Surfing incognito – how anonymously are you?

During the working time briefly look at Facebook or secretly get a Valentine gift for the girlfriend: With the deletion of cookies and emptying the internet course, not all traces have been eliminated. Fortunately Almost all current browsers have an integrated Function, With which you do not leave treacherous files on the PC after your web walk. Here you can find out How anonymous you actually surf in incognito mode, And what alternatives are otherwise available for the protection of your identity on the Internet.

1. What is an incognito mode?

The incognito mode we colloquially also refers to the «safe mode» and should be the user too More privacy while surfing help. Once activated, the function ensures that the browser no longer stores data on your computer.

Cookies, download information or registration data are not saved at all to avoid that unauthorized persons get access to your user profile. Downloaded files and bookmarks are not included.

2. Incognito is not the same as anonymous – which the safe mode is really protected from it

Many users incorrectly assume that they are protected against all threats from the Worldwideweb in incognito mode. In the worst case, this misconception can be expensive, because some information, such as the IP address or the type of browser usedwill continue to be recorded. So private mode does not protect you

• Spysoftware and Trojans. The so -called Keylogger can still read out their key inputs and save.
• Before statistics that create visited websites of you.
• Monitoring by your internet provider. From this you automatically receive your IP addressif you go online.
• Before sanctions by unauthorized surfing at the workplace. The company router records all of your activities.
• Before attacks on their sensitive data by hackers and cyber criminals

Danger: All information, Before activating the safe mode were saved, will also be preserved afterwards.

3. How can I activate the incognito mode in my browser?

3.1. Google-Chrome

In Google-Chrome The easiest way to start the safe mode via the shortcut:

• for Windows: Ctrl + Shift button + N
• for macOS: ⌘ + Shift button + N

Alternatively, you can also use the three-point menu by clicking on «New incognito window» activate it.

A notice: In the incognito mode of Chrome Also automatically blocked add-onsThis means that you can also access the content of websites that would otherwise only be readable with the AD-blocker, but advertising is then also displayed. In the settings, however, you can also activate selected add-ons for incognito mode.

3.2. Mozilla Firefox

With Mozilla Firefox, too, there are two ways to switch on private surfing:

1. Click on the menu with the three horizontal lines in the top right corner and then on «New private window». The logo with the fox has now given way to glasses with purple background And thus signals because they are now surfing incognito.

   

2. Of course there is a corresponding shortcut with which you can get to your destination faster: Press this The key combination Ctrl + Shift button + P.

3.3. Microsoft Edge

In Microsoft Edge, the function is called incognito surfing „InPrivate-Modus“. You can activate it via the menu ●●● on the top right of your browser.

The key combination for this is Ctrl + Shift button + P.

Edge then opens a new window with the name «Inprivate-Browsen»keep the existing window with all open tabs in the background at. The two windows can also be used independently of one another.

3.4. Opera

Also in Opera You don't have to privatize the entire browser right awaybut can also open individual tabs in private mode. To do this, click on the top left of the „Opera Symbol“ and then on «Window and tabs». Here you have the choice between «New private tab» or «New private window».

Die Key combination to open a new private window is Ctrl + Shift button + N.

4. What alternatives are there to really surf incognito?

If you surf with your browser in private mode, Do not leave any tracesHowever, as already mentioned at the beginning, they are not completely anonymous. If you want to be sure that your identity remains hidden, you must use a measure, With which you can cover up the IP address of your computer.

4.1. VPN (virtual private network) – into the tunnel

The most used option to hide the IP address on the web is A so -called virtual private network, or VPN for short. With the help of this technology, you can access the data in your private network safely and protected from practically anywhere in the world and remain completely anonymous on the Internet.

Through the Building an encrypted tunnel into a trustworthy VPN provider the original address is replaced with an address of the VPN server. If your device then connects to the Internet, the last known IP address is always that of the server.

With VPNs you can also Use country -specific restrictions. In the meantime, they can connect to VPN servers from anywhere in the world and thereby stipulate surfing in another country. Also Speed ​​throttling by your provider Are passé when he thinks you are someone else.

4.2. Proxy server-the reliable representation

Another option with which you can hide your IP address and surfing practically anonymously is to set up a proxy server. The English word Proxy translates as much as «deputy». It is comparable to a kind of communication broker, about the All inquiries from the client to a recipient (for example a web server) forwarded become.

In the event of a website call, the associated web server only knows the address of the intermediary, However, the identity of the requesting client remains hidden.

In one thing, however, proxy servers are left behind: by redirecting inquiries, the internet speed can be affected.

Danger: It can happen that the proxy server stores your IP address. To make sure that your identity remains really protected, it is no harm to switch several such mediators between the transmitter and recipient.

4.3.Tor network-anonymous surfing according to the onion layer principle

The anonymization network Tor («The Onion Router Project») offers a special form of veil tactic, which consists of several layers And your request is quick by the network.

Nodes are passed, each of which only knows the IP address of their predecessor. If the data package finally reaches the net, the last known address is that of the last node passed.

You need to use the Tor network Either a Firefox with integrated goal security extensions or a special proxy serverthrough which a conventional browser can access the Tor network.

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