We make Incognito Browser. It is one of the browsers discussed below, and we say plainly what it does and does not do.
Privacy concerns are on the rise in today’s interconnected world. Many users turn to incognito mode for a sense of security.
But does private browsing really protect you from tracking techniques like browser fingerprinting? This article looks at the limits of standard incognito modes, what Incognito Browser for Android adds, and what it does not do.
Understanding Incognito Mode
Incognito mode, or private browsing, is a feature in many web browsers designed to minimize the digital footprint on your device.
When activated, it prevents the browser from storing data such as cookies, browsing history, and form inputs.
However, it’s crucial to understand that incognito mode primarily affects data stored on your device. It doesn’t hide your online activities from websites, internet service providers (ISPs), or anyone who might monitor your network.
The Reality of Browser Fingerprinting
Browser fingerprinting is a tracking technique that collects information about your device configuration, such as screen resolution, browser type, fonts, and even plugins.
This data can be so unique that it effectively becomes a digital fingerprint, allowing websites to identify and track you even if you use incognito mode. Unlike cookies, fingerprinting doesn’t require storing data on your device, so incognito mode offers little protection against this pervasive form of surveillance.
The Shortcomings of Standard Incognito Modes
While helpful for keeping local browsing discreet, standard incognito modes fall short in several areas:
- ISP Visibility: Your ISP can still track your online activities and knows which websites you visit.
- Exposure on Networks: In incognito mode, your network administrator or any surveillance on your network can still see your traffic.
- Partial Privacy: Incognito mode doesn’t prevent websites from using techniques like fingerprinting to track your sessions.
Incognito Browser for Android: What It Adds
Incognito Browser for Android is a separate app, not Chrome’s Incognito mode. It builds on the idea of private browsing in a few practical ways:
- Private by default: Every tab is private. The app wipes history, cookies and sessions when you exit the app, and it keeps no browsing history or cache on your device. Downloaded files are kept.
- Agent Cloaking: Masks the browser and device that sites see, and can load desktop versions of sites. It is not fingerprint protection: sites can still read many other details about your device.
- Ad Blocker: Incognito Browser has a built-in ad blocker.
- Web3 Support: The browser opens IPFS, .eth and .crypto addresses.
- Settings You Control: You can turn images, JavaScript and cookies on or off, and choose your search engine.
What Incognito Browser Does Not Do
Incognito Browser does not close the gaps listed above, because they happen outside your phone:
- It is not a VPN: It does not hide your IP address from websites or your internet provider.
- It does not protect against fingerprinting: Browsers such as Tor Browser and Brave are built to resist fingerprinting.
- Its blocker is an ad blocker: If you want trackers blocked by default, browsers such as Brave, Firefox and DuckDuckGo’s do that.
- It is Android only and not open source: There is no iPhone or desktop version.
The Google Play Data safety section says the app may collect crash logs, diagnostics and other app performance data, for analytics.
Traditional incognito modes provide a basic level of privacy on your own device, but they are not designed to stop browser fingerprinting, and neither is masking the browser and device details that sites see.
Incognito Browser for Android makes private browsing the default on your phone and blocks ads. For what websites can learn about you, you need more: a VPN to hide your IP address, and a browser built to resist fingerprinting.
Can Incognito Browser completely protect me from being tracked?
No. No browser can guarantee that. Incognito Browser keeps your browsing history off your device and blocks ads, but it does not hide your IP address and it does not protect against fingerprinting. Websites, your internet provider and your network can still see what you do online.
Is Incognito Browser only useful for secretive browsing?
No. It’s for anyone who would rather not keep browsing history on their phone, such as people who share a device, and for anyone who wants a browser with a built-in ad blocker.
How does Incognito Browser handle browser fingerprinting?
It doesn’t protect against it. Agent Cloaking masks the browser and device information that sites see, but a fingerprint is built from many other details, such as screen size, fonts and time zone. If fingerprinting is your main concern, look at Tor Browser, which aims to make all of its users look the same, or Brave, which slightly randomizes the browser features that trackers use.
If you take your digital privacy seriously, start by knowing what each tool protects. Incognito Browser for Android keeps your browsing history off your phone. Pair it with tools that protect your connection and resist fingerprinting when you need more.
