Incognito mode in Chrome browser many users associate with full anonymity. Meanwhile, as further analyses and judicial processes show, Google has method tracking capabilities even erstwhile you usage a “private” mode.
What truly is incognito mode?
Incognito mode is Internet browser function, which does not save browsing history, cookies or form data after the session. In explanation – it is intended to defend the privacy of the user, especially erstwhile utilizing another people's devices or erstwhile searching, which are not meant to be history.
However – and this is worth highlighting – Incognito does not mean that you are invisible to websites, net Service Providers (ISPs) or companies like Google. Information may proceed to be recorded, analysed and processed.
Google knows more than it seems
In 2020, a collective suit was filed in the US against Google, the subject of which was alleged user tracking even incognito mode. According to allegations, the company was to collect data through analytical tools (Google Analytics), advertising plugins and another scripts embedded in millions of websites. Even if the user viewed it in "private" mode, the data – specified as IP address, device, location or preferences – inactive went to Google systems.
In December 2023, as a consequence of a judicial agreement, Google agreed remove billions of data records, to be gathered in specified "private" viewing sessions.
What does Google registry during an incognito session?
Although incognito mode you do not save local browsing history, Google and visited sites can inactive collect information, as follows:
- IP Addresswhich allows to find the approximate location,
- Device data (operational system, screen resolution, browser),
- Session time and length,
- Clicks, scrolls and interactions,
- Login to Google services (e.g. Gmail, YouTube) – if the user does so during the incognito session, all anonymity loses meaning.
Even without active login, Google can delegate data to the "shadow profile" – i.e. a set of information linked to each another based on unique identifiers (e.g. fingerprinting of the browser).
Does Google act against the law?
Cases concerning the incognito procedure were the subject of court proceedings in the US, including California. Google claimed that users are informed about incognito restrictions – appropriate messages are displayed erstwhile beginning a fresh tab. The company emphasized that this function does not supply full anonymity, and only no data recording on the device.
However, the court found that communications could be insufficient or ambiguous, which misleads users. As a consequence of the end-2023 settlement, Google not only deleted the data, but besides commits to modify the description of the incognito mode and introduce more transparent messages.
What can you do to defend your privacy?
If you want real anonymity online, Incognito mode is not enough. Cybersecurity experts indicate alternate or complementary protection measures:
- Use of privacy-oriented browsersLike Brave or Tor,
- Using VPNthat hides your IP address from the pages you visit,
- Blocking tracking scripts and third-party cookies,
- Logout from Google accounts before browsing,
- Replacing search engine on DuckDuckGo or Startpage.
It is besides worth remembering that every online activity leaves a mark, even if it is not recorded locally. So it's crucial to understand, which promises a certain privacy mode and what it actually implements.
A Future Perspective
Development of provisions on privacy protection and individual data (e.g. GDPR in the EU, CCPA in California) forces more transparency on companies like Google. But at the same time increasingly complex data analysis methods make anonymity online increasingly hard to accomplish without advanced method tools.
Incognito mode is not the solution for those who want to hide from corporations. This is just a limitation of local data – not a privacy guarantee. Users who truly want to control their data must take more informed and active action.
Continued here:
Incognito mode is simply a myth? Google even follows you erstwhile you “hide” in your browser
