While browsing in Incognito mode, session details such as history, cookies, website information, and form submissions are not saved. However, the websites you visit can still log your activity, the internet service provider can also see your activity, and if you are on a work or school-issued machine, the administrator can also check your browsing data. However, Google has previously avoided telling users that the company itself collects some valuable data, as do the websites you visit while Incognito mode is active.
As part of the lawsuit, the plaintiffs argued that Google’s apps, cookies, and analytics services tracked user activity while browsing the web in Incognito mode, which allegedly allowed the company to collect an “unaccountable trove of information” on millions of users. The lawsuit initially sought damages worth $5,000 for each class member for misleading them and tracking their web browsing activity since 2016.
Citing systems like Google Ad Manager and Google Analytics, the lawsuit argued that Google persists in monitoring, gathering, and recognizing users’ online activities in real-time, which goes against federal and state wiretapping laws and infringes upon individuals’ privacy rights.
So, what’s the safe route if Incognito mode is not really private after all? According to experts at Nord, you should pick a private search engine such as Duck Duck Go, prefer Tor as the browsing channel, disable third-party cookies, and if possible, use a VPN to keep your browsing sessions private.
