Private Browsing on Android: Hide Your Tracks - A Guide

The Incognito mode in Google Chrome prevents the browser from saving your browsing history, cookies, site data, or information entered in forms.

It’s a useful feature for maintaining privacy while browsing the internet, especially on shared devices.

Firefox

Private browsing within Firefox is initiated by opening a Private Tab. Access this feature by tapping the menu button – represented by three vertical dots – located in the browser window's upper-right corner.

From the resulting drop-down menu, select “New Private Tab” to begin a private session.

Initiating Private Browsing

Upon selection, a new tab designated for “Private Browsing” will appear, superseding any previously open standard tabs.

To manage multiple private browsing tabs, or to close them, tap the tab icon situated in the upper-left corner of the browser window.

Managing Private Tabs

A panel will then slide out from the left side of the browser window, showcasing thumbnails of all currently open private browsing tabs.

Observe the three icons positioned at the top of this panel; the mask icon will be underlined to signify that you are actively using private browsing mode.

Returning to Normal Browsing

To revert to normal browsing without terminating your private tabs, simply tap the leftmost tab icon at the top of the left-side panel.

A new private browsing tab can be opened by tapping the plus sign located at the bottom of the left panel.

Note the subtle mask icon on the plus sign, confirming that the new tab will also operate in private browsing mode.

Important Note: Automatically, you will be redirected to your most recently visited normal browsing tab if all private browsing tabs are closed.

Dolphin Browser: Utilizing Private Mode

Within the Dolphin browser, a private browsing experience isn’t initiated through dedicated private tabs. Instead, the functionality is activated by enabling “Private Mode.” This feature automatically removes browsing data, including history, cookies, and submitted form information, upon closing the application.

To activate “Private Mode,” begin by tapping the dolphin icon located in the bottom-left corner of the browser interface. Subsequently, select the menu button, which appears as the lowest option within the resulting pop-up menu.

From the displayed toolbar, choose the “Settings” option. This will redirect you to the browser’s settings menu.

Navigate down the “Settings” screen until you locate and select “Privacy & Personal Data.” This section manages the browser’s privacy-related configurations.

Within the “Privacy & Personal Data” screen, toggle the switch positioned to the right of “Private Mode” to activate it. A checkmark will appear on the left side of the switch when the mode is enabled.

With “Private Mode” active, you are now able to browse websites across multiple tabs without your online activity being recorded. To conclude your session, tap the dolphin icon in the lower-left corner once more and select “Exit” from the pop-up toolbar.

A confirmation dialog will then appear, offering options to clear cached data and browsing history. Ensure both the “Clear cache” and “Clear history” checkboxes are selected before tapping “Exit.” This action will completely remove all evidence of your browsing session.

Dolphin Zero

For users prioritizing web privacy, specialized browsers offer a solution. This article details two such browsers designed with privacy as a core function.

Dolphin Zero represents a privacy-focused iteration of the Dolphin browser. All browsing activity within Dolphin Zero is conducted privately by default. Installation is straightforward; simply locate Dolphin Zero within the Google Play Store and select the “Install” option.

Upon successful installation, launch Dolphin Zero. The opening screen clearly outlines the data that is erased upon exiting the application. To navigate to a website, input the desired URL into the address bar located at the top of the screen.

It’s important to note that Dolphin Zero restricts users to a single tab. Consequently, simultaneous browsing of multiple websites is not possible. For multi-tab private browsing, refer to the information regarding the standard Dolphin browser.

Once your browsing session is complete, access the menu button situated at the bottom of the screen. Then, select the “Exit” option to close the browser.

A visual animation depicting document shredding will appear during browser closure. This signifies that all evidence of your browsing activity is being permanently deleted.

InBrowser: A Guide to Private Browsing

InBrowser is a specialized browser designed for private browsing, offering the capability to open and manage multiple tabs simultaneously. Installation is straightforward; simply locate InBrowser within the Google Play store and select the “Install” button to begin the download process.

Upon the initial launch of InBrowser, a Changelog will be displayed. To proceed to the browser’s main interface, tap the “Back to InBrowser Startpage” button, which will return you to the default search page.

The default search page will then appear. You can input your desired search query directly into the search field to initiate a web search.

Alternatively, a specific website address can be entered into the address bar, located at the top of the browser window, to navigate directly to that site.

To add a new tab to your browsing session, tap the menu button situated in the upper-right corner of the browser window.

From the slide-out dialog box, select “New Tab” at the bottom. This action will return you to the browser window, with a new tab open and displaying the default search page.

Switching between open tabs is accomplished by tapping the menu button once more, located in the upper-right corner. Then, select the desired website – and its corresponding tab – from the presented list.

Important Note: Should you choose not to switch tabs, avoid tapping the “Back” button within the slide-out dialog box or on your device itself. Selecting either “Back” button will navigate you to the previous webpage on the currently active tab. To return to the exact tab and webpage you were previously viewing, simply tap its entry in the list displayed in the slide-out dialog box.

For users who frequently engage in private browsing on a personal computer, most browsers offer a private browsing mode as a built-in feature. Furthermore, for enhanced anonymity alongside private browsing on a PC, the Tor network can be utilized, although it's important to acknowledge that it doesn’t guarantee complete anonymity.