Let’s set the record straight: Incognito mode is not private. I don’t care how many travel blogs say things like “just open a private window and you’re safe” — that’s not how this works.
Here’s the thing:
Incognito mode (or private browsing or whatever your browser calls it) only hides your activity from your device. That’s it. It’s like cleaning your kitchen counter while someone’s still watching you through the window. Sure, it looks tidy, but the guy outside saw everything.
Your internet provider? Still sees what sites you visit.
That shady café Wi-Fi? Still logging connections.
The websites you visit? Still collecting your IP address.
And yet, I constantly see travel content pushing incognito as this magical fix. “Want to find cheaper flights? Just go incognito.”
Sure, that might help with cookies, but it doesn’t make you anonymous.
Real Talk: When Incognito Does Help
- If you’re booking flights and don’t want price hikes from cached searches, go ahead.
- If you’re using a shared computer and don’t want your browsing history saved, it’s useful.
- If you’re signing into multiple Google accounts without mixing cookies, it’s handy.
But don’t use it thinking you’re hidden from surveillance, trackers, or snooping ISPs. Because you’re not.
A Quick Example From My Own Trip
I once used hotel Wi-Fi in Istanbul to check my bank. I thought I was clever, using incognito mode. I figured: no history, no saved passwords — I’m good.
Except… two days later, I got a fraud alert. Someone tried accessing my bank from Turkey — same city, same IP block. Was it related? Can’t say for sure. But let’s just say I stopped relying on browser tricks after that.
So What Should You Use?
I won’t get preachy, but here’s what I wish someone had told me:
- Incognito is a local privacy tool, not a network security tool.
- It doesn’t encrypt traffic.
- It doesn’t hide you from trackers or your hotel’s IT admin.
- And it sure as hell won’t save you if someone’s intercepting packets on public Wi-Fi.
Basically, don’t let the name “incognito” fool you. It’s not invisibility — it’s just a polite way of saying, “we won’t snitch to your browser history.”