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Private browsing: 16 good reasons to use incognito mode

2 of 18 NEXT PREV
  • The benefits of going incognito

    The benefits of going incognito

    We're all familiar with our web browser's privacy setting (also known as private browsing, incognito and - of course - porn mode). But it's easy to forget how many benefits there are to disabling your browsing history, web cache and cookies. Here are 16 useful ways incognito mode can be of service that have nothing to do with hiding your consumption of adult content.

    More Browser Privacy Resources

    • Firefox 59 stops irritating website notifications, boosts private browsing privacy
    • Force your browser to always start in private mode
    • Want true privacy? You need to check out this browser
    • Best VPN Directory
    Published: June 21, 2018 -- 14:57 GMT (07:57 PDT)

    Photo by: Photo by Joanna Nix on Unsplash

    Caption by: David Gewirtz

  • Hunting for a job

    Hunting for a job

    If you're unsatisfied in your job or just want to trade up, you may not want to leave tracks while you search. Incognito mode won't let you hide from corporate routers, but it will keep job sites out of your browser history.

    More Browser Privacy Resources

    • Firefox 59 stops irritating website notifications, boosts private browsing privacy
    • Force your browser to always start in private mode
    • Want true privacy? You need to check out this browser
    • Best VPN Directory
    Published: June 21, 2018 -- 14:57 GMT (07:57 PDT)

    Photo by: Photo by Lost Co on Unsplash

    Caption by: David Gewirtz

  • Health information search

    Health information search

    Your health is your business. You might not even want to let family members know that you suspect something is an issue. Incognito mode can help you learn without having to explain before you understand.

    More Browser Privacy Resources

    • Firefox 59 stops irritating website notifications, boosts private browsing privacy
    • Force your browser to always start in private mode
    • Want true privacy? You need to check out this browser
    • Best VPN Directory
    Published: June 21, 2018 -- 14:57 GMT (07:57 PDT)

    Photo by: Photo by rawpixel on Unsplash

    Caption by: David Gewirtz

  • Gift giving

    Gift giving

    This little guy might be tough to hide, but if you're researching the perfect gift, you don't want to let the cat, uh, dog out of the bag before the special occassion. Private browsing can keep your surprise a surprise.

    More Browser Privacy Resources

    • Firefox 59 stops irritating website notifications, boosts private browsing privacy
    • Force your browser to always start in private mode
    • Want true privacy? You need to check out this browser
    • Best VPN Directory
    Published: June 21, 2018 -- 14:57 GMT (07:57 PDT)

    Photo by: Photo by Jakob Owens on Unsplash

    Caption by: David Gewirtz

  • Personal search ranking

    Personal search ranking

    Just how wonderful does Google think you are? Normally, cookies and your history could influence your search results. Go incognito and find out what Google really thinks of you, from a ranking perspective.

    More Browser Privacy Resources

    • Firefox 59 stops irritating website notifications, boosts private browsing privacy
    • Force your browser to always start in private mode
    • Want true privacy? You need to check out this browser
    • Best VPN Directory
    Published: June 21, 2018 -- 14:57 GMT (07:57 PDT)

    Photo by: Photo by Kelly Sikkema on Unsplash

    Caption by: David Gewirtz

  • View site like a new visitor

    View site like a new visitor

    Ever notice how, once you visit a site, the experience can change? With incognito, you can see what a new visitor to a site sees.

    More Browser Privacy Resources

    • Firefox 59 stops irritating website notifications, boosts private browsing privacy
    • Force your browser to always start in private mode
    • Want true privacy? You need to check out this browser
    • Best VPN Directory
    Published: June 21, 2018 -- 14:57 GMT (07:57 PDT)

    Photo by: Photo by Ameen Fahmy on Unsplash

    Caption by: David Gewirtz

  • Privacy on public PCs

    Privacy on public PCs

    Keep in mind that your network is not necessarily secure when on a shared computer. That said, if you don't want to leave tracks when using a shared PC, incognito mode will help.

