Google is making a drastic change to its immensely popular Chrome browser to make it faster to jump into an Incognito Mode browsing session. The latest update brings a new shortcut for your desktop to immediately jump into the privacy-focused mode with a single click.
As it stands, it takes quite a few more clicks than that. Anyone who switches to Incognito Mode browser window within Google Chrome will need to navigate the menus within the app, or use the keyboard shortcut Ctrl+Shift+N on your keyboard. That’s not ideal, especially if you regularly favour this mode.
For those who don’t know, Incognito Mode lets you browse the web without recording your browsing history. Any data inputted in forms, including address and phone numbers, will not be saved by the Chrome – as it does in the non-Incognito Mode browser windows. Cookies and site data are also not saved.
Downloads and bookmarks will still be saved when using an Incognito Mode browser. And of course, your Internet Service Provider (ISP) will be able to see everything that goes through your home broadband router – so things might not be as private as you thought.
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Google markets its Incognito Mode as a way to shop for gifts without leaving a trace that loved ones can find on the home PC.
The winking face emoji that appears in Chrome after you open a number of Incognito Mode tabs suggests that Google thinks its users – some 65 percent of all desktop users worldwide – might be using the feature for something a little cheekier. The ability to create a shortcut on your Windows 10 desktop that launches you directly into a new Incognito Mode window should make quickly shopping for anniversary gifts when everyone leaves the house a much speedier affair.