If you want more digital privacy on the go then one free method that may help is Incognito Mode on iPhone. Incognito Mode offers some privacy benefits for those who may not have access to other means.
By using Incognito Mode, even if someone were to steal your iPhone and open up your browser history, they wouldn't be able to see what sites have been visited. In addition, it makes the web surfing experience much faster. It's pretty easy to do (and can be undone in a few simple taps).
Tutorial: How to Use Incognito Mode on an iPhone or iPad
How you enable Incognito Mode on iPhone depends on your browser of choice. Here we'll cover enabling Incognito Mode on the Safari Browser and Google Chrome.
Enabling Incognito Mode on Safari Browser
Step 1. Launch Safari by tapping on the app icon, then tap the bottom right corner icon with the two squares. The displayed menu will show all open tabs on your iPhone.
Step 2. Tap Private to enter incognito browsing mode. You're done! You can now browse the Internet in relative privacy.
To exit Incognito Mode, just tap the leftmost tab and tap Private again to return to normal browsing.
Enabling Incognito Mode on Google Chrome
Step 1. Open the Google Chrome app.
Step 2. Tap the hamburger menu (three stacked dots) in the top-right corner of the screen.
Step 3. Tap “New Incognito Tab,” which is the second last option of a pop-up window that appears. A new tab will open with a hat-and-sunglasses icon at its top left corner that says “You've gone incognito.”
Be aware, though, that while Incognito Mode is easily enabled on an iPhone it is not 100% private as some might think.
- Learn more about Incognito Mode in our article “How Does Incognito Mode Work?”
Disadvantages of Using This on Your iPhone
Incognito Mode is really only useful for a limited number of situations. It's not a good way to browse privately because your Internet Service Provider (ISP), employer, or school can still see what sites you're visiting.
It's also not good for covering up tracks at home. If someone gets hold of your iPhone or iPad they can see the websites you've browsed even if you used incognito mode. Incognito Mode also doesn't let you download files without Chrome saving them, and it doesn't prevent downloads from appearing in the Downloads area of Chrome.
There are three key takeaways that must be remembered about Incognito Mode here. Enabling it:
- Still leaves traces on your browser history
- Won't hide your identity from websites that you visit
- Doesn't keep your ISP from tracking you
Final Thoughts on Incognito Mode on iPhone or iPad
Using Incognito Mode on iPhone or iPad is a quick and easy way of boosting your digital privacy. However, Incognito Mode is far from perfect and should not be relied upon exclusively. If you need better privacy and security for accessing sensitive information online, consider using a Virtual Private Network (VPN) instead.
