Private Browsing and Your Personal Data: Separating Privacy Myths from Truth

Incognito mode helps in certain situations, but without a VPN your personal data might still be at risk

Today’s web browsers offer a number of features to help protect user's privacy, including the option to browse in private windows. Depending on the browser, private modes go by different names: On Firefox, Safari, and Opera, it’s called Private Browsing; on Chrome, it’s called Incognito; and on Microsoft Edge, it’s called InPrivate.

Private browsing has a lot of benefits, especially if you’re on a public or shared computer. When you’re in private mode and you end your session or close the browser window, the browser automatically erases your browsing and search history, along with any passwords you entered and any cookies or identifiers that were placed on the computer by websites you visited. If someone else comes along and uses the computer, that person is unable to access your online activity.

It’s easy, then, to assume that when you’re browsing or searching in private mode, your activity and information are completely hidden from everyone. Is that really the case? Here’s a look at four common myths associated with private web browsing, and the truths behind them.

Myth 1: Private browsing prevents companies and organizations from gathering information about you.

Truth: Private mode won’t keep companies and organizations from collecting personal data via the websites you’ve visited. Your Internet provider, for example, is still able to track your download history, the websites you’ve been to, and more. Just as important, private mode can’t hide your online activity from parties such as your employer, if it’s a company computer; companies that want to track you for advertising purposes; government entities; or scammers who want to steal your information.

Myth 2: Searching while in private mode prevents search engines from collecting or sharing your information.

Truth: While private mode does erase your search history so that the next person can’t see it, that doesn’t mean search engines won’t have access to it. When you’re searching in private mode, popular search engines like Google can still internally store your search history along with other information to create a data profile of you, which can be sold to advertisers.

Myth 3: Private browsing wipes away all signs of your online activity.

Truth: As mentioned earlier, private mode erases much of your digital activity, including browsing history, cookies, and password entries. But it doesn’t mask everything. For example, any website that you bookmark in private mode stays bookmarked even after you close the browser. And any file you download is stored locally in the computer’s downloads folder; anyone with access to that folder can look for the file and open it.

Myth 4: Private browsing helps prevent cybercriminals from embedding malware on your device.

Truth: Private mode does not offer a firewall against attempts to infect your device with spyware, malware, viruses, ransomware, or other digital threats. You’ll still need to ensure that your device is protected by anti-virus software, which should be updated on a regular basis.

How can you fill in the protection gaps?

Regardless of whether you use private mode when browsing, it’s important to consider additional safeguards. As part of a comprehensive privacy protection package, IDX offers advanced tools and features designed to help you browse and search safely, and alert you to ongoing digital threats. These tools include:

• SafeWiFi – This Virtual Private Network (VPN) helps to protect your privacy when using public Wi-Fi. It moves your data through encrypted connections, which keeps your activity hidden from those who want to spy on you, infect your computer with malware, or steal your personal data.
• CyberScan – This scanning tool continuously monitors your personal data on all layers of the web, including the dark web where cybercriminals buy and sell stolen identities. It alerts you immediately if your personal data has been breached, giving you valuable time to act before you become a victim of identity fraud.
• Tracking Blocker – This proactive tool scans websites for tracking cookies, and prevents them from activating when you visit. As a result, websites are drastically limited in their ability to collect your data and track you as you browse the web.
• Private Search – Powered by DuckDuckGo, this search engine restricts the collection and sale of your personal information. It’s designed to help you find high-quality search results, without the risk of getting profiled.

If you’re planning to use a public or shared computer—for example, at an office, a library, or a business center—or if you simply don’t want someone in your household to know your online activity, then by all means, browse in private mode. But don’t assume you’re completely protected. For truly safe and private browsing and searching, look for additional safeguards of the kind offered in an IDX privacy protection plan.