Using incognito mode correctly

For many inexperienced users, incognito mode initially sounds like a cloak of invisibility that allows them to move around the Internet completely unseen. A dream for data security, so to speak. However, incognito mode does not offer this security. Instead, it conceals histories on devices with multiple users.

Surf privately in incognito mode

Incognito mode is also known as “private browsing”. Most internet browsers such as Google Chrome, Microsoft Edge or Firefox offer an incognito mode.
In simple terms, incognito mode is used to prevent data from being saved while you are on the internet. Passwords, search queries, cookies or browsing history are not taken into account by incognito mode. This means that all data entered must be re-entered the next time you visit the relevant pages.
Exceptions are bookmarks and downloaded content. These are retained even after incognito mode is closed. The downloads are logically stored on the hard disk. The download history, on the other hand, also remains hidden in incognito mode.
Incognito mode is particularly useful when several users are using the same end device. For example, in a private setting, when a gift is to be bought for a friend, but she should logically not find out about it. Incognito mode hides all searches in online stores and orders.
Incognito mode is useful in companies to protect passwords. As a rule, employees rarely share devices, but it can still happen that someone has to work on a different laptop from time to time. Incognito mode keeps the passwords of individual employees secure.

Security through incognito mode

One important finding is that incognito mode does not protect data, histories and passwords from external attacks. Concealment is limited to the device or browser used.
Incognito mode does not protect data from being stored by third parties or ransomware attacks while you are online.
Furthermore, private browsing does not extend to the entire network. Although the history is not visible on the laptop, all websites visited are still saved under the IP address on the router. This means that employers, for example, are still able to view all browsing histories.

Use incognito mode

Incognito mode can be found in almost every browser. However, the ways to switch it on and the names differ from browser to browser. Here are a few quick guides for the most common browsers to switch on incognito mode:

• Google Chrome: Incognito mode can be accessed via the menu (three dots arranged one below the other). The menu item is called “New incognito window”.
  Incognito mode can also be accessed via the key combination “Ctrl + Shift + n” on Windows or “⌘ + Shift + n” on Mac.
• Microsoft Edge: You can access the menu via the three horizontal dots. Incognito mode is called “InPrivate” here, so click on “New InPrivate window” to open it. You can also open incognito mode in Edge using the aforementioned key combination in Chrome.
• Mozilla Firefox: The menu in Firefox can be accessed via the three dashes. The incognito mode is called “private window”. Click on “New private window” to open incognito mode. The key combination also works here, but the “p” key must be pressed instead of the letter “n”.
• Apple Safari: In Safari, you can find incognito mode in the menu bar under “File” and “New private window”. You can also set private browsing as the default in the settings. To do this, go to “New private window” via “Open Safari with”. Safari will then always open in incognito mode.

To end incognito mode, it is sufficient to simply close the corresponding window in all browsers. To close the session completely in incognito mode, all open windows must be closed.

While you are surfing privately in incognito mode, it is still possible to open a “normal” browser window. However, you should make sure that you are always in the correct window when you are incognito and “visible” at the same time.

To ensure that the websites you have visited are not visible on your device, you should also always delete the history.