Private browsing helps prevent someone else with access to your computer from seeing your online activities afterwards. This is useful, for example, on a public or shared computer, so as not to leave saved credentials or compromising history.
However, it is important to understand that this privacy is primarily local (on your device). Private mode does not involve browsing anonymously on the Internet itself. It is not a “shield of invisibility” vis-à-vis the websites visited, your Internet Service Provider (ISP) or your employer.
As indicated by the National Commission for Information Technology and Liberties (CNIL), even in private mode, sites can collect information using cookies (small files that record your preferences and online activities) or data processing techniques. fingerprintingwhich allow a user to be uniquely identified by analyzing the technical characteristics of their browser.
Private mode has many limitations
Studies confirm the technical limits of private mode. Traces remain despite closing the session, contradicting what the browser documentation states. An analysis on Android revealed that RAM retains sensitive data: keywords, identifiers, cookies, recoverable even after reboot.
Private mode does not block advertising cookies, it simply deletes them at the end of the session. When you return to a site in a new private session, it does not “remember” the previous choices: you therefore often have to redefine your preferences (accept or refuse cookies). Cookie consent banners, well known to European Internet users since the entry into force of the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) and the directive ePrivacytherefore reappear systematically. Consent fatigue pushes many Internet users to accept everything without reading.
In France, 65% of Internet users systematically accept cookies, despite better information on the subject in recent years. However, Internet users are aware of the risks linked to their online privacy, but do not systematically act, often due to a lack of knowledge or confidence in the tools available. Some sites even hide the “decline” option to influence you: a well-designed panel can cut acceptances in half.
What alternatives to really protect yourself?
Private mode is not enough to guarantee anonymity online. To better protect your privacy, you need to combine several tools. A VPN (virtual private network or virtual private network, in French) creates a secure tunnel between your device and the internet, allowing you to browse more confidentially by encrypting your data and hiding your IP address. In 2024, 19% of French VPN users want above all to hide their activity and 15% to protect their communications.
A browser like Tor goes further: it bounces your requests using several relays to completely hide your identity. It is the preferred tool of journalists or activists, but its slowness can discourage daily use. Alternatives like Brave or Firefox Focus offer reinforced modes against trackers, while extensions like uBlock Origin or Privacy Badger effectively block ads and trackers. These extensions are compatible with major browsers like Chrome, Firefox, Edge, Opera and Brave.
It is also essential to adopt digital hygiene: manage cookies, limit authorizations, prefer search engines like DuckDuckGo (which do not store your searches, do not profile you and automatically block many trackers) and avoid centralizing your data on a single account. True privacy online relies on a comprehensive, proactive and informed approach.
