Online Life
Incognito Browsing
Your web browser has a built-in privacy tool—but do you know what it really does? This short explainer breaks down private or incognito browsing and shows how it works, what it hides (and what it doesn’t), and when to use it. Whether you’re sharing a device or keeping your shopping secrets safe, this video explains how to browse without leaving behind visible traces.
What's About
Every time you browse the internet, your browser is quietly remembering things—pages you’ve visited, search terms you’ve typed, and even login details from websites. It’s helpful for convenience, but not ideal when you’re using a shared device or want to keep your activity private.
That’s where Incognito Browsing comes in. This video explains how every major browser includes a private mode—a kind of “twin” browser that doesn’t keep track of what you do. When you close the window, your search history, cookies, and temporary files disappear from that session.
But it’s important to understand what private browsing does and doesn’t do. It doesn’t make you anonymous online, and your internet provider or network administrator can still see your activity. What it does offer is local privacy—preventing others who use your computer from seeing your recent activity.
Through practical examples like planning a surprise gift, using a public computer, or testing changes to a website, the video shows real-life uses of incognito browsing. It’s a simple tool that can make a big difference—when used for the right reasons.
That’s where Incognito Browsing comes in. This video explains how every major browser includes a private mode—a kind of “twin” browser that doesn’t keep track of what you do. When you close the window, your search history, cookies, and temporary files disappear from that session.
But it’s important to understand what private browsing does and doesn’t do. It doesn’t make you anonymous online, and your internet provider or network administrator can still see your activity. What it does offer is local privacy—preventing others who use your computer from seeing your recent activity.
Through practical examples like planning a surprise gift, using a public computer, or testing changes to a website, the video shows real-life uses of incognito browsing. It’s a simple tool that can make a big difference—when used for the right reasons.
What it Matters
Private browsing can protect your information on shared or public devices—if you know how it works. This video clears up misconceptions and shows when and why incognito mode is useful.
By the end of this video, you’ll be able to:
- Identify what information web browsers normally save during a session
- Understand why browsers store history, cookies, and login data
- Explain how private or incognito mode changes what’s saved locally
- Recognize that private browsing doesn’t make you anonymous online
- Apply incognito browsing effectively in everyday scenarios where local privacy matters.
By the end of this video, you’ll be able to:
- Identify what information web browsers normally save during a session
- Understand why browsers store history, cookies, and login data
- Explain how private or incognito mode changes what’s saved locally
- Recognize that private browsing doesn’t make you anonymous online
- Apply incognito browsing effectively in everyday scenarios where local privacy matters.
Standards Aligned
- ISTE Standard: Digital Citizen Indicator 2d
- ACRL Info Literacy Frame: Information Has Value