How To Delete Incognito History?

Everyone cherishes their privacy, particularly when it comes to their internet use. Occasionally, using Incognito mode when browsing seems like the best way to protect the privacy of our searches. Many of us have wondered if Incognito mode really hides our online activity and whether the data it generates can be removed. I’ve done a lot of study on this subject, and I’ll provide my results in this post to assist you in learning what Incognito mode is and how to delete Incognito history.

Also Read: How To Close All Incognito Tabs On Different Browsers?

Quick Guide On Incognito Mode

Let’s first clarify how Incognito mode works in reality. Your browser does not save cookies, site data, browsing history, or anything entered into forms when you use its incognito mode. But it’s important to realize that this doesn’t mean you’re completely anonymous.

• When using Incognito mode, your online behavior is still visible to your Internet Service Provider.
• You still have the option for websites you visit to track your IP address and the activities you do there.
• If you’re using their network, your company or school can still monitor your internet activity.
• Therefore, while not storing data locally on your device gives you a degree of privacy, Incognito mode does not offer total anonymity.

Can You Delete Incognito History?

Here is the crucial part. Since incognito mode does not store history, technically, you cannot remove “incognito history” from your browser. Still, there’s a chance that some evidence of your actions exists somewhere. Allow me to walk you through the procedures you can follow to ensure that your Incognito sessions disappear.

Steps to Ensure Your Incognito Sessions Are Truly Private

1. Clear DNS Cache

The DNS cache on your PC keeps track of the websites you’ve visited. Clearing this can help remove any evidence of your Incognito session.

  For Windows:

1. Type cmd by pressing Win + R, then hit Enter.
2. Type ipconfig /flushdns into the Command Prompt and press Enter.

   For Mac:

1. Launch the terminal.
2. Type and press Enter for sudo killall -HUP mDNSResponder.
3. If prompted, enter your password.

2. Use A VPN

A virtual private network, or VPN, encrypts your internet connection and masks your IP address. This guarantees that your employers, ISP, or any other third party cannot track your internet activity.

Select a trustworthy VPN provider.

Before initiating your Incognito session, install and establish a VPN connection.

3. Clear Cookies And Cache

While using Incognito mode removes cookies and cache, your system or other apps may nevertheless save some data.

   For Chrome:

• Select Privacy and Security under Settings.
• Select “Clear browsing data.”
• Choose Cache images and files, cookies, and other site data.
• Select “Clear data.”

4. Check And Remove Extensions

Some browser extensions can track your activity even in Incognito mode. Ensure that you review and turn off any unnecessary extensions.

   For Chrome:

1. Go to Settings > Extensions.
2. Review the list and deactivate any that you don’t recognize or need.

5. Regularly Review And Delete Local Storage Data

You can store data from websites locally on your device. Removing and analyzing this data regularly can help protect your privacy.

   For Chrome:

1. Select Site Settings under Settings > Privacy & Security.
2. Select View data stored across sites and permissions.
3. Go over the information and remove anything you don’t wish to keep.

6. Make Use Of Exclusive Search Engines

To further protect your privacy, think about using search engines like Start Page or DuckDuckGo that don’t track your behavior.

Practical Example: Combining These Methods

To give you a practical illustration, imagine that I’m looking into providing a friend with a surprise gift that I don’t want them to know about. My first step is to turn on my VPN, which hides my IP address. I next launch Chrome in Incognito mode and conduct my searches using DuckDuckGo. After doing my investigation, I inspect any local storage data for deletion, clear the DNS cache on my system, and erase the cookies and cache in Chrome.

I’ve made sure my browsing experience stays hidden and that no evidence of my visit might ruin the surprise by taking the precautions I’ve described.

Advanced Measures For Complete Anonymity

If you need to ensure the utmost privacy, consider these additional steps.

Use The Tor Browser

The Tor Browser makes it extremely difficult to track your activity by rerouting your internet traffic through several servers.

Make A Different User Profile

Create a separate user profile on your operating system for private browsing. This will keep any local data separate from your main profile.

Utilize A Live USB To Boot Up

You can browse anonymously by using a live USB with a privacy-prioritized operating system like Tails. As soon as you shut the machine off, all data is deleted.

Update Your Software Frequently

Updating your software and browser guarantees you have access to the most recent security fixes, which lowers the possibility of vulnerabilities being exploited.

Conclusion

Since Incognito mode doesn’t preserve your browsing data, deleting your Incognito history is a misnomer. To get total anonymity, you’ll need to take a few steps, like using a VPN and private search engines, in addition to cleaning your DNS cache. You can drastically improve your online privacy and reduce activity traces by combining these techniques.

Whether I’m researching gifts, working on sensitive projects, or just appreciating my digital imprint, I’ve found that adopting these extra safeguards helps maintain a better level of privacy. Though useful, keep in mind that using Incognito mode is only a small portion of a larger plan to protect your privacy when using the internet.

Also Read: How To Increase Download Speed In Chrome?