Incognito, or private browsing, helps limit what your browser stores on your device. In this mode, your browsing history, cookies, and saved form data are not kept once the session ends.
However, incognito mode does not make your activity completely invisible. Your internet service provider (ISP), employer, school, or network administrator can still view the websites you visit. Downloads, bookmarks, and any files you save remain on your device.
If you’re aiming for a truly minimal digital footprint, additional steps beyond incognito mode are necessary.
How to Clear Your Incognito History?
Incognito mode avoids saving your browsing activity locally, but traces may still exist through DNS cache, router logs, or extensions. If you want to clear any residual data, here’s how to proceed.
01 — Using Chrome
- If you want to check what sites you've visited while in Incognito mode, click on the three dots in the top right-hand corner.
- From there, click on "History" and you'll be able to see all of the websites you've visited while in Incognito mode.
- If you want to delete your Incognito history, simply click on the three dots again and select "New incognito window." This will open up a new Incognito window and clear out your old one.
Now that you know how Incognito mode works, let's talk about how to view and delete your Incognito history.
02 — Using Firefox
- To view your Incognito history, simply open up an Incognito window and type about: addons into the search bar.
- From there, click on the "Extensions" tab.
- You should see a list of all the extensions installed on your browser. One of these will be called "History Eraser."
- Click on this extension and then click "Options."
- From there, you'll be able to see all of the websites you've visited while in Incognito mode.
- If you want to delete your Incognito history, simply click on the "Clear History" button.
Additional Privacy Tips
If you want to keep your browsing history more private, there are a few additional steps you can take.
Use a Virtual Private Network (VPN)
In addition to the incognito mode, you can use a VPN. This will encrypt your internet traffic and make it harder for anyone to track what websites you're visiting. Some VPNs will also hide your IP address. Hidemyass and ExpressVPN are two popular VPN providers.
Use Tor
Another way to keep your browsing history private is to use the Tor browser. This free browser encrypts your traffic and routes it through multiple servers before it reaches its destination. This makes it very difficult for anyone to track what websites you're visiting.
The downside of Tor is that it can be slow, and some websites may not work properly when using it.
Use a Search Engine That Doesn’t Track You
If you're concerned about your privacy, you can use a search engine that doesn't track your searches. DuckDuckGo is a popular privacy-focused search engine that doesn't track your searches or store personal information about you. It's available as a website and as a mobile app.
Clear Your Cookies and Cache
You can also clear your cookies and cache before going into incognito mode. Cookies are small files that websites place on your computer to track your activity, and removing them will prevent sites from being able to access this information.
To clear your cache, go into your browser's settings menu and look for the option to clear your cache or temporary internet files. This process is different for every browser, but instructions can easily be found with a quick Google search.
FAQ
What are the drawbacks of using incognito browsing?
Incognito browsing only prevents your device from saving history, cookies, and form data. It does not make you invisible online.
Your internet provider, employer, school, or network administrator can still see the websites you visit. Websites can still track you through your IP address or if you sign into accounts. Downloads and bookmarks are still saved on your device.
Browser extensions may also collect data if they are allowed in incognito mode. In addition, incognito mode does not protect you from malware, phishing, or other security threats.
Conclusion
In conclusion, using incognito mode may help keep your browsing history private. However, it's important to remember that your ISP can still see what websites you're visiting, even in incognito mode. So, if you're looking for true anonymity, you may want to consider using a VPN or Tor.
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