What does it mean to open in a private window? What is incognito mode and how to enable it in different browsers
Private browsing mode prevents websites from placing cookies on the user's computer. Follow the guide in this article to enable private browsing on different browsers.
Implementing Private Browsing
In October 2011, Apple introduced iOS5 with built-in support for private browsing through the Safari mobile browser.
Gone are the days of having to clear your browser's cache, cookies, and session history after visiting certain sites. Typically, teenagers are very conscious of their privacy online. They take extra care not to let their parents find out what web pages they opened and what they downloaded while they were on the site. Sometimes, regular users also feel the need for a private browsing mode to keep their online activities anonymous.
Today, all modern browsers have some sort of built-in private browsing mode. Currently, Google Chrome, Mozilla Firefox, Internet Explorer, and Opera are the most popular browsers that support private browsing mode. So let's take a look at how to enable private browsing on different browsers.
Steps to enable private browsing
There are two simple methods to enable the mode on these browsers. Method #1 in this guide will be based on the key combination. Method #2 will take you through the browser menu.
GoogleChrome
You can enable private browsing in Google Chrome by opening a window in incognito mode using these methods:
Method No. 1:
Open Google Chrome and press Ctrl+Shift+N.
Method number 2:
Click on the "three horizontal lines" symbol located just next to the address bar in the upper right corner. Now, click on the "New window in incognito mode" button.
MozillaFirefox
Private browsing can be done in Firefox by opening a "new private window". Follow these steps.
Method No. 1:
Open Firefox and press Ctrl+ Shift+ P.
Method number 2:
Click on the "three horizontal lines" symbol in the top right corner of Firefox, as shown in the screenshot, and then click on "Private Window".
Internet Explorer
Microsoft calls private browsing mode in Internet Explorer (IE) In Private Browsing. The steps to enable private browsing in IE are:
Method No. 1:
Open Internet Explorer and press Ctrl + Shift + P.
Method number 2:
Click on the gear icon in the upper right corner of the Internet Explorer window. Next, go to the Security tab, and then select “InPrivate Browsing.”
Opera
You can use Opera's new private window to browse privately. Here are the steps to take:
Method No. 1:
Open Opera and press Ctrl+ Shift+ N.
Method number 2:
Click the Opera icon in the upper left corner of the Opera browser window, and then select “Create a private window.”
You must follow a similar procedure to enable private browsing in all browsers. So, if you know how to enable private browsing in one browser, then you can easily enable it in any other.
When viewing pages on the Internet, each user usually leaves behind “traces”. You may have noticed that filling out forms on websites can already be filled out automatically (login, nickname, e-mail, name, password, etc.), and when you enter an address in the address bar, frequently typed addresses are already inserted, and frequently visited pages (sites) open faster than the first time, etc.
The point is that you usually save all this information, and it is also transmitted and remains on websites and on your computer in the form.
On the one hand, this is convenient, because you don’t need to enter all this data every time and everything happens quite quickly, but on the other hand, attackers can gain access to this data and use it to hack you. And another person who uses your computer can see your browsing or download history, and in general all your activity on the Internet.
In this article I will show how you can use the browser in private browsing mode (incognito), as a result of which your data will not be saved anywhere and no one will know where you were and what you did.
What is private mode in the browser?
This is a mode of viewing web pages in which the browser leaves no traces of its presence either for the pages themselves or for other users. It is also called incognito mode.
As a result of such viewing, the following information will not be saved:
- web form and search data you fill out;
- entered passwords;
- all visited web pages;
- cookies of visited sites;
- download list in the Download Window;
- cached and offline content;
- user data.
By the way, you can create bookmarks in this mode and they will be displayed in normal mode. This is convenient when you “wandered” the Internet, found an interesting site and decided to save it so you can look at it later.
I would also like to note that when you turn on this mode, a new window (not a tab) opens in which you can visit pages, and a recent page will also be opened. Those. As a result, it turns out that you can sit in both normal mode and private mode at the same time, which allows you to sit in one window, for example, and surf the Internet in another without fear that your data and information may be found out.
Private Browsing in Internet Explorer
Method 1: keyboard shortcut Ctrl+Shift+P.
Method 2: menu Service - Browsing InPrivate
In both methods, a new private mode window will open:
Private browsing in Firefox
Method 1: keyboard shortcut Ctrl+Shift+P .
Method 2: menu File - New private window
Method 3: right-click on any link on the site, and then, in the context menu that appears, select Open link in new private window
In any of these methods (except the last) the result will be a new private window:
By the way, if you click on the menu Tools - Settings in Mazil Firefox:
then the settings window will open, and there will be a tab Safety, in which you can make the browser always be in private access mode:
Private browsing in Opera
Method 1: keyboard shortcut Ctrl+Shift+N
Method 2: Opera top menu - Tabs and windows - Create a private tab or Create a private window:
As you can see, Opera has also created a private tab, maybe this will be just as convenient for someone.
