Non-anonymous: How Incognito mode works in browsers

[Father]

Browsers provide the ability to maintain anonymity by using a special mode. In Google Chrome and Yandex browser — Incognito, in the Opera — "Private" in Internet Explorer and Microsoft Edge InPrivate etc. All the names assume confidentiality, which is misleading for some users. In the article, experts explained what incognito mode actually does, how to protect data and maintain privacy on the network.

What is Incognito mode?​

Incognito mode is a browser mode that allows you to hide certain Internet activities from other users of the device. So when incognito mode is enabled, the browser will not save any data.:

• history of search queries and pages visited;
• cookies and site data;
• information provided in the forms;
• passwords for auto-completion.

Files downloaded to your device will not be displayed in the downloads panel. At the same time, your actions will be seen by the sites that you visit, the system administrator and the Internet service provider.

Myths about Incognito mode​

The most widespread misconception is that private mode makes the user invisible on the Internet. That's not so. Incognito mode does not hide the IP address, as well as the digital footprint. In addition, your actions are seen by the Internet service provider and its partners, and if you use a work computer, then your company also sees them.

There is another dangerous myth that private browsing will protect your device from malware, keyloggers,and other spyware. This is also not true. Incognito mode does not function as an antivirus and does not prevent malware from getting in. And if your computer or phone is already infected, the spy will see your actions even in private mode.

Sergey Polunin
Head of the Security Group for infrastructure IT solutions at Gazinformservis

There are a huge number of myths surrounding incognito mode, and I think that most of them are provoked by the browser developers themselves. All these words like "incognito" and "privacy" seem to hint that security is about to happen, but this is not the case, to put it mildly. There are a huge number of really dangerous misconceptions around this mode. I've heard various things-the Internet service provider or the government won't see what you've searched for on the Internet, incognito mode protects you from viruses, incognito mode doesn't show your IP address and geolocation can't be determined, data sent in this mode will be encrypted, and much more. In fact, this mode only means that the data received during the session will not be saved on the user's computer or smartphone. And that's strictly speaking all.

What is Incognito mode suitable for?​

As mentioned above, incognito mode, despite its name, cannot provide privacy and data protection on the Internet. This is something to keep in mind when using it. However, the functionality of incognito mode is still quite convenient and has several advantages:

• You can keep your interests secret from relatives or colleagues;
• You can log in to multiple accounts at the same time by opening additional sessions in incognito mode;
• It makes it difficult to collect information about your preferences for further serving relevant ads;
• Allows you to log in to your accounts from other devices without being afraid to leave access to your account.

If it is possible to choose information security, experts suggest paying attention to more reliable security measures.

Sergey Polunin
Head of the Security Group for infrastructure IT solutions at Gazinformservis

If you are the only user of your device, then I would not pay much attention to incognito mode. It is rather inconvenient to work in it all the time, and the tasks to be solved will hardly be relevant. I would focus on more useful measures — antivirus protection, VPN, application monitoring, and all that sort of stuff. If you're worried about your data, you might want to consider regular backups and encryption.

Built-in VPN​

Some browsers suggest using the built-in VPN when enabling incognito mode. However, information security experts warn that you need to be wary of this option.

Ilya Neiman
Head of the iTPROTECT Project Management Department

Unfortunately, such functions are only half-measures that ensure the relative security of user information on the Internet. Incognito will hide your browsing history in the browser, but the built-in VPN is not always as reliable as a separate application. For example, a VPN provider can also be hacked, or it can transfer user data to third parties.

The built-in VPN may not be secure enough, collect data, or use your device to mine cryptocurrency.

Artem Brudanin
Head of Cybersecurity at RTM Group

Free cheese only in the mousetrap. The proposed VPN solutions under Incognito mode (free of charge) either aim to collect data about users (about visit statistics, IP addresses, browser fingerprints, and behavioral markers) in order to sell them to web analytics platforms, or they severely limit the performance of such a solution. Do not forget about "dangerous" VPN servers that steal personal data, as they are located "between" the user and the web resource. It also happens that malicious modules (for example, miners) are connected along with the VPN, which bring financial benefits to the owner of the VPN or browser at the expense of trusting users.

How to keep your privacy while browsing the Internet​

For reliable data protection and complete privacy, incognito mode is not suitable. You need to use additional tools. One of the solutions that offer anonymity on the network is a VPN from trusted vendors. A virtual private network will encrypt your data and hide your IP address. In addition, experts recommend a number of additional security measures.

Konstantin Gorbunov
Leading expert on network threats, web developer of the Security Code company

To ensure data protection and privacy on the Internet, we recommend that you take the following measures::

• use reliable, up-to-date, and secure browsers;
• install and regularly update anti-virus software on your devices, as well as anti-virus plug-ins for browsers – they will prevent you from visiting malicious sites and downloading suspicious files;
• use complex and unique passwords for each account, as well as two-factor authorization where possible;
• be careful to open and download files from untrusted sources to avoid installing malware;
• use VPN services only from trusted vendors;
• carefully review the privacy policies of websites and services to understand how they handle user data.

Do not forget about simple prudence and digital hygiene. Do not download all the files in a row, do not click on unknown links, do not enter sensitive data on suspicious sites, etc. The confidential browsing mode in browsers is a convenient feature, but only if you know how to use it correctly.