When we enter the incognito mode of the browser, it warns us that information such as browsing history, cookies and website data, and information entered in forms will not be saved.
We believe that the use of incognito mode is somewhat foolproof, a true data-trace-proof mode and total anonymity, but it also has its flaws.
The limits of Incognito Mode
The feeling of anonymity you get from using incognito mode is exactly that: a feeling. Since no one using the computer will see what you’ve been doing, it’s natural to think that no one else will either; This is probably why so many people think that using only incognito mode is enough to avoid tracking. However, the other people using your PC aren’t the only ones watching.
Anyone looking from the other side, so to speak, can get to see exactly what you’re doing . For example, the sites you visit will still see where you access them from, and your Internet Service Provider (ISP) will still be able to record your browsing information. This is clearly reflected, for example, in the Google Chrome conditions “Your activity is still visible to the websites you visit, your company or educational center and your Internet provider” .
Knowing these limitations, incognito mode becomes a problem if you are downloading torrents and you think you are doing it in complete anonymity. Nothing is further from reality. There may be monitoring by copyright enforcement agencies such as the DMCA. Typically, what they do is attach a tracker to a torrent and then “follow” it back to the source. Once they locate their prey, a warning or outright fine is issued.
To do this, all a tracker needs is your IP address , a set of numbers that shows your location and is automatically transmitted every time you use the Internet. However, using incognito mode does not fix this problem; all it does is make your browser forgetful at the end of a session. Trackers can still track you in incognito mode, with all that that entails.
The best alternative to hide your tracks
Instead of using incognito mode for anonymity, experts recommend virtual private networks , better known as VPNs. They are a much more powerful tool that can spoof your IP address with a feature called spoofing and protect your connection.
While VPNs aren’t perfect (far from it) for torrenters, they are a great solution. In addition to spoofing your IP address, they also encrypt your connection , which means that even if a tracker tries to trace your connection through other means, all the information they find should still be encrypted.
