Difference Between Incognito mode and VPN – Protecting your online privacy is possible with VPNs and the incognito mode : we are talking, in fact, of the two most popular tools capable of guaranteeing safe browsing.
The VPN makes your tracking more complicated while you browse the web, while the incognito mode guarantees the use of a “new” browser that does not store (and, therefore, does not remember) your browsing history.
In our article, we will deepen the functioning of these two essential tools for protecting your online privacy.
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What is a VPN?
So what is a VPN? The VPN succeeds where the incognito mode collides with its limitations. When you connect to a VPN, the websites you access will not be able to see your real IP address – this is because the VPN uses a private server and it is the IP address of the VPN that will be displayed by the websites you access.
It is clear that the functioning of the VPN improves your privacy while browsing. And not only that: you can also “fake” your location making it appear in any part of the world where the VPN has the server. This way, the websites will see that you are browsing from the Region where the VPN server is located rather than from your real physical location.
This allows you, for example, to bypass Netflix’s regional restrictions or use online banking while on vacation. And not only that: this “anonymity” is also a great way to circumvent the censorship still present in repressive countries. If you’re interested in how to Choose VPN, read our guide on 10 Ways to Choose VPN Steps by Steps
This is why VPNs have become very popular in a wide range of subjects: we refer not only to the most “advanced” users of the web but also to all those who want to protect their privacy or human rights activists living under repressive regimes . or finally, those who use BitTorrent to download the latest movies.
What is Incognito mode?
The incognito mode is known by many names: in Microsoft Edge it is called “InPrivate” while in Google Chrome it takes the name of “Incognito mode”. Regardless of its name, it has a single and important function: your browser will not remember your browsing history and data.
Whenever you choose the incognito mode, the browser will not store the data of the sites you have visited: no address, no cookie, none of the data you entered, nothing!
By not storing any cookies, incognito browsing allows you, for example, to log in to Facebook in the normal browser window and then to open the social network in incognito mode: Facebook will not see you as connected while you browse in incognito.
Read Also: How to Use VPN in Incognito Mode on Chrome
With the incognito mode, nothing you do is remembered by the browser itself. The web pages you have visited will not appear in the history nor in the “Recently visited” tab. If you log into a website, all you have to do is simply close the window – your browser will forget that you are logged in.
Even if no navigation data is stored on your computer, this does not mean that they are not visible for the websites you have visited. This has an important implication: these websites that you have surfed in incognito mode can always see your IP address .
Additionally, your internet service provider can still view your activity on the web , and system administrators at your workplace can easily find out that you were browsing the internet during office hours. Remember, then, that incognito browsing and other private browsing modes do not make you anonymous on the web.
Easy steps for using VPNs
- Subscribe to a VPN like NordVPN. NordVPN is the best VPN for streaming, unblocking sites, and privacy.
- Install the VPN on your device.
- Open the VPN and then connect to a server of the desired country.
- Then clear all cookies or you can also use incognito mode.
- Open your browser and search the web safely.
The gaps in VPN security
A VPN works by routing you through an encrypted connection which creates a “secure tunnel”. This way, your network administrator can see that you are connecting to an external server (the VPN) but cannot see which websites you are connected to. No, it is not a spell or a spell! All this is possible thanks to the use of end-to-end encryption by the “tunnels”.
But be careful: using a VPN does not guarantee complete anonymity. For example, if you log into Google, connect to a VPN, and then continue to use your normal browser in which you are logged into Google, the search engine will always know who you are.
Cookies saved in your browser can also be used to track you. In this sense, the incognito mode avoids this type of problem by giving you a “cleaner” browsing experience in the browser .
Read Also: VPN FAQs: The Beginner’s VPN Guide in 2022
In any case, most VPNs guarantee the regular deletion of logs or the history of connections made by users. This type of “no-log” policy has an important practical impact: the VPN will have no trace of your activities on the web and, therefore, will not be able to share this information with your ISP, law enforcement agencies or with anyone who may be interested in seeing what your internet activities are.
In practice, however, not all VPNs are built according to these assumptions. For example, in 2017, PureVPN was able to help the FBI catch a cyberstalker. How? Although it did not log user activity, PureVPN did store users’ IP addresses (since that time, the VPN has changed this policy).
In short, VPNs can be defined as a “black box” : that’s why it can be really difficult to choose the right one. In principle, we recommend that you always read the privacy policy and carefully check the services offered before registering.
How to combine the use of browser incognito mode and VPN
We have just seen it: VPNs and incognito mode are very different from each other and have different functionalities and objectives. What we haven’t told you yet is that they both work very well together.
Many of the gaps in VPN security can be filled by using incognito mode , and at the same time, the issues of incognito can be solved by VPNs. Using them together means making life more difficult for those third parties who try to track your data and your activity on the web. At the same time, both can protect and protect your privacy from anyone who uses your computer.
Read Also: How to Use VPN in Incognito Mode on Chrome
For example, if you use a private browsing window, you will not be connected to your Google or Facebook accounts and the cookies saved while browsing will be deleted. At the same time, the websites you browse will not be able to see your real IP address and your internet service provider will not be able to see which sites you are connecting to: this allows you to browse in a relative state of anonymity.
Of course, neither VPNs nor the incognito mode can give you the absolute guarantee that your privacy will be completely safe on the web but, of course, using them together helps you to better protect your data.