It wasn't until I started undertaking a course on Cloud Computing (Amazon Web Services,AWS) where I had to take a test, I wasn't with my laptop so I had to share that of someone close by. I felt insecure about it as I needed to protect my data, then one of the tutors quickly said "Oh! you can use the incognito mode". That was the first time I heard the word 'Incognito' and of course I used it to run my assessment for that day. Privacy is treasured by all and sundry. We want to be sure that our chats are private, that our pictures and messages are secured, hence the need for the extra security we put. We put our phones on extra lock using screen locks and two factor authentication.

WHAT IS INCOGNITO?

Incognito has been defined as an assumed/concealed identity, otherwise known as anonymous or unknown.

Incognito mode is a terminology used in Google Chrome that refers to a private browsing settings that wipes local traces of where you have been, what you have searched for, the contents of the forms you filled and other basic information about your browsing history.

Incognito is mostly used when you are sharing a computer with others. Its aim is to hide your tracks from others that have access to it. For instance, if you want to plan a surprise package for a loved one and you know that they have access to the gadget you use, you can use this feature while making such plans for them. The websites visited usually sees you as a new user and will not know who you are as long as you do not sign in.

While browsing in Chrome Incognito mode, by default, you are not signed into any accounts or sites. But, there are exceptions, your Internet Service Provider, school or any parental tracking software may be able to see your activity.

How Incognito Works

Your activity data is not saved on your device, or to a Google Account you're not signed into while using the incognito feature.

All site data and cookies associated with a particular browing session is discarded each time all Incognito windows is closed.

All sensitive data accessed during the course of your browsing such as office work or medical records is not made available to anyone else. This is relevant as you may have signed an NDA with your client/employer.

What Incognito Mode Doesn't Do

• It does not prevent a disclosure of your identity when you sign in to any website in Incognito mode. That site will know that you are the one browsing and can keep track of your activities from that moment on.

• It does not prevent access to your activity or location as it will be visible to the websites you visit, your school, employer or your Internet Service Provider.

• It does not prevent Ads from being served by the websites you visit based on your activity during the session. This only happens as long as you are signed in and the incognito window is still open.

This private browsing mode is not limited to Chrome. Other browsers like Edge, Firefox, Internet Explorer, Opera Mini have theirs in different names such as InPrivate and Private Browsing Mode.

Knowing this, any time I need to urgently use a computer device to browse (PC or Smart phone), I always switch to an incognito mode so that my sensitive information will be secured.