this post was submitted on 23 Jan 2024
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167
Google admits Chrome Incognito mode tracks users — what you need to know (www.tomsguide.com)
submitted 8 months ago by [email protected] to c/[email protected]
24 comments fedilink hide all child comments
 

Google admits Chrome Incognito mode tracks users — what you need to know::Google is adding new disclaimers to Chrome after the search giant settled a class-action lawsuit regarding how incognito mode isn’t actually as private as it appears to be.

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[–] [email protected] 64 points 8 months ago (5 children)

Even though going incognito prevents Chrome from saving cookies, site data and your browsing history, it doesn’t actually prevent websites or your internet service provider (ISP) from tracking you and knowing what you’re up to online. This news comes as a shock to many Chrome users but privacy experts have long warned that the browser’s incognito mode isn’t as private as you might think.

Know where else you'll find that same warning?

On every new incognito window in Chrome.

It's been there for years —

Your activity might still be visible to:

  • Websites you visit
  • Your employer or school
  • Your internet service provider
[–] [email protected] 31 points 8 months ago (2 children)

Yeah...I feel like the only reason to use incognito has always been "I don't want my porn to show up in my search history and this is easier than manual deletion." It'd be nice if it meant privacy, but the world doesn't run on nice. :(

[–] [email protected] 8 points 8 months ago

Also, TCP/IP requires that the server receive your IP address (or that of a proxy, VPN endpoint, etc.) so that it can send the response back. Opening a new browser window doesn't change that.

[–] [email protected] 7 points 8 months ago (1 children)

It's really good for present shopping if you use a shared device.

[–] [email protected] 3 points 8 months ago (2 children)

The computer has the ability to make accounts, so people have their own personal spaces.

[–] [email protected] 3 points 8 months ago

I'm many use cases, yes.

[–] [email protected] 1 points 7 months ago

I've never seen someone use this in the home (i.e., non-business/school) environment.

Browsers have their own user profiles now, but that's a much newer feature than Incognito mode.

[–] [email protected] 17 points 8 months ago (2 children)

Yeah I'm surprised this is news to some people. I thought everyone already knew this...

[–] [email protected] 10 points 8 months ago (1 children)

Well remember they just got rid of the 🔒 icon because too many people thought it meant the site was safe.

[–] [email protected] 7 points 8 months ago (2 children)

All that https effort and they gave up the lock? Dang. Google kills everything.

[–] [email protected] 6 points 8 months ago

Fortunately, they also killed the mindbogglingly stupid idea of forcibly hiding https:// in the address bar. (It may be off by default, but you can turn it on.)

[–] [email protected] 6 points 8 months ago

It's because of that https effort. Everything should be assumed to be https and only http or misconfigured/bad https gets a warning. No need to show a lock when it can be assumed and it was getting misinterpreted. Now they can use that spot to show something indicating controls and someone might actually click on it and see they can set site specific permissions and settings there.

[–] [email protected] 14 points 8 months ago

Yeah I'm no fan of googles sketchy privacy practices, but to call this an admission just makes it sound like click bait. It was never a secret.

[–] [email protected] 4 points 8 months ago

Incognito mode could be much better if it also scrambled your browser fingerprint. Then it would be much, much harder to be tracked by Google/Amazon/Meta/etc. But of course they'd never do that, it would cut on their bottom line...

[–] [email protected] 2 points 8 months ago

Yeah it's not news at all..

[–] [email protected] 7 points 8 months ago (1 children)

I use a loooong stick and rubber hand to type on the typewriter part of the computer from a safe place just outside the door of the room. I then view any naughty content shown on the TV part, with binoculars.

No one will steal the fact that it’s me on the internets.

I don’t know why this easy solution is not better known. I think Googles is holding back on this valuable truth.

[–] [email protected] 3 points 7 months ago

Even better, do that but use a one-way mirror instead of standing outside

[–] [email protected] 4 points 7 months ago (1 children)

I thought the general assumption was that incognito mode was designed to stop websites from tracking you, not the browser.

[–] [email protected] 9 points 7 months ago

It's neither. It's to stop recording in your local history. To stop people who might be using the same computer as you from snooping.

Look at how they marketed it when it first came out. It's when you want to buy your partner a gift without them knowing.