Looking for a gift for a loved one who has access to your device? Want your present to be a real surprise 🎁? Remember that deleting pages from your browsing history might not be enough. Many stores remember cookies and use them to tailor product ads. It's very likely that your loved one might see an ad for the very gift you're planning… And then there goes the surprise!
Don't worry, because we have the perfect solution for you 💪! Do your searching in incognito mode. Fire up mobile internet on a card from Vikings (and if you don't have it yet, take a look at our offer) and get to it! Follow our instructions, and the gift will remain your sweet secret.
What is incognito mode on a phone?
Incognito mode is one of the functions of a web browser that allows you to browse the internet without saving your history. Its primary purpose is to maintain privacy while searching for content. What does this mean for you exactly? Visited websites and search queries will not be saved in your browser history. Incognito mode on your phone will also prevent the storage of login data and cookies.
Why use private mode?
Incognito mode will allow you to maintain greater privacy while using your web browser. Wondering in what situations it's worth using? Take a look at some of our examples.
When is it worth using incognito mode?
- Using public Wi-Fi: connecting to open networks can expose you to hacker attacks. By using incognito mode, you can protect your sensitive data, such as logins for your bank, email, and other services. In this case, using a special VPN might also be helpful. If you're wondering what a VPN on a phone is, you'll find more information in our post.
- To avoid personalized ads: cookies are not saved in private mode. It's based on these cookies that companies tailor their ads to specific audience groups.
- Searching for attractive offers: some companies display products strictly tailored to the user's profile, e.g., their interests or country of origin. By using incognito mode, you might come across more attractive offers. This is especially useful when searching for flight tickets.
- Looking for a gift for a household member: would you like the recipient to be surprised by your gift? Use private mode in your browser and search for your dream gift this way.
How to enter incognito mode on a phone?
Activating this option is very simple and will take you literally a second 🥳. Below you'll find step-by-step instructions.
Enabling incognito mode on Android:
- Open your browser, e.g., Google Chrome.
- Find the three dots in the settings menu.
- Select the option New incognito tab.
Launching incognito mode on iOS:
- Open the Safari app.
- Click on the icon with two squares.
- Find and select the Private option.
- Confirm with the Done button.
No longer need a private window and wondering how to turn off incognito mode on your phone? Close all browser tabs opened in this mode, and you're done!
Incognito mode on a phone and privacy
You already know what incognito mode is and how to enable it 🥳. You're probably wondering, is browsing websites completely anonymous in this case? It turns out it's not. While another user of the device won't see your browsing history, various entities have access to it. These include: the police and other public administration bodies, your internet service provider, your school, your employer, and the owners of the websites you log into. Using incognito mode also doesn't hide your IP address. The mentioned function won't protect you from hacking attempts either. So, approach opening suspicious links and websites with the same caution as you would when standardly browsing the web.
Now you can get to searching for that dream gift! Also, try using incognito mode for other purchases or for searching for attractively priced flight tickets 🤩.