    More Browser Privacy Resources

    • Firefox 59 stops irritating website notifications, boosts private browsing privacy
    • Force your browser to always start in private mode
    • Want true privacy? You need to check out this browser
    • Best VPN Directory
    Published: June 21, 2018 -- 14:57 GMT (07:57 PDT)

    Photo by: Pixabay CC0

    Caption by: David Gewirtz

  • Unbiased searching

    Unbiased searching

    Your search history can always influence what you see in search results. If you want completely unbiased searching, based on an empty search history (and no cookies), incognito mode can let you do so without zorching your existing history for regular work.

    More Browser Privacy Resources

    • Firefox 59 stops irritating website notifications, boosts private browsing privacy
    • Force your browser to always start in private mode
    • Want true privacy? You need to check out this browser
    • Best VPN Directory
    Published: June 21, 2018 -- 14:57 GMT (07:57 PDT)

    Photo by: Pixabay CC0

    Caption by: David Gewirtz

  • SEO analysis

    SEO analysis

    Your search history can also influence your SEO keyword research. Think about it this way. If you work for a, say, locksmith, you're going to have a lot more lock-related history than most. That's going to influence your search results. Unless you go private, of course.

    More Browser Privacy Resources

    • Firefox 59 stops irritating website notifications, boosts private browsing privacy
    • Force your browser to always start in private mode
    • Want true privacy? You need to check out this browser
    • Best VPN Directory
    Published: June 21, 2018 -- 14:57 GMT (07:57 PDT)

    Photo by: Pixabay CC0

    Caption by: David Gewirtz

  • Sneak around paywalls

    Sneak around paywalls

    We don't advise this. It could void your warranty, result in weight gain, violate terms and conditions, and possibly cause zits. Undoubtedly, its dastardly, but the fact is, sometimes incognito mode will trick a paywall. Don't do it. Writers deserve to get paid, too.

    More Browser Privacy Resources

    • Firefox 59 stops irritating website notifications, boosts private browsing privacy
    • Force your browser to always start in private mode
    • Want true privacy? You need to check out this browser
    • Best VPN Directory
    Published: June 21, 2018 -- 14:57 GMT (07:57 PDT)

    Photo by: Photo by Charles Deluvio on Unsplash

    Caption by: David Gewirtz

  • Work in multiple accounts or profiles

    Work in multiple accounts or profiles

    If you want multiple windows open in multiple accounts, sometimes profiles can get confused. With incognito mode (especially if you also use a guest window), you can keep each profile separate.

    More Browser Privacy Resources

    • Firefox 59 stops irritating website notifications, boosts private browsing privacy
    • Force your browser to always start in private mode
    • Want true privacy? You need to check out this browser
    • Best VPN Directory
    Published: June 21, 2018 -- 14:57 GMT (07:57 PDT)

    Photo by: Photo by Matúš Kovačovský on Unsplash

    Caption by: David Gewirtz

  • Screen recording

    Screen recording

    If you want to record a screencast, you probably don't want all your own browsing info cluttering your recording. Incognito mode is a great way to do a clean recording.

    More Browser Privacy Resources

    • Firefox 59 stops irritating website notifications, boosts private browsing privacy
    • Force your browser to always start in private mode
    • Want true privacy? You need to check out this browser
    • Best VPN Directory
    Published: June 21, 2018 -- 14:57 GMT (07:57 PDT)

    Photo by: Photo by Patrick Tomasso on Unsplash

    Caption by: David Gewirtz

  • Classroom presentations

    Classroom presentations

    If you want a bunch of students to give a presentation, incognito mode (along with guest mode) can give you a clean experience for each student's presentation, quickly and easily.

    More Browser Privacy Resources

    • Firefox 59 stops irritating website notifications, boosts private browsing privacy
    • Force your browser to always start in private mode
    • Want true privacy? You need to check out this browser
    • Best VPN Directory
    Published: June 21, 2018 -- 14:57 GMT (07:57 PDT)

    Photo by: Photo by NeONBRAND on Unsplash

    Caption by: David Gewirtz

  • Unfettered ecommerce

    Unfettered ecommerce

    Sometimes what online stores present to you (along with the prices) are influenced by what you've bought before. If you want to see it all without history influencing, both incognito mode and a VPN can help.

