The private mode in browsers is an interesting function focused on protecting the privacy and security of the user. But of course, this is the theory, because we will never have guarantees and it is a different function compared to the one that offers “ anonymous browsing” that needs other tools like TOR.
Also known as “unknown mode” or “InPrivate”, the private mode for browsers creates a temporary browsing sessions that do not share data with the browser, it doesn’t save information from websites, it neither saves browsging history, cache, website cache, passwords, information forms, cookies or other website data, deleting these or other temporary archives when we finish session.
The private mode from browsers is very useful in various cases like:
– Economic Transactions: Using credit cards and service accounts like PayPal, administrative procedures or others, without leaving informations about these ones, being allowed to check for it in this article to secure online shopping.
– Accessing a website with multiple accounts at same time: The majority of websites do not allow to log in with multiple accounts at same time. But this mode offers a solution. You can keep yourself logged in int he main browser’s window and open a window in the private brwosing to use a second account.
– “Pure” results in the searching engine: Searching engines like Google uses the searching history and other information that has been gathered about you (a lot) to show you the custom searching results. Ususally, it is useful ebcause it is based on your interests, but sometimes you may want to watch the results being more generals that offers the engine and other people seek, like your name or the company’s name. A session in unknown mode should offer you more “pure” results. This way works with every web engine.
– Electronic trade: following the earlier mentioned use, imagine that you are investigating an online purchase of a product that you want to buy in a website, like for example, Amazon, which like any other website that offers custom experiences based on your user account or recent activity, will remember that you were looking for that kind of product. Amazon will not only “follow you” in their portal but in other website that you visit. If you don’t want this to happen, you can use a private searching window. The acitvity will not be related with your Amazon account or any other electronic trade websites. The private navigation also offers other interesting uses in the electronic trade. For example, if we want to surprise with a present for someone, using this won’t leave any track, the same for purchasing trips or similar.
– Reading or accessing limitations: Some websites limit the reading access to a little number of free articles, being daily, monthly or yearly, asking for a suscription payment once the free accesses are out. If the access controls work with cookies, like they ususally do, private navigation allows you to increase the limit. But of course, you should be a humble person and use this technique just a few times. If you like the site, consider to susbscribe because this will be the only way to keep it in the future. You already know the difficulties that have some sites to keep themselves online.
– Sites for adults: We left this for the end, but as some statistics said, this is one of the most ways of using the private navigator, because it denies for example, the children to access the non-appropiated content for their age. Or that your partner does not find out with who you cheat on them… As mentioned before, there’s not a 100% security or privacy using this navigator, but is still better than the standard navigator.
How to activate the private mode in the navigators?
Every web navigator offers private navigation, but not all fo them have the advanced functions to disable plugins or toolbars; recover opened windows in unknown mode; block all trackers and advertisments or add VPNs. They make main basic actions that we cana sk for for a private navigation, without storing cookies or the information of forms and deleting the temporary data in the cache, navigation history and searchings.
Its use is very simple in every browser:
– Google Chrome: The fast access is pressing the keys “CTRL + CAPS +N” or clicking in the configuration tool (Control and customize Google Chrome) in the upper right corner > “New unknown window”. Besides the basics (not saving the navigation history, cookies, forms, etc.) Chrome disables the installed plugins. It also warns that the activity is not 100% private and they still can be seen by the ISP, company or education center if you are in their network.
– Mozilla Firefox: Fast access pressing the keys “CTRL + CAPS +P” or by clicking in the superior right corner menu > “New unknown window”. Besides the things that Chrome offered, Mozilla also recovers the unknown windows that u closed and it is the only one that blocks ads and any other kind of publicity. However, it doesn’t disable plugins or navigation bars.
– Microsoft Edge: Fast access by clicking the keys “CTRL + CAPS +P” or by clicking in Configuration > “New InPivate window”. It offers the same as Chrome.
– Opera: Fast access by clicking CTRL + CAPS+ N” or by clicking in the configuration tool (Customize and control Opera) in the upper left corner > “New private window”. Optionally, it blocks predetermined content for trackers online and is the only one with their own VPN.
– Internet Explorer: Fast access by clicking “CTRL + CAPS + p” or by clicking in the tools menu in the upper left corner > Security > “Navigation in InPrivate”. Everything that Chrome has, with the adding of recovering the windows and optionally the block of trackers and adverts.