Many people use their browser’s incognito or private mode assuming it makes them particularly secure or anonymous online. But the truth is often quite different. To understand what this mode actually does — and what it doesn’t — it’s helpful to first take a closer look at what we really mean when we talk about “security on the internet.”
What We Actually Mean When We Talk About Internet Security
When users talk about “security,” they usually mix two ideas. On the one hand, there’s the desire not to be tracked while browsing — meaning websites shouldn’t be able to track or profile them to deliver personalized ads later. On the other hand, many people think of protecting sensitive data: no one should be able to see what they search for, what content they access, or what personal information they enter.
Incognito mode seems to perfectly meet these needs at first glance. But expectation and reality often differ greatly.
What Really Happens When You Browse in Private Mode
Private mode primarily affects your own browser. It prevents local traces of your browsing activity from being saved. This means: your browsing history stays empty, cookies are deleted after closing the window, and temporary data such as form entries or items added to a shopping cart won’t be stored on your device.
This is especially practical when several people use the same computer. On a shared family laptop, you can look for Christmas presents without anyone later finding hints in the browsing history. Incognito mode therefore protects you very well from people who use the same device.
But that’s where its protective functions essentially end.
What Incognito Mode Does Not Prevent
Many websites can still track you despite private mode. While the mode makes personalized advertising slightly harder because cookies are temporary, this effect is smaller than most people think.
Today, websites increasingly rely on “fingerprinting” techniques, combining characteristics such as browser type and version, operating system, screen resolution, or installed fonts. These details often create a surprisingly unique digital fingerprint. Using this, websites can often identify which device is accessing them, even in private mode.
As soon as you log into a website — for example an online shop, social media service, or email provider — the protection of private mode no longer applies. Your activity can be linked to your account, and you have typically already consented to data collection when registering.
Who Can Still See You Despite Incognito Mode
There are also actors outside the websites themselves who can observe your browsing behavior. For example, network operators. If you’re working on a company network or using café Wi-Fi, the operator can view your traffic unless you’re using a VPN from an independent provider.
The same applies to your internet provider. Providers like Telekom, Vodafone, or 1&1 can generally see which websites you visit. A VPN can help here, but then you entrust your data to the VPN provider — and their trustworthiness becomes crucial. Here I have written a blog post on the topic of “Digital order while traveling”, which is also about the selection of trustworthy VPN providers: Digital clarity on the road: From Germany to Overseas
More Protection Through Anonymization: The Tor Browser
Anyone seeking true protection from monitoring by networks, providers, and websites will eventually come across the Tor Browser. It routes your traffic, encrypted, through several nodes in the Tor network. This makes it extremely difficult for third parties to identify the original source of the data.
Tor provides far more anonymity than private mode, though it is slower and not ideal for every type of use.
Why Private Browsing Is Still Useful
Despite its limitations, incognito mode has its place. It’s ideal when you share a device with others but don’t have your own user account. It’s also helpful when you want to visit websites without them appearing in your local history. Additionally, it reduces tracking on sites where you’re not logged in — at least somewhat.
But it’s important to understand: for highly sensitive online activities or real anonymity, incognito mode is simply not enough. Here, VPNs and especially the Tor Browser are the better tools.
Incognito mode mainly prevents your own browser from storing information. It provides little protection against tracking by websites, monitoring by networks, or insights by your internet provider.
It is a useful tool for everyday privacy — but not a solution for anonymous or secure communication online. Those seeking real protection should also consider VPNs and the Tor Browser.
Checklist
- Use incognito mode when you want to avoid local traces such as history or cookies, especially on shared devices.
- Don’t rely on private mode to fully prevent website tracking or fingerprinting.
- Be aware that logging into websites still makes your behavior clearly attributable.
- Use a VPN if you want to prevent network operators or your internet provider from seeing your browsing activity.
- Use the Tor Browser if true anonymity and maximum protection from tracking are important to you.