Google admits Chrome Incognito mode tracks users — what you need to know::Google is adding new disclaimers to Chrome after the search giant settled a class-action lawsuit regarding how incognito mode isn’t actually as private as it appears to be.

  • @fubo
    link
    English
    6410 months ago

    Even though going incognito prevents Chrome from saving cookies, site data and your browsing history, it doesn’t actually prevent websites or your internet service provider (ISP) from tracking you and knowing what you’re up to online. This news comes as a shock to many Chrome users but privacy experts have long warned that the browser’s incognito mode isn’t as private as you might think.

    Know where else you’ll find that same warning?

    On every new incognito window in Chrome.

    It’s been there for years —

    Your activity might still be visible to:

    • Websites you visit
    • Your employer or school
    • Your internet service provider
    • ALQ
      link
      English
      3110 months ago

      Yeah…I feel like the only reason to use incognito has always been “I don’t want my porn to show up in my search history and this is easier than manual deletion.” It’d be nice if it meant privacy, but the world doesn’t run on nice. :(

      • @fubo
        link
        English
        810 months ago

        Also, TCP/IP requires that the server receive your IP address (or that of a proxy, VPN endpoint, etc.) so that it can send the response back. Opening a new browser window doesn’t change that.

        • Toes♀
          link
          fedilink
          English
          310 months ago

          The computer has the ability to make accounts, so people have their own personal spaces.

          • Zagorath
            link
            fedilink
            English
            110 months ago

            I’ve never seen someone use this in the home (i.e., non-business/school) environment.

            Browsers have their own user profiles now, but that’s a much newer feature than Incognito mode.

    • @[email protected]
      link
      fedilink
      English
      1710 months ago

      Yeah I’m surprised this is news to some people. I thought everyone already knew this…

      • @[email protected]
        link
        fedilink
        English
        1010 months ago

        Well remember they just got rid of the 🔒 icon because too many people thought it meant the site was safe.

          • @Spotlight7573
            link
            English
            610 months ago

            It’s because of that https effort. Everything should be assumed to be https and only http or misconfigured/bad https gets a warning. No need to show a lock when it can be assumed and it was getting misinterpreted. Now they can use that spot to show something indicating controls and someone might actually click on it and see they can set site specific permissions and settings there.

          • @fubo
            link
            English
            610 months ago

            Fortunately, they also killed the mindbogglingly stupid idea of forcibly hiding https:// in the address bar. (It may be off by default, but you can turn it on.)

      • @[email protected]
        link
        fedilink
        English
        -710 months ago

        Hating on big tech is the new thing in 2024 I think. I’m not a fan either but this article is just stupid.

        • @[email protected]
          link
          fedilink
          English
          510 months ago

          Hating on big tech has probably been a thing since the creation of the abacus.

          Being honest about products would be a great start. I would probably be totally cool with some of the shit they do if they weren’t deceptive about it, Chrome being a great example.

          The article isn’t that bad either. It’s at a novice level, but it’s not horrible.

        • Zagorath
          link
          fedilink
          English
          010 months ago

          The article isn’t stupid. The court that made the decision is.

    • @[email protected]
      link
      fedilink
      English
      1410 months ago

      Yeah I’m no fan of googles sketchy privacy practices, but to call this an admission just makes it sound like click bait. It was never a secret.

    • @demonsword
      link
      English
      410 months ago

      Incognito mode could be much better if it also scrambled your browser fingerprint. Then it would be much, much harder to be tracked by Google/Amazon/Meta/etc. But of course they’d never do that, it would cut on their bottom line…

    • Ab_intra
      link
      English
      210 months ago

      Yeah it’s not news at all…