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A Complete Guide To Private Browsing

22 May

This guide will explain what private browsing is, how it works and when it may be useful.

Despite the conventionally dubbed names for private browsing, in connection with the searching of particular adult websites, it has a number of advantages. The main benefit is that any sites you view or search for whilst in private browsing mode will not be recorded.

This includes downloaded content, forms, passwords, temporary files, caches and so on. Therefore, if you share a computer with someone else they will not see what you have been looking at.

Aside from the more popular theories on why one would want to do this, private browsing is beneficial if you are viewing confidential information on a public computer, purchasing presents for family or friends who also have access to your computer and if you don’t want your details remembered on particular webpages. Your general browsing history and bookmarks are still accessible, but bear in mind it does not make you unidentifiable on the internet or protect you from any security breaches.

Another advantage of private browsing is that it is a feature available on almost every make of browser. This means if you are using a friend’s computer that has the internet then they will most likely have access to private browsing.

Through private browsing you can also open multiple accounts from the same website in one browsing session because, in most cases, the private browser will open as a separate window. So if you have two logins for a site like Facebook or MySpace for example, you can have a normal browsing session with one account open and use the private browsing session for another.

The particular browser you run will determine how you access private browsing mode. Web browser usage statistics from W3schools.com show that the top five browsers are Internet Explorer, Firefox, Google Chrome, Safari and Opera, all of which are focused on below.

Microsoft Internet Explorer and Mozilla Firefox Private Browsing

Private browsing can be accessed by holding down the Ctrl and Shift keys then pressing the P button on your keyboard. You can also select the InPrivate Browsing option from the Tools menu (if it is not visible from there press the Alt key to show it), and from the hyperlink given in a new Internet Explorer tab. In Mozilla Firefox, private browsing can be accessed exactly the same way.

Google Chrome Incognito

Google have opted to be different by naming their browser "Incognito Mode" instead of private browsing. Incognito browsing can be accessed by holding down Ctrl and Shift keys and then pressing N. An alternative way of accessing this session, is to open a new Incognito window from the menu in the upper right hand corner in Chrome.

Apple Safari Private Browsing

Apple have chosen the simple option of allowing their users to click on the Safari browser icon and then and in the menu bar select Private Browsing. Once active, a "Private" label will be shown in the address bar, which users can then click on to turn private browsing off.

Opera Private Browsing

The Opera browser has made private browsing a very convenient and accessible option. Users can open private browsing by clicking on either a New Private Tab and then New Private Window, or click Menu and selecting Tabs and Windows/New Private Tab & Window.

Whether you are searching for a present, or looking at some personal sites, remember that private browsing can help maintain discretion on personal and public computers. This browsing feature not only keeps secret the sites you are viewing, but also removes any profile passwords or usernames, any form details and the history of your session once it is closed. Comparing different browsers will help understand how this feature can help you, and what program will be best for your private browsing needs.