Internet browsers are an integral part of a user’s online experience. We use them to access our favorite social media sites, to make online purchases or search for news.
Browsers such as Google Chrome connect our devices to the internet, and in turn, they keep a catalogue of our search history, as well as saving cookies and site data on our device each time we visit a new website. Google has an additional feature to its browser where users can search for information in Incognito mode. But how does this work, and what can users expect from it?
The age of personalised browsers
Our relationship with an internet browser has become an intrinsic part of our online experience. If you were to think about it, an internet browser is not only a gateway to unlimited information but also a reflection of our likes and personality.
If you were to open Google Chrome, you will immediately notice your frequently visited websites that appear in the address bar when searching or as icons on the home page. These features are subtle additions that makes the user experience better, and ultimately save us time when navigating. And yet, not all users want to have this form of quick access to certain websites, so they would prefer to use Incognito mode. Essentially, this mode works in a way where the browser ‘forgets’ and does not record your activity when visiting certain websites.
Buying stuff online in incognito vs regular browsing
When users browse Google Chrome using Incognito mode, it is as if the session never happened – nothing is saved in the browsing history, and any cookies created from the websites visited are wiped as soon as the session is closed.
The key takeaway from using Incognito mode is the management of cookies. When a user visits any website, the browser will save bits of data on the device as a log of recent activity. It is with such cookies that users can revisit an online store and still find their items in a cart, or how they may receive certain adverts that are tied to what they have been searching for. Cookies also explain why users remain logged into their social media profiles and Gmail when they close and reopen a browser.
With this in mind, browsing in Incognito mode makes you unrecognizable to a recently visited website, which is a great way for window shopping online or playing a couple of free slot games without receiving a bunch of marketing promos, a tactic used by many visitors of Canadian online casino.
Browsing for airplane tickets in incognito
Many people believe that if you search for the same flight multiple times, companies will slowly increase the price of the ticket, since all airlines and even Google itself monitors what you’re searching for. So, in theory, using a new incognito window each time you search for the flight should give you unaltered results.
Unfortunately, no one yet proved this theory. Flight price is determined by many factors, including the flight length, day of the week, search location and other factors. Some sources say that incognito browsing for cheaper flights is just a rumor, while others argue that this trick can save you some dollars. In any case, it costs you nothing to indeed use this method. Maybe for you it will hold true!