Or are you?
There is a massive misconception that browsing in "Incognito" (Chrome), "Private" (Safari/Firefox), or "InPrivate" (Edge) turns you into a digital ghost. The reality is a lot less exciting—and a lot more public—than most people realize.
Let’s strip away the marketing and look at what actually happens when you go "undercover."
First, let’s give credit where it’s due. Private browsing is excellent for local privacy.
Think of your standard browser like a messy desk. Every time you visit a site, it tosses a receipt (history), a sticky note (cookies), and a filled-out form (cache) onto the desk. Anyone who walks into the room and looks at your desk can see exactly what you’ve been doing.
When you turn on Incognito mode, you aren't leaving the room; you are just turning on a paper shredder. As you browse, the browser is still collecting data to make pages load, but the moment you close that window—whoosh—it shreds the receipts and sticky notes.
This is perfect for:
- Shared Devices: Using a hotel computer or a friend’s laptop.
- Gift Shopping: Ensuring Amazon doesn't ruin the surprise by showing "Recommended for you: Engagement Rings" on the family iPad.
- Logging into Secondary Accounts: Checking a different Gmail without logging out of your main one.
Here is where the myth falls apart. While your device forgets what you did, the internet certainly remembers.
Using Incognito mode is like closing the blinds in your house. People inside the house (your family/roommates) can't see what you're doing. But if you walk outside, the blinds don't help you.
