Can Anyone See What I Searched In Incognito Mode

The short and straightforward answer to the question, “Can someone see my internet history if I use their Wi-Fi with Incognito mode,” is Yes.

Does this make you wonder how it is possible as Incognito mode is made for privacy? Well, this is what we will discuss and explain how you can stay anonymous while browsing.

These days, for almost everything, from banking to shopping for clothes, groceries, and even buying gifts and staying connected with friends, the Internet is used. And this is when you give a free pass to the ISP, government, websites, and search engines to track you. But how do they do that? Is there a way you can stop them from accessing your digital footprints?

Must Read: ISP Tracking – Is It a Thing? Can Your ISP Spy on You

How to stop ISP, Government, and Others from accessing your search history and online activity?

You can achieve it using a trusted and reliable VPN like Systweak VPN.

Benefits of Using Systweak VPN

Military-grade encryption
Kill switch
Keeps your data private and secure
Transmits encrypted data that no one can intercept
Bypass restricted networks & geo-restrictions
Protect data from prying eyes when using public Wi-Fi
Access blocked sites like Netflix, Hulu, Etc.

Who Can See Incognito History On Google Chrome, Firefox & Microsoft Edge

The way the security and privacy of Incognito mode are being hyped, assuming it is the safest way to browse the web, is normal. Sadly, this isn’t true, as a set of eyes always watch you, and they want a piece of your data.

Below through the help of the table, we will help you understand who these people are and what they can see.

Who can see your browsing history and what you do online?	What can they see irrespective of the browsing mode?
Internet service provider (ISP)	ISP is the one who provides the internet connection. This is why even when you browse the web in incognito mode unless the online activity is encrypted, your ISP can see:- Websites you visit. Social media platforms you accessed. Emails you sent. Banking sites you visit. Downloaded files. Devices used. The content you view. Location, etc. Some ISPs even save this data depending on local laws. Not only this but with the data they have about you, like your personal information health, browsing habits, and financial details, they can create a profile of you and use it to show ads, monitor your activities, etc. This is why hiding IP addresses is recommended. The best way to do this is using a trustworthy and effective VPN, like Systweak VPN.
Network admin at school and workplace	If you are using Wi-Fi or the network connection offered by your school or workplace, remember your network admin can see your:- Browsing history. Files you access. Time spend on each site. Social media account you accessed. Videos you watched. As the Wi-Fi is open, it isn’t well protected, so you should never access your banking site or financial information on them. However, if you access HTTPS websites with a padlock next to the URL: like and fill forms, your network admin cannot see that. This is a relief, but don’t get carefree, as your boss and network admin can see other things.
Operating systems	Your operating system, be it Windows, macOS, or Linux, know about the websites, social media platforms, and videos you access. Also, they can know your location when allowed. They even know what your children do and what you don’t want them to visit. To check, you can look at the parental control settings. They can track Websites you visit. Videos you view. Social media platforms and apps you use. However, if you want to stay on top of them, customize the privacy settings of the OS. Remember, if you use native browsers like Edge on Windows and Safari on macOS, both companies can know what you’ve been up to.
Websites	The websites you visit often in the name of giving you a better experience store cache and cookies. These tiny files collect information about your visited web page, time spent, and items you browsed. This data helps marketing agencies show related advertisements targeting users or improving their services. Here’s what websites know about you: The web page you visited. The content you checked. Products that you shortlisted or viewed. Device, location, and browser you used.
Search Engines	Search engines do not have much information about you, but they still have some data about: What you searched. Links you accessed. Search history. Location, browser, and IP address. However, if you are a Google user, the search engine has the information you share on Gmail, Chrome, YouTube, Hangout, etc. In short, all Google apps are linked, and they share data. With such interconnection, the data flowing through Google servers about you help the tech giant create an almost accurate profile of you and provide data to search engines so that you can enjoy a personalized experience. To stay secure, you should use a search engine like DuckDuckGo that is against such privacy violations.
Apps	Like search engines, the amount of data collected by apps is also limited, but if you are not cautious while granting permission, it can collect almost all your data. Apps you use on smartphones, laptops, PC, and tablets all collect your online data to some extent. Information such as Your location. Account information. E-mail address. Browsing History. Contact lists. Your image and videos. They have access to it.
Governments	Most governments don’t track your online activity or save browsing information. However, if they join hands with your ISP or instruct them to share your online data, they can access:- Websites you visited. Time spent on each page. The content you interacted with. Your browsing data if the ISP aid and abide by what government wants Your location. File you downloaded. Device and browser used. Incoming and outgoing messages. Control over the webcam. This means even if the government is not officially tracking you, they can request data from any company and website. This data can be used against you and in favor. It all depends on the agenda and intention of the governments. Fortunately, by using a VPN, you can bypass online censorship.
Cybercriminals	Undoubtedly, if you are attacked by a virus, your data, browsing history, financial data, and everything else are at risk. Hackers use unauthorized ways to access your browsing history. They collect data by breaking into the PC or online account. By following these nefarious activities, they get their hands on:- Log in details to various websites. Browsing and search history. Emails and messages. Downloaded and saved files on compromised devices. Location. Home address and SSN. To get these details, they deploy countless tricks, so staying protected against these threats is a must.

How Do I Prevent Others From Seeing What I Do Online?

We know that no one likes the idea of being tracked online. Fortunately, some ways help stay anonymous. But you are mistaken if you think that way is using the Incognito mode of Google Chrome or the Private browsing of Firefox. These ways are not enough to keep you guarded. You need a bit more than that.

The important thing you need to do is hide your IP address. When this is done, no one can know that the digital footprints or breadcrumbs left are of you. To pull this off, all you need is a VPN.

Here we explain how to use Systweak VPN. You can hide your IP address and show a fake one.

Download and install Systweak VPN.
Run it.
Next, you need to create an account.
Sign in to the account.
Please select the server to which you want to connect, and that’s it.

You can now browse the web without disclosing your actual IP address.

Why use a VPN?

A VPN (Virtual Private Network) switches the real IP address with a fake one. Also, the data that is transmitted through it is encrypted. This means not only your IP address will be hidden, but no one can see what you are transmitting. A VPN with strong encryption is safe to use and offers anonymity. Also, you can bypass geo-restriction and protect your data from snoopy eyes.

There are different VPNs available you can pick any as per your needs. However, if you are looking for our recommendation, we suggest Systweak VPN.

Safeguard Your Browsing History and Stay Hidden Online

Many companies and people are eyeing your data. They want the data to show personalized ads or steal from you. Therefore, when browsing the web, it is important to stay safe. This can be done using a VPN, proxy server, or secure browser like Tor. Though a proxy will not encrypt data, we suggest you use a VPN and a browser like Tor if you want overall security. This practice will help safeguard your data and stay secure online.

We hope we have explained how anyone can see your browsing history and search queries and how you can protect them from getting into the wrong hands. If you have any questions or other tips, please share them with us.

Must Read: Block Third-Party Cookies on All Browsers – A Beginner’s Guide

Preeti Seth

A UX writer who loves explaining technical details in a clear, crisp, and concise manner. She loves writing about technical troubleshooting, How-To's, product reviews, etc. In her free time, she loves reading, meditating, and traveling.