Web browsers usually have a ‘private mode’ feature. Even though this mode won’t prevent websites from gathering information like location and IP, they still offer an additional layer of protection when it comes to cookie tracking. Cookie tracking is when websites dump text files onto the user’s hard drive. Such files are used later to receive and store personal data of the user.
Private browsing is the most reliable way to prevent cookie tracking. Here you’ll find the steps you should take to activate private browsing on different web browsers.
Google Chrome
Google Chrome is available on multiple platforms, from Desktop to Android. The methods of activating private browsing depend on the platform you’re using.
Desktop Private Browsing
Here you can press ‘Ctrl + Shift + N’ for an ‘Incognito’ window to appear. Or you can find this option after clicking on the three dots you can see at the top right of your screen, then just choose ‘New Incognito Window’.
Mobile Private Browsing
Press the three dots at the top of the browser. Then select the ‘New incognito tab’ option.
Microsoft Edge
Microsoft Edge, which is an updated version of Internet Explorer, is only available on Desktop. The private browser is named ‘InPrivate’. You can access it by pressing ‘Ctrl+Shift+P’, or by clicking on the three dots at the top-right corner and choosing ‘New InPrivate Window’.
‘New’ Microsoft Edge
‘New’ Microsoft Edge (the newest iteration of Microsoft Edge which is based on Google’s Chromium engine) is pretty similar to Chrome; there are both desktop and mobile versions.
Desktop Private Browsing
Press ‘Ctrl+Shift+N’ to open a private window, exactly like with Chrome. Or else press the three-dotted icon that you’ll find in the top-right corner and click on ‘New InPrivate Window’.
Mobile Private Browsing
Here you can reach private mode if you tap on the three dots at the bottom of your screen. This will open up a menu; scroll down and choose ‘New InPrivate Tab’.
Mozilla Firefox
Mozilla Firefox is the second most popular desktop web browser following Google Chrome. There are both mobile and desktop versions, too.
Desktop Private Browsing
Here you should do the same thing you do with Edge. Press ‘Ctrl+Shift+P’ or three lines on the top-right and then select ‘New Private Window’.
Mobile Private Browsing
Press the three dots you can find at the top of the screen and then select ‘New Private Tab’.
Opera
Opera comes in numerous variations, there’s even a ‘gamer’ browser. You can use Opera on both Desktop and Mobile platforms.
Desktop Private Browsing
You can press ‘Ctrl+Shift+N’, and a new private window will open or the red O symbol in the top-left corner of the screen. Then you should select ‘New private window’.
Mobile Private Browsing
Select the icon with three rectangles you’ll see in the bottom bar. Next, choose ‘Private’ and press the red cross icon.
Safari
Safari is the web browser from Apple. It’s available on MAC computers and the iPhone and iPad family of devices.
Desktop Private Browsing
To open up a new private window, use ‘Command+Shift+N’. Or click ‘File’ at the top of the screen, then choose ‘New Private Window’ to do the same.
iPhone/iPad:
Click the double-square on the bottom-right corner of the screen. Then select ‘Private’ and press the ‘+’ to open a new private tab.
