No matter what browser you use, experts say you can actually surf the internet without leaving behind a local trail of history, passwords, cookies, and other assorted bits of information for cyber criminals to feed on.
The simplest way is to use a private browser. This was first introduced in 2005 and is a feature now widely-available on most smartphones, laptops and desktop computers. Information and Technology security experts said private browsing is useful for covering your tracks or rather, preventing any tracks from being made in the first place.
It keeps your browser history and data hidden from view and deletes what you’ve been searching for when you close the window – cutting Google off at the source.
It all depends on what operating system your device uses but you can activate privacy settings through the default web browser, be it Google Chrome, Microsoft Edge, or Apple’s Safari.
Cybercriminals are eager to intercept your personal information to try to commit identity theft and other crimes. So, what can you do to help protect your privacy while surfing the web or making online transactions? Use a private browser, experts said.
What is private browsing?
Private browsing is a feature that major web browsers offer to help keep your temporary browsing data private. When using a private browser, such as incognito mode, your browsing history, search records, and cookies aren’t retained.
When you go online, web browsers can store data about your searches and online activity to make it easier for you to revisit websites. Browsers can store web-based content like your usernames and passwords to speed up the log-in process. This can be helpful in the short-term, but you likely don’t want this information shared with other users.
The private browsing features offered by web browsers can help address this. With private browsing settings turned on, they help keep your Internet sessions private from other users of the same computer or device. Private browsing modes won’t retain your temporary browsing data — browsing history, search records, and cookies — which could otherwise be saved by the web browser. Some private browsing modes can erase files that you’ve downloaded or bookmarked. Some also offer tracking protection and help hide your location.
But do private-browsing features offer the anonymity you might associate with privacy?
The answer? No. Private browsing and incognito modes don’t completely protect your online privacy. They don’t offer total anonymity or data security.
Private browsing modes don’t offer complete privacy online, but still offer benefits. Some of the benefits:
Using a computer at a library or hotel? A private browser allows you to use a shared computer or someone else’s device while preventing your passwords, search records, and browsing history from being saved on that device.
Logging into multiple email accounts? You can open a tab in private browsing mode and log into several email accounts without the inconvenience of logging off from one account and logging into another.
Gift shopping? You can keep your purchases a secret.
Researching a delicate topic? A private browser may save you from embarrassment or revealing a health concern.
Booking travel accommodations? If you’re looking for cheap airfares or hotel bookings, a private browser may help by disabling web tracking — which means ticket sellers are less likely to hike those fares.
How to use private browsing
Several major web browsers offer this feature to help keep your temporary browsing history private from other users.
Private browsing in Chrome
Google Chrome’s Incognito Mode was designed to make it easier to share computers in public places such as the office. Chrome won’t save your browsing history, cookies, site data, or information you enter on forms. It will keep files you download and your bookmarks.
How to turn on Incognito Mode on your computer, Android, iPhone or iPad:
- 1. Open Chrome. Click on the tools menu (three vertical dots on Mac or three stacked lines on Windows) in the upper right corner.
- 2. Choose “New Incognito Window” to open a new private browsing window.
If you’d rather use a keyboard shortcut, you can press Control+Shift+N to open a new incognito window.
Private browsing in Safari
Safari’s private browsing mode removes temporary files — browsing history, form data, and cookies — by default when the window is closed.
To enable private browsing on a Mac:
- 1. Open Safari. Navigate to the menu bar and choose “File.”
- 2. Click on the “Private Window” option to open a private window.
For a keyboard shortcut, press Shift+Command+N to open a private browsing window in Safari.
To enable private browsing on Safari while on an iPhone or iPad:
- 1. Tap the new tab icon in the lower right corner of the screen.
- 2. Click “Private” in the lower left corner to open a private window.
Private browsing in Firefox
The Mozilla Firefox Private Browsing mode is similar to the others, but it offers an additional feature in the form of tracking protection. With this feature, Mozilla helps protect your browsing history from being gathered by third parties.
How to access private browsing in Firefox:
- 1. Open Firefox.
- 2. Go to the menu in the upper right corner (three horizontal lines) and click “New Private Window.”
- 3. A new private window will appear with a purple mask icon in the top right of the Firefox window.
You can also use the keyboard shortcuts: Control+Shift+N for Windows or Command+Shift+N on a Mac.
Your Firefox private window has a purple band across it, and from there you can turn on an additional tracking-protection feature.
InPrivate browsing in Internet Explorer
Microsoft’s Internet Explorer and Edge offer an InPrivate browsing window that provides the same features as the others. While using this feature, the browser won’t save the pages you visit, form data, or web searches. But keep in mind, files you download and your bookmarks will be saved on your computer after you close the InPrivate window. When you close your InPrivate window, Microsoft’s browsers also will disable third-party bars that were installed, along with extensions.
To access InPrivate browsing on Internet Explorer:
- 1. Open Internet Explorer. Click on the gear icon in the upper right corner.
- 2. Choose “Safety” from the drop-down menu.
- 3. Then choose “InPrivate Browsing” to open a private window.
For an Internet Explorer keyboard shortcut, you can press Control+Shift+P.
To access InPrivate browsing on Microsoft Edge:
- 1. Navigate to the menu (three dots in a row) in the upper right corner.
- 2. Choose “New InPrivate window” to open a private window.
While in this private mode, the browser tabs will say “InPrivate.”
Private browsing in Opera incognito
While Opera’s private browsing mode offers the same temporary data privacy as the others, an additional feature enables you to turn on its own VPN connection that could further protect your browsing activities.
To enable Opera incognito:
- 1. Open the Opera browser. Click the menu in the upper left corner.
- 2. Choose “New Private Window” to open a private browsing window.
If you want greater online protection and anonymity, a virtual private network (VPNs) may offer more private browsing. A VPN helps give you privacy and anonymity by creating a private network from a public Internet connection.
VPNs create secure, encrypted connections to prevent your ISP, search engines, and other third parties from tracking your internet activity or browsing data. The VPN hides your Internet Protocol (IP) address and location, linking your web activity with the VPN server’s IP address instead of your own.
Pairing a VPN and security software
A trusted VPN can provide an additional layer of security for private data like your passwords, bank details, and credit card information when you’re using public Wi-Fi.
In addition to VPN protection, don’t forget to install and keep up-to-date reputable security software to protect your devices from viruses, spyware, and other malicious software.
With so many cyber-threats, you probably want privacy, anonymity, and security while online. While a private browser is a good step toward secure browsing, a reputable VPN can make tracking your online activities more difficult. The right VPN can hide your IP address and encrypt your network traffic — providing the additional protection you need.
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