By the way, Opera also has settings
that can help with privacy:
The private mode window in Opera is as follows.
When viewing web pages, browsers (Yandex, Google Chrome, Mozilla Firefox) save a lot of information. For example, browsing history, passwords for social network accounts and email. But sometimes there is a need to hide traces of your time on the Internet, for example, if you decide to secretly give a gift to a loved one or access your email while visiting. Incognito mode allows you to enable private browsing mode, when entered passwords, as well as addresses of sites and pages that you visited, are not saved.
What is private mode (aka “Incognito” and InPrivate)
This function is available in the most popular browsers, sometimes there are different names for it. In Incognito mode, the browser does not save entered passwords, search queries, and addresses of visited pages. At the same time, changes in settings, downloaded files and added bookmarks are saved.
Remember: private tabs do not make you invisible to sites. If you log in to a social network, your appearance will be noticed. Incognito mode is designed to hide your online history from other users of your computer. By opening a private tab, you instruct the browser not to use old cookies, cache, or local memory.
In incognito, only the browser does not store your Internet activity. Other sources may see what websites you visit, including:
- your employer (if you use an office computer);
- internet service provider;
- directly the websites you visit.
How to enable the mode in different browsers
In order to log in in private mode, you need to know what browser you are using. As a rule, the transition is indicated visually by an icon depicting a mask or glasses. How to open a private tab in Yandex Browser, Google Chrome, Mozilla Firefox, read on.
Google Chrome
Yandex browser
Opera
Mozilla Firefox
Microsoft Edge (Internet Explorer)
How to quickly open a private window using hotkeys
To quickly launch incognito mode, you can use hotkeys: in Google Chrome, Opera and Yandex Browser, the combination Ctrl + Shift + N is used. In Mozilla Firefox and Microsoft Edge, the combination Ctrl + Shift + P is used.
How to close or disable Incognito mode and exit private browsing
To return to normal browsing and disable the use of private mode, just close the window. After this, the browser will delete all cookies created while working in it. This method to remove Incognito mode is suitable for any browser, including the most popular: Yandex, Mozilla Firefox, Opera and Google Chrome.
Video instruction: how to log into Incognito
To make it easier for you to understand how to open private browsing in any browser, we have selected video instructions that clearly show several ways to switch to private mode.
If you need a computer while visiting, the best way to avoid leaving traces or passwords from your accounts is to browse in private mode, because this feature is implemented in every browser. When you use tabs or windows in private mode, data (such as history, temporary internet files, and cookies) is deleted from your computer as soon as you finish browsing.
Private browsing allows you to surf the Internet without leaving any trace on the computer you use. When using private browsing, your browser does not store information about sites visited, files downloaded, forms filled out, search queries entered, etc. Private browsing is very useful when using a public computer.
As mentioned above, private browsing is called differently in different browsers. So, in Google Chrome this feature is called “Incognito Mode”, and in Internet Explorer it is called “InPrivate”.
Below are browser developers' definitions of private browsing:
Mozilla Firefox
Private browsing is a session in which Firefox will not save browsing history, query history, download history, web form history, cookies, or temporary Internet files. However, the files you download and bookmarks you make will be saved.
Internet Explorer
Private browsing prevents Internet Explorer from storing information about your browsing history. This includes cookies, temporary Internet files, history and other data. Toolbars and extensions are disabled by default.
Google Chrome
Pages you view in the private browsing window will not appear in your browsing history or search history, and they will not leave traces such as cookies on your computer after you close all open windows. However, any files you download and bookmarks you make will be retained.
If you want to view a page without leaving any traces (for example, when using someone else's or a public computer), you can use private browsing.
To launch private browsing in the browser, you can use the following keyboard shortcuts or menu commands:
- Internet Explorer: Use the keyboard shortcut Ctrl+Shift+P or select the “Private Browsing” option from the tools menu.
- Mozilla Firefox: Use the keyboard shortcut Ctrl+Shift+P or select the “Start private browsing” option from the orange button menu.
- Google Chrome: Use the keyboard shortcut Ctrl+Shift+N or select the “New window in incognito mode” option from the wrench menu.
- Opera: Use the keyboard shortcut Ctrl+Shift+N or select the “Create private tab” option from the tab menu.
It is possible, however, that you always want to run your browser in private browsing mode. Today we will tell you how to do this.
Launch Mozilla Firefox in private browsing mode
Click on the orange Firefox button and select Settings. Next, go to the Privacy tab and select the “Will use your history storage settings” option, which is present in the History section.
