It’s bad news for anyone who uses incognito mode to access NSFW content online.
According to Chrome developer Darin Fisher, Google "agonised" over what to name the feature, deliberately choosing not to call it “privacy mode” in order to avoid misselling it to users.
“When you launch the incognito tab there’s this disclaimer there where we really try to help make it really clear to people that your activity is certainly still visible to the websites you visit and could be visible to your employer, to your school, and to your [internet service provide] of course,” he told Thrillist.
Indeed, whenever you enter incognito mode or open a new incognito mode tab, a short message appears on-screen, briefly explaining how it works.
It says Chrome won’t save your browsing history, cookies and site data, and information entered in forms, when you’re in incognito mode.
However, Google adds that your activity “might still be visible to” websites you visit, “including the ads and resources used on those sites”; your employer, school, or whoever runs the network you’re using; and your internet service provider.
Google reiterates this on its incognito mode help pages, saying, “Your activity isn’t hidden from websites you visit, your employer or school, or your internet service provider.”
Amongst other things, that means your boss could figure out if you’re doing something you’re not supposed to at work, even if you’re browsing incognito.
Mr Fisher instead recommends using incognito mode for avoiding cookies, hiding activities from people who may have access to your computer, such as a loved one you're buying a present for, and protecting yourself against potentially dodgy websites.
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