Private browsers are programs that allow users to browse the web on their computers without leaving any trace behind. Cookies are often used to save a user time. By allowing cookies on a computer, they prevent the user from having to log in and out again when they close their browser, or re-search products or services on a website after they have logged out. The main reason for using private browsing is if a user is using a public computer. It saves the user the trouble of manually clearing their browsing history.
Incognito mode
Despite what the name suggests, incognito mode is not actually incognito. While you’re using a private browser to access the internet, the fact is that it doesn’t really work that way. Instead, it enables your computer to spy on you. This tracking is possible because of spyware, which tracks keystrokes and keeps a log of your online activities. While incognito mode may help prevent tracking from happening, it won’t stop it completely. This is because websites love to gather information about you. Any action you take on a personal account could be tied to other actions.
The best way to stay safe online is to keep your software up to date with security patches. It’s recommended to enable automatic updates when possible. You should also install anti-malware software for your computer, including a dedicated one. While Windows and macOS have robust security features built in, it’s still a good idea to install a dedicated anti-malware tool for extra protection. If you have a Windows computer or a Mac, it’s best to keep it updated to the latest versions.
Clean slate
While using a private browser, you should take some precautions to keep your personal information safe. Some browsers keep track of your IP address and the pages you visit, which they call log files. Other information collected by log files includes your browser type and the date and time of your visit. This information is not linked to personally identifiable information and is used to monitor traffic patterns, analyze trends, and administer the site. It is also used to gather demographic information.
Private browsing is not perfect. You may not be able to prevent malicious sites from retargeting ads based on your past purchases or interests, and your private browsing session can leave your information vulnerable to hackers. In addition, most people forget to log out of their online accounts when they’re finished using them. If your account is still open, you’re inviting data thieves to use your information. Private browsing automatically logs you out of open accounts and prevents your online data from falling into the wrong hands.
Privacy settings
If you use public computers, you should enable the privacy settings of your web browser to prevent it from recording your browsing history. This way, other computers can’t see what you are doing on the web. Of course, private browsing isn’t a guarantee of privacy – websites still may track what you are doing online. To prevent this, you need to download the latest version of your preferred browser. You can find out more about private browsing here.
The most common browser for this feature is Firefox. Its privacy settings are found in the main menu of the browser, under the three-lined menu. Click Privacy and security and choose your level of privacy. Select Standard or Strict. Strict will block fingerprints on all windows, but it may break some websites. Alternatively, you can choose Custom to fine-tune privacy settings further. Be sure to click Reload All Tabs before you change your privacy settings.
Cookies
Cookies are used to track user behavior across websites. Cookies are divided into two types: first-party cookies and third-party cookies. First-party cookies are those issued by the domain you are currently browsing. This type of cookie is only accessible by the domain it was issued by, while third-party cookies are those created by a third-party website. Third-party cookies are used by advertisers to track user behaviour and serve relevant ads.
The main purpose of cookies is to record what a user wants to buy on a site. When a user accesses a website, a cookie containing a unique session identifier is sent by the web server. This cookie is read each time the user visits that website. The cookie will be removed after a specific period of time, meaning the user will not see the same items again. However, the good thing about cookies is that they save bandwidth.
Strict or standard mode
Firefox has two privacy modes, Strict and Standard, which enable and disable anti-tracking features. Strict mode blocks all trackers, while Standard mode improves performance and doesn’t block all tracks. Standard mode has the same privacy settings as Strict mode, but is less effective than Strict. If you are concerned about privacy, you can also change your default search engine. Firefox also offers a dedicated privacy mode called Focus. This privacy-focused browser block ad trackers and has a built-in ad blocker.
Firefox: When you’re in the private session window, you’ll see a purple mask icon on the title bar. On the Mac, you’ll see the icon on the far right of the title bar. On Windows, it’s to the left of the minimize/maximize/close button. Note that Firefox does not color-code the top components of its browser window. Strict mode is faster, but some servers do have a slow browsing speed.