Now enable the “Always work in private browsing mode” option and apply the changes.
When using this method, Firefox will always start in private browsing mode, but its orange button will not turn blue, as it usually does when you launch private browsing mode in Firefox using a keyboard shortcut or menu option.
Don't worry, that's how it was intended. Firefox still works in private browsing mode, as you can see by clicking on the orange Firefox button. In its menu, instead of the “Start private browsing” option, you will see the “End private browsing” option.
P.S. The below method for Internet Explorer also works for Mozilla Firefox i.e. to launch Firefox in private browsing mode, just add the parameter to the end of the “Object” item, which is located in the shortcut properties –private.
Launch Internet Explorer in private browsing mode
Right-click on the Internet Explorer shortcut, select Properties and add the –private parameter to the end of the Object line.
Notice that between the existing label and the parameter –private there must be a space.
Click on the Apply button, and after that, every time you start Internet Explorer using this shortcut, the browser will launch in InPrivate browsing mode.
Incognito mode is a special feature that allows you to increase your anonymity online. When activated, the Internet program stops saving your browsing history, downloads, cookies and other information.
This mode does not provide absolute data protection, but it does allow you to hide what you are doing on the computer. That is, other people who use the same computer will not be able to find out what you watched on the Internet.
How to enable incognito mode
To enable incognito, you need to activate this function in your browser (Internet program). Then a new window will immediately open, which will work in this mode. That is, all sites must be opened through it. Only then nothing will be saved.
When finished, you just need to close this window.
Enabling via hotkeys
This is the fastest way to turn it on. You just need to press a few keys on the keyboard and an anonymous window will open:
Ctrl+Shift+N
First, hold down the Ctrl key, then Shift and, without releasing these two keys, press N (Russian T). In Mozilla Firefox and Internet Explorer, the combination is different: Ctrl + Shift + P (Russian P).
Enabling through the browser menu
And this, so to speak, is the classic way to launch anonymous mode - through the Internet program menu. This is done almost the same way in any browser. I'll show you in the pictures.
Google Chrome: → New window in incognito mode
Yandex Browser: → Incognito mode
Opera: → Create private window
Mozilla Firefox: → Private window
Internet Explorer: → Security → InPrivate Browsing
What data does incognito mode hide?
What anonymous mode hides (does not save):
- pages visited
- search
- temporary files
For most users this is quite enough. But nevertheless, all your actions will be visible to the system administrator if, for example, you use a computer at work. They will also be available to the provider, that is, the company that provides Internet access.
In addition, the owners of the sites you visit will know some information: your IP address, operating system, browser.
How to become even more anonymous
There are many ways to increase anonymity on the Internet. It all depends on what goals the user is pursuing. Using these tools, you can achieve almost complete anonymity, but only on the condition that your actions will not interest certain services.
TOR Browser
The Tor program, unlike regular browsers, works with a network of proxy servers by default. In other words, when you access a site using Tor, the site owner sees not your real IP address, but an address from another part of the world, for example, the USA.
Internet traffic is also encrypted and transmitted through a system of virtual tunnels. However, this browser is far from a panacea, and to increase anonymity it is recommended to combine it with other protection methods.
VPN
In English, the abbreviation VPN stands for/translates as “virtual private network.” Today, this concept is understood as a set of technologies that make it possible to create other logical networks on top of the Internet network.
Let's say you have an Internet connection, and all traffic goes through your ISP. Using a VPN, traffic will first go in encrypted form to the VPN server, and from there it will go to the final site. The provider will not be able to find out what sites you visit unless it receives the encryption.
When choosing a VPN, you should pay attention to the following things:
- Network structure. There are complex multi-layer VPN networks (traffic goes to one server, then to another... and only then reaches the end point).
- How the company is registered. Firms that provide services to unscrupulous individuals initially try to register through a variety of front persons and companies. In this case, legal proceedings can be delayed for years or decades.
- Is there logging?
Free VPNs. Opera has a built-in VPN, and you can install additional extensions with a similar function on other browsers. Then you will be able to hide information from your provider and by combining it with incognito mode you can get a very good result.
Proxy servers
Proxy servers are usually hacked IPs. Using special software or standard Windows tools, the user registers certain data and goes online under a different IP address.
There are free sites with databases of proxy servers, but such IP addresses, as a rule, become free after they are included in many blacklists. For this reason, some sites may not trust your computer and ask you to enter a captcha.
other methods
When the task is not only to avoid being exposed yourself, but also to imitate the actions of another person, for example, impersonating a US citizen and buying something, then expensive programs, hacked computers and other bad things can be used.
