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So-Called 'Private' Browsing Not That Private, Study Finds - Science in the News

Photo Credit: Pixabay

By Amber Bennett

When you browse the web, do you take advantage of the "private" or "incognito" browsing option? It turns out, you're not getting as much privacy as you might expect, according to a new study.

How Incognito Mode Works

Many popular web browsers, such as Apple Safari and Google Chrome, include a private or incognito option. It allows you to surf the web without the browser noting in your history where you went online. Plus, your browser's suggestions on forms and search engines won't be affected by where you go while in private mode.

Many people choose to use incognito mode because they have to share a computer with family members or co-workers and don't want others to see what sorts of things they look at online.

Misconceptions About Private Browsing

However, people often incorrectly believe that using private mode offers more protections than it really does. This is true even if they have read a full explanation of what incognito mode offers.
In the study mentioned above, 460 people read one of 13 descriptions of how private/incognito browsing works. They then answered questions about private browsing and how much protection it offers.

The study participants truly didn't understand private browsing, no matter which of the 13 descriptions they read before taking the test. For example:
  • Around 25 percent thought incognito mode hides your IP address. Not true.
  • More than 50 percent thought browsing on Chrome in incognito mode would keep Google from recording their search history. Also not true.

How Well Do You Understand Private Browsing?

You can take a quiz here to check your knowledge. And it might not hurt to reread your preferred browser's incognito mode info before you use it again.
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