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Then why have incognito mode at all? Anyone with access to the computer could install something to observe the browser as it navigates around 'privately'. In

by Groxx 13y ago

Then why have incognito mode at all? Anyone with access to the computer could install something to observe the browser as it navigates around 'privately'. In fact, almost any of your applications could already be doing this, since it's not sandboxed. Game over. Might as well remove it. Users hate being logged out anyway. edit: I'm quite serious. incognito mode is "privacy theater". by the same logic, it should be removed.

giovannibajo1 13y ago
Not completely. Incognito mode is still useful so that when your boss sits next to you, and you start typing words in the browser/search bar, it doesn't offer "interesting" autocompletion based on browsing history.
- interpol_p 13y ago
  I think that's exactly the parent's point. Incognito mode is useful despite being essentially "security theatre". The same way that requiring a master password to view stored passwords is useful.
  - makomk 13y ago
    Incognito mode is useful because it's easy to use. Master passwords are not, as demonstrated by the fact that 99%+ of Firefox users don't.
    - interpol_p 13y ago
      Yes, I agree that master passwords are badly implemented in Firefox. It should be on by default — like Safari where it uses your keychain password when attempting to display a plain text stored password. Chrome and Firefox could easily do this too (they do use the Keychain to fetch passwords anyway.)
pyre 13y ago
If you're being monitored (by software), then it's already game-over from multiple angles, and your browsing history of porn is the least of your worries (logging encryption passwords, etc). On the other hand, using Incognito Mode means that there are no logs until you're being monitored. This means that if your laptop is confiscated (e.g. at the border) there are no logs. Note: Your ISP and the NSA can be logging from their end to, without access to your machine.

by Groxx 13y ago

giovannibajo1 13y ago

Not completely. Incognito mode is still useful so that when your boss sits next to you, and you start typing words in the browser/search bar, it doesn't offer "interesting" autocompletion based on browsing history.

interpol_p 13y ago
I think that's exactly the parent's point. Incognito mode is useful despite being essentially "security theatre". The same way that requiring a master password to view stored passwords is useful.
- makomk 13y ago
  Incognito mode is useful because it's easy to use. Master passwords are not, as demonstrated by the fact that 99%+ of Firefox users don't.
  - interpol_p 13y ago
    Yes, I agree that master passwords are badly implemented in Firefox. It should be on by default — like Safari where it uses your keychain password when attempting to display a plain text stored password. Chrome and Firefox could easily do this too (they do use the Keychain to fetch passwords anyway.)

pyre 13y ago

If you're being monitored (by software), then it's already game-over from multiple angles, and your browsing history of porn is the least of your worries (logging encryption passwords, etc). On the other hand, using Incognito Mode means that there are no logs until you're being monitored. This means that if your laptop is confiscated (e.g. at the border) there are no logs. Note: Your ISP and the NSA can be logging from their end to, without access to your machine.