How to Browse in Incognito Mode (All Browsers)

Browsing in the Incognito Mode (Chrome) or Private Mode (Firefox, IE, Opera) changes the information your browser saves for that particular session. Normally your browser will save the following information to the hard drive for several weeks, months, or indefinitely:

  • History of pages/sites visited
  • Cookies from these sites as requested
  • Data entered into web forms
  • Potentially save passwords (Browser should ask you for each password)
  • A limited copy of pages visited (Web cache)

Use of the Incognito or Private mode will prevent any of this information from being stored permanently. Temporary storage is required for proper browser operation, but it will be deleted when the session ends (when the browser is closed).

Learn how to configure Incognito / Private browsing as the default mode for any of the major browsers that support the setting. This configuration is made to the user profile on a per-machine basis.

Why Use Incognito/Private Browser Session?

Incognito / Private mode is a good way to protect student privacy, however, it is not anonymous. It will not allow you to abuse computer resources, violate acceptable use policy or break the law without leaving behind evidence. Computers external to yours can and will make a record of activity. For example, the Edmonds College web proxy will record which sites you visit. And the Web servers you access will also keep a record. Additionally, advanced computer forensic methods can retrieve the deleted web history, cookies, and cached pages. Never use someone else’s computer outside the boundaries of the acceptable use policy. Never violate the law with any computer.

Instructions

Mozilla FireFox

1. Open Firefox, click on the Firefox Menu Button in the top right corner of the application, and go to Options.

Google Chrome

1. Open Chrome and click on the Chrome Menu Button icon in the top right corner of the application. Select New incognito window near the top of the drop-down menu.

2. Confirm that you are in Incognito browsing mode by checking for the Incognito icon near the left side of the Chrome tab bar.

Microsoft Edge

1. Open Microsoft Edge

2. Select the More icon in the top right-hand corner. Then select New InPrivate Window.

3. Confirm that you are in Incognito browsing mode by checking for the InPrivate. Icon indicator near left side of the In Microsoft Edge address bar.

Safari

1. Launch Safari from your Dock.

How to Customize Safari Browser Layout in Mac? – WebNots

2. Click File on the Menu Bar, then click New Private Window

3. Confirm that you are in Private browsing mode by checking for the Private Browsing Enabled indicator near right-hand side of the Safari address bar.

Setting Private Browsing as default on Safari:

  1. While Safari is open, go to the menu bar (at the top of the screen), and click on Safari. Select and click on Preferences.
  2. A popup menu will be opened. Click on the General tab.
  3. At the top under Safari opens with click on the dropdown menu and select New private window.

Now whenever you open Safari, you will automatically be in Private Mode.