    More Browser Privacy Resources

    • Firefox 59 stops irritating website notifications, boosts private browsing privacy
    • Force your browser to always start in private mode
    • Want true privacy? You need to check out this browser
    • Best VPN Directory
    Published: June 21, 2018 -- 14:57 GMT (07:57 PDT)

    Photo by: Photo by Stephen Mayes on Unsplash

    Caption by: David Gewirtz

  • Sharing a computer

    Sharing a computer

    If you have to share a computer with a friend, guest, or sibling, one way to make sure your browsing is private is to turn on incognito mode.

    More Browser Privacy Resources

    • Firefox 59 stops irritating website notifications, boosts private browsing privacy
    • Force your browser to always start in private mode
    • Want true privacy? You need to check out this browser
    • Best VPN Directory
    Published: June 21, 2018 -- 14:57 GMT (07:57 PDT)

    Photo by: Photo by Brooke Cagle on Unsplash

    Caption by: David Gewirtz

  • Adult content

    Adult content

    Not all adult content is sleezy. You may want to look something up without taking the chance that the kids might go to a site that they're not old enough to understand. Kids, for example, do not understand bacon like we do.

    More Browser Privacy Resources

    • Firefox 59 stops irritating website notifications, boosts private browsing privacy
    • Force your browser to always start in private mode
    • Want true privacy? You need to check out this browser
    • Best VPN Directory
    Published: June 21, 2018 -- 14:57 GMT (07:57 PDT)

    Photo by: Photo by Nick Fewings on Unsplash

    Caption by: David Gewirtz

  • Religious and spiritual content

    Religious and spiritual content

    Your spiritual interests are yours, and you may not want to share them with others. If you're exploring a new spiritual path or are just a private person, private browsing can keep your spiritual interests personal.

    More Browser Privacy Resources

    • Firefox 59 stops irritating website notifications, boosts private browsing privacy
    • Force your browser to always start in private mode
    • Want true privacy? You need to check out this browser
    • Best VPN Directory
    Published: June 21, 2018 -- 14:57 GMT (07:57 PDT)

    Photo by: Photo by Thomas Bormans on Unsplash

    Caption by: David Gewirtz

  • But it won't help you save on airfare

    But it won't help you save on airfare

    Sometimes you can save on airfare by changing your apparent location. This might violate an air carrier's terms of service or be illegal. That said, to change your apparent location, you need a VPN, not private browsing.

    More Browser Privacy Resources

    • Firefox 59 stops irritating website notifications, boosts private browsing privacy
    • Force your browser to always start in private mode
    • Want true privacy? You need to check out this browser
    • Best VPN Directory
    Published: June 21, 2018 -- 14:57 GMT (07:57 PDT)

    Photo by: Photo by sergey Svechnikov on Unsplash

    Caption by: David Gewirtz

2 of 18 NEXT PREV
David Gewirtz

By David Gewirtz for DIY-IT | June 21, 2018 -- 14:57 GMT (07:57 PDT) | Topic: Security

  • The benefits of going incognito
  • Hunting for a job
  • Health information search
  • Gift giving
  • Personal search ranking
  • View site like a new visitor
  • Privacy on public PCs
  • Unbiased searching
  • SEO analysis
  • Sneak around paywalls
  • Work in multiple accounts or profiles
  • Screen recording
  • Classroom presentations
  • Unfettered ecommerce
  • Sharing a computer
  • Adult content
  • Religious and spiritual content
  • But it won't help you save on airfare

Also known as private browsing or porn mode, your browser privacy setting has all sorts of useful applications that have nothing to do with hiding the consumption of adult content.

Read More Read Less

Hunting for a job

If you're unsatisfied in your job or just want to trade up, you may not want to leave tracks while you search. Incognito mode won't let you hide from corporate routers, but it will keep job sites out of your browser history.

More Browser Privacy Resources

  • Firefox 59 stops irritating website notifications, boosts private browsing privacy
  • Force your browser to always start in private mode
  • Want true privacy? You need to check out this browser
  • Best VPN Directory
Published: June 21, 2018 -- 14:57 GMT (07:57 PDT)

Caption by: David Gewirtz

2 of 18 NEXT PREV

Related Topics:

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David Gewirtz

By David Gewirtz for DIY-IT | June 21, 2018 -- 14:57 GMT (07:57 PDT) | Topic: Security

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