Proxy Servers and Incognito Browsing
Gleb Lepeshkin
Gleb Lepeshkin Published: 2024/01/09

Some people might wonder what kind of level of privacy they get when they use the Incognito mode settings on their browser (like Google Chrome, for instance). And whether this level is up to the standards. When you say browsing with Tor, is it the same as using proxies in terms of your personal data protection? 

All these issues will be covered in the article below. You will learn more about connecting through a proxy for private browsing and using the Incognito mode, as well as the level of its safety and security for the end user. You will also learn about proxies in this respect. In other words, what are the reasons for you to use proxies if you want to increase the level of security of your connection, and so on?

But let’s begin with the idea of the Incognito mode and its mode of operandi.

What is Incognito mode?

Incognito mode, also known as private browsing or privacy mode, is a feature in web browsers that allows you to browse the internet without saving any data about your activity when you select it. When you use incognito mode, your browser won’t store your browsing history, cookies, or other data that could be used to track your online activity.

What it really means to you is that your browser will still record some information, such as files you download and bookmarks you create. But all the extra things that make you visible and vulnerable on the web will not be recorded.

So, what is the best use case for using the Incognito mode? Obviously, when you need to open access to the data on the web via a public network, you don’t want to leave traces of your presence in the browser. Or, it can also come in rather handy when you research a certain sensitive subject and you don’t want to be associated with the search.  

Problems with Incognito

Now, what are the kinds of problems that you may expect with the Incognito mode?

First of all, your Internet provider can still track your online activities even in Incognito mode. Then, the websites that you visit will be able to track your IP anyway. And, finally, you still subject your system to all types of malware.  

All of these can be avoided by using a proxy server. 

What is a Proxy server?

Unlike the Incognito mode, a proxy server is a physical online service that creates a gateway between your machine and the websites that you are trying to access. It masks your original IP and helps bypass the geo-restrictions on the way to your site.

How does it ensure your privacy?

A proxy server ensures your privacy by providing yet another layer of anonymity and encryption between you and the Internet. However, you should remember that not all the proxies are equal in their engineering structure. 

You are able to arrange a higher level of private browsing through a proxy than when you are in Incognito mode. Basically, in the Incognito mode, you just do not leave traces of your browsing on this particular machine. And that’s it. 

Why is using a proxy better than the Incognito mode?

Well, first of all, the Incognito mode is meant to give you only some “untraceability” while accessing some sites from your browser. And most popular browsers have this feature. And private proxy servers completely hide your system behind another IP, so that even your physical geo-location will be hidden from the target site. This is necessary to access some sites that are off-limits from your current location. 

And, secondly, the Incognito mode does not provide you with a layer of anonymity to prevent any malware from penetrating your machine.

Using a proxy server

By using a proxy server to hide your machine behind another IP, you guarantee your anonymity on the target websites. It is a much better solution when it comes to getting a hurdle free access to sites than incognito mode of your browser due to the reasons described above. If you are currently looking for a set of reliable private proxies to do this job for you, we are happy to provide you with assistance with picking just the right IPs for your particular missions.

Rate this article, if you like it:

Frequently Asked Questions

Please read our Documentation if you have questions that are not listed below.

  • How does a proxy server differ from Incognito mode?

    With a proxy, your traffic gets routed via a different server with another IP, and in Incognito mode, your data is simply not stored locally. Thus, a proxy server provides a higher level of privacy and security than Incognito mode.

  • When should I use Incognito mode?

    You should use Incognito mode if you want to browse the web without leaving a trace of your activity. It's useful for situations where you don't want others to see your browsing history, such as when using a shared computer or device.

  • When should I use a proxy server?

    You should use a proxy server if you want to hide your original IP address. This is necessary when you access geo-restricted content or want to improve your online security while scraping.

Get 100% Clean DC & Residential Proxies

Contact Us