Several years have passed since we have the private or “Incognito” mode of navigation in different browsers such as Mozilla Firefox or Google Chrome. This browsing mode is present in practically all web browsers, including versions for Android and iOS smartphones, however, you may not be using it properly. There are several myths regarding the use of private browsing, today in this article we are going to explain the two most recurring myths.
Private browsing allows you to be anonymous on the Internet
Most likely, this is the most popular myth regarding private browsing. Keep in mind that, even if you activate the private or “incognito” mode, those who administer the websites they visit can still collect data regarding your visits to their websites. This is so, even if you are not logged in. On the other hand, it is good to keep in mind that ISPs will also be able to access your browsing history. If you are in an organization that manages all network and computer resources in general, the organization could access and collect such history without much trouble.
If you are going to use this browsing mode, you should know that your browsing history will not be stored and will not be visible by another person. That is, it will not be visible by another person who uses the same computer user or who uses the same computer, but with another user. On the other hand, if you get to download files in private or “incognito” mode, these files will remain on your computer. However, if you frequently use the download manager, you will notice that once you have closed that private session and reopened, the download history will not appear.
What about the bookmarked sites? The same will happen. Any site you bookmark while in private mode will be stored in the selected bookmarks folder. So you can view them in the traditional navigation mode.
Taking all this into account, enabling private or incognito browsing does not automatically make your browsing private, but rather all the information that is stored locally in the “normal” mode (history, download history, cookies), when we close the private browsing mode they are removed.
In private mode you will be protected against keyloggers and spyware
It is good to emphasize the fact that private browsing is not a protective shield against any entity that might know your identity online. We must take this mode of navigation as a shortcut to be able to set aside certain online queries or transactions that you wish not to be stored in the history. However, we must also take the appropriate measures to navigate safely.
If you are browsing the web, the most important thing to keep in mind is to avoid clicking on any link. In other words, any link that may seem very suspicious, such as a supposed prize, offer or a discount that is very good to be true. On the other hand, check if it is strictly necessary to subscribe to a certain website. Many times we do not perceive it, but there are websites that once you have registered, it begins to endanger your data and the device through which you are browsing. It may be that you receive constant emails asking you to access a certain link. Also, that personal data could be exposed in events of data leaks or sold to other companies for various purposes.
Also, be careful with all the programs you download. Especially if we talk about the ones that are free. Most likely you have come across programs that, in addition to the program in question, suggest you install other ones at no additional cost. However, these add-ons may contain spyware or keyloggers that collect information that later goes to the creator of the program and / or to other organizations that may be interested in your data.
Is it worth private browsing? Simply, use it in the event that you consider convenient that the history and cookies are not stored on your computer. If you want anonymity while you are browsing, we suggest using browsers like Tor Browser . Other recommendations that we can give you is that you use VPN services such as Surfshark, NordVPN or PureVPN that are three well-known providers and that work really well.