surf using their browser or search engine, cookies are being put on your computer. Google uses these cookies to track your activity across the web, and then puts up ads you're more likely to click on.

  If you leave your Google account open, this ad suggestion can even follow you between your various devices.

  This is one thing that incognito mode is kind of useful for. When you use a private browsing mode, your browser can't record any history or cookies, which means that you can't be suggested ads that are better suited to your likes. This also means that your searches are going to be less biased, because your Google search will not be adjusted based on your past searches and clicks.

  Of course, if you are in incognito mode and you log into your Google account, you are effectively ending your anonymity and privacy. Google will still know what you're up to, and will be able to keep track of many of your actions.
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  (#7) Will This Help Me Hide My Porn-Watching Habits?

  This is something a lot of people are pretty worried about, and one of the major uses for private browsing modes. If you are trying to hide your more adult online history from your spouse, your children, or anyone else who accesses that specific computer, incognito mode is incredibly useful. There will be no record saved to that computer about what you have done or seen, and as long as you don't download or bookmark anything, other users will never be the wiser.

  However, your ISP will be able to see where you've been and so will the websites you've gone to. They will have a record of your IP address being there, and will be easily able to trace that information back to you if need be. So, if you're watching illegal porn in your private mode browser, it's likely that someone else is watching you back.

  Some porn site also use things called Super Cookies in order to track your movements across the web, and they can do this even when you're using private mode. They are still tiny files that record you being there, but they sit on the website itself, so that incognito mode is unable to block them from being created. When you come back to the site later, the website will still be able to remember where you were between the visits, and will still be able to suggest specific videos and images based on past preferences.

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