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Google quietly adjusts the incognito mode description on Chrome after lawsuit
The new description now better tells users what to expect when using the browsing mode.
Just before 2023 ended, Google agreed to settle a lawsuit about how it described incognito mode on Chrome. The main complaint was that Google could still harvest data and information from people using incognito mode, and while Google never explicitly stated that it wouldn't collect user data, the courts believed the description of incognito mode was vague enough to trick people into assuming it couldn't. Now, Google has adjusted the incognito mode's description to describe better what it does and doesn't do.
Google agrees to settle lawsuit accusing it of tracking users in Incognito mode in Chrome
Google has finally agreed to settle a $5 billion lawsuit that claimed that it does not properly respect the privacy of Chrome Incognito users.
Back in 2020, Google was sued in a $5 billion lawsuit claiming that the company harvested the data of its Chrome customers even if they were using the browser in incognito mode. The claimant argued that services like Google Ad Manager and Google Analytics still collected information about the preferences and browsing activities of the user and while they were not tied directly to a profile, a user could still be identified by augmenting this data with previously known information about online habits. After about three years, Google has now agreed to a settlement in this landmark case.
You can now easily lock your Chrome Incognito session on Android
Chrome for Android has rolled out an easy way for users to lock their Incognito sessions, requiring biometric authentication or a PIN to unlock it.
Data Privacy Day or Data Protection Day is an event celebrated around the world with an attempt to raise awareness about some best practices when it comes to protecting your data. While we're still a couple a day out, it looks like Google dropped a new page on its blog, with five tips to keep users safe online using Chrome.
Chrome for iOS to bring Face and Touch ID security for Incognito tabs
The latest Google Chrome beta for iOS includes an option to lock your Incognito tabs, and unlock with Face ID or Touch ID. Read on for more!
The Incognito mode on Chrome is a great option if you want to visit sensitive websites and, at the same time, avoid leaving a trace behind in the browser’s history. However, if you forget to close these tabs, chances are that someone can pick up your unlocked phone and get access to these Incognito tabs. To avoid that, Google’s Chrome team is working on a new privacy feature for iOS users. Chrome now lets you lock Incognito tabs with your iPhone's Face ID or Touch ID authentication in a new beta update.
Chrome for Android might soon bring back screenshot support in incognito mode
Google has added in a new flag to enable screenshots in incognito mode on Chrome for Android on the Canary branch. Check it out!
Google had removed the ability to take screenshots in incognito mode with Chrome v65 on Android back in 2018. The feature was restricted as a measure to protect users’ privacy. However, it seems that this might change soon and the feature could be re-introduced. While there are complexities at hand, the Chrome team has added a flag to Chrome 89 Canary allowing users to take screenshots while on an Incognito page.
Google is being sued for tracking users in Incognito Mode
Google is going under fire again for their privacy practices: this time, they are facing a bad lawsuit for tracking users even in Incognito Mode.
Incognito Mode is a feature most of us take for granted by now. All current browsers have at least some iteration of it: a mode where browsing history and cookies are not saved. Many people wrongly assume that Incognito Mode makes you completely anonymous online. That is, in fact, not true, and Chrome even warns you of that when starting a session. However, some argue that Google is still collecting some data, and now the company is facing a $5 billion lawsuit for this.
[Update 3: Clearer Toggle Language] Researchers accuse Xiaomi web browsers of collecting browsing data - even in Incognito mode
Cybersecurity researchers have found evidence that Xiaomi's browsers have been collecting browsing data info even in Incognito mode. Read on to know more!
Xiaomi smartphones are unanimously agreed to be one of the best value purchases available in the market at any point in time. Packing some insane hardware at some very lucrative price points, especially at the lower end of the smartphone market, these phones make an offer that a lot of people just can't refuse. Xiaomi has also been receptive to the needs of the developer community, with decisions such as allowing bootloader unlocking without sacrificing the manufacturer's warranty -- a combination that a lot of other popular OEMs discard, as well as vastly improving upon their kernel source releases. These reasons make them one of the most popular devices in our forums, and they have rightfully earned that spot of popularity.
Google Chrome for Android will start hiding media notifications in Incognito Mode
With Chrome for Android, media notifications were not hidden when using an incognito tab, but a new commit shows that will be changing in the future.
There's a lot of expectations that go into Google Chrome's incognito mode. Some people just assume that it hides and doesn't store or track anything and everything that the person is doing while they're using it. This type of feature is so popular that most web browsers these days have a similar feature. The thing is, each browser implements a different set of rules when running in their version of incognito mode. With Chrome for Android, media notifications were not hidden when using an incognito tab, but a new commit shows that will be changing in the future.
Google Chrome on Android may soon support Incognito Chrome Custom Tabs
Google Chrome could soon support Incognito Custom Tabs - Chrome Custom Tabs opened in Incognito Mode that don't save history or support screenshots.
The Google Chrome browser is by far the most dominant browser on Android. After all, it's pre-installed on most Android devices (which recently landed Google in trouble with the EU) and even if you use another browser, it's probably still based on Chromium. Android's default WebView client became Chromium-based in Android 4.4 KitKat and then Android Nougat made the Chrome app take over as the WebView process. As if that isn't enough, Google Chrome 45 introduced Chrome Custom Tabs which encouraged app developers to open browser links in Chrome to better their users' experiences. Chrome Custom Tabs allow developers to show a Chrome tab with some customizations such as theming the title bar and showing special buttons in the menu, but a new commit we spotted in the Chromium Gerrit suggests that Chrome Custom Tabs will soon support opening up in Incognito Mode.
New API Allows Apps to Open Keyboard in Incognito Mode
Starting with Android Oreo, we've seen an interesting feature make its way to Gboard: incognito mode. There's an API allowing you to launch it on your app!
Starting with Android Oreo, we've seen an interesting feature make its way to Gboard: incognito mode. In a similar fashion to Google Chrome or most web browsers like Firefox or Samsung Browser, the keyboard incognito mode allows you to use your keyboard without actually saving any of your keystrokes or words used. It's a really useful feature, and something we really know we needed until now. And Google has also introduced an API to match.