When you browse privately, other people who use the device are less likely to see what sites you have visited. For example, Chrome doesn’t save your browsing history or information entered in forms when using browsing privately using an Incognito window or tab. Cookies and site data are remembered while you’re browsing, but deleted when you exit Incognito mode. That means that anyone else using your device won’t be able to see which websites you visited or what you searched for in Google.
To help navigate the internet quickly, your browser automatically stores a full copy of every website you visit on your computer. This means all the images and text are temporarily stored on your computer inside and area called a “cache”. There is a cache for normal browsing and a cache for private browsing. Browsing privately often bypass the normal cache and uses a fresh copy of the website. The private cache is cleared when you shut the browser down.
Each browser has a different title for private browser. Edge calls it “InPrivate”, Opera calls it “Private Page” while others call it or “Incognito Window”. Open your browser, go to the top right-hand corner, click the three dots and open one of the specific windows above. Use this window to inspect your website changes.
More information:
Opera: Click to read more.
Chrome: Click to read more.
Firefox: Click to read more.
Edge: Click to read more.
Is Incognito Mode Really Private/Safe?
No. Not from the wider world. The browser may not store an obvious record of your browsing activity, but this does not mean a record of page visits or requested doesn’t exist somewhere. Security software, home/business router, internet providers and domain name servers could all store browsing data. We believe there is no way to fully protect browsing behaviour on the public internet.
If you want more privacy, you could consider a Virtual Private Network (VPN) service (for exmaple Good Access). VPN services will significantly slow down your internet connection in Australia. VPN services still could store your browsing data and your security will rely on their promises. All businesses are also subject to governing laws in the country their equipment resides. The USA has laws bypassing all privacy protection. The only way to better protect browsing data is to install and run your own VPN server, firewall and DNS. This needs to be located in a country with no jurisdiction. Even in this scenario, the public internet will know that you are accessing your server.
