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Is Private Browsing Really Private?

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Re: Is Private Browsing Really Private?

#31

Post by [deleted] »

AdamSC1 wrote: post #16
throwaway2016a wrote: post #12

"DuckDuckGo is the search engine that doesn’t track you." so obviously this article has marketing lean. While private browsing is not actually private I feel going so far as to say it does not stop websites from collecting info on you is maybe a bit too far. The site can still collect information about you, yes. But unless you sign in while in private browsing or the site is using some sort of user-agent / IP tricker…

There are plenty of things a browser can see without being logged in. Consider checking this page: http://webkay.robinlinus.com/ Private Browsing simply prevents cookies and nothing else, and for the average person we find that is not what's expected from something defined as "private" browsing.

[deleted]

Re: Is Private Browsing Really Private?

#32

Post by mintplant »

AdamSC1 wrote: post #16
throwaway2016a wrote: post #12

"DuckDuckGo is the search engine that doesn’t track you." so obviously this article has marketing lean. While private browsing is not actually private I feel going so far as to say it does not stop websites from collecting info on you is maybe a bit too far. The site can still collect information about you, yes. But unless you sign in while in private browsing or the site is using some sort of user-agent / IP tricker…

There are plenty of things a browser can see without being logged in. Consider checking this page: http://webkay.robinlinus.com/ Private Browsing simply prevents cookies and nothing else, and for the average person we find that is not what's expected from something defined as "private" browsing.

> Private Browsing simply prevents cookies and nothing else

Not true, at least for Firefox. In Private Browsing mode, Firefox will avoid saving temporary files and other data to disk, keeping everything in RAM instead, which is wiped when Private Browsing mode is exited. This includes history, cookies, and cache data. I believe localStorage behaves differently as well.

Firefox also makes an effort to block tracking scripts/servers in Private Browsing mode, using Disconnect's filter list.

The Private Browsing new tab page explains this all pretty succinctly: https://i.imgur.com/MGp53eP.png

Re: Is Private Browsing Really Private?

#33

Post by tucif »

throwaway2016a wrote: post #12

"DuckDuckGo is the search engine that doesn’t track you." so obviously this article has marketing lean. While private browsing is not actually private I feel going so far as to say it does not stop websites from collecting info on you is maybe a bit too far. The site can still collect information about you, yes. But unless you sign in while in private browsing or the site is using some sort of user-agent / IP tricker…

> so obviously this article has marketing lean.

The domain belongs to the DuckDuckGo blog.

Re: Is Private Browsing Really Private?

#34

Post by samat »

Is it actually a misconception that private browsing prevents search engines from knowing my searches?

I do search for some nasty stuff in private mode and it never pops up in ads for my main account.

I do understand there might be conspiracy in Google to gather that data and link it to my account but never use it in the way I notice, but that looks like conspiracy theory to me.

Re: Is Private Browsing Really Private?

#35

Post by AdamSC1 »

mintplant wrote: post #32
AdamSC1 wrote: post #16

Earlier quoted context omitted.

There are plenty of things a browser can see without being logged in. Consider checking this page: http://webkay.robinlinus.com/ Private Browsing simply prevents cookies and nothing else, and for the average person we find that is not what's expected from something defined as "private" browsing.

> Private Browsing simply prevents cookies and nothing else Not true, at least for Firefox. In Private Browsing mode, Firefox will avoid saving temporary files and other data to disk, keeping everything in RAM instead, which is wiped when Private Browsing mode is exited. This includes history, cookies, and cache data. I believe localStorage behaves differently as well. Firefox also makes an effort to block tracking s…

You're right there. In this whitepaper we had different questions for each of the browsers to make sure this distinction was noted.

However, users still in general think that private browsing modes do things like prevent their IP address from being seen, or prevent a search engine from recording their searches. So there is still a gap in their expectations.

Re: Is Private Browsing Really Private?

#36

Post by AdamSC1 »

samat wrote: post #34

Is it actually a misconception that private browsing prevents search engines from knowing my searches? I do search for some nasty stuff in private mode and it never pops up in ads for my main account. I do understand there might be conspiracy in Google to gather that data and link it to my account but never use it in the way I notice, but that looks like conspiracy theory to me.

Your private mode searches may not be ones that have ads for them, those sites may not use Google's re-marketing offers, the re-marketing may be offered via cookies or if they fall into an 'adult' category then you are going to see them in less locations anyway.

Despite that a search engine is still able to see what you search in private browsing modes as none of it's protection change, hide or obscure your identity.

If you perform a search from your IP address (or any other information that can be fingerprinted from your browser) and then do the same in private browsing mode, Google would know that it is the same user committing both searches.

Re: Is Private Browsing Really Private?

#37

Post by AdamSC1 »

tucif wrote: post #33
throwaway2016a wrote: post #12

"DuckDuckGo is the search engine that doesn’t track you." so obviously this article has marketing lean. While private browsing is not actually private I feel going so far as to say it does not stop websites from collecting info on you is maybe a bit too far. The site can still collect information about you, yes. But unless you sign in while in private browsing or the site is using some sort of user-agent / IP tricker…

> so obviously this article has marketing lean. The domain belongs to the DuckDuckGo blog.

Yup! I think we were pretty clear about that from the get-go. Giant duck at the top and everything.

It's part of our overall mission to raise the standard of trust online. We're nothing if not transparent on this!

Re: Is Private Browsing Really Private?

#38

Post by twblalock »

samat wrote: post #34

Is it actually a misconception that private browsing prevents search engines from knowing my searches? I do search for some nasty stuff in private mode and it never pops up in ads for my main account. I do understand there might be conspiracy in Google to gather that data and link it to my account but never use it in the way I notice, but that looks like conspiracy theory to me.

> Is it actually a misconception that private browsing prevents search engines from knowing my searches?

Of course the search engine knows what you searched for! You sent the search string from your computer to one of their servers.

You'd need a way to prevent the search engine from knowing your IP address, like a proxy or Tor, in order to hide your identity.

Re: Is Private Browsing Really Private?

#39

Post by ddito »

I really don't understand why anyone would expect private browsing to be completely anonymous. I suppose they could change the name to something better but seeing as how I only use it to browse khm websites which I don't want in my browsing history and I know other people use it only for the same reason as whell. In any case I suppose that anyone who really needs anonymity is aware what browsers mean by "private browsing". I even have to block Firefoxes tracking protection to browse my favorite "website"

Re: Is Private Browsing Really Private?

#40

Post by bmm6o »

mintplant wrote: post #32
AdamSC1 wrote: post #16

Earlier quoted context omitted.

There are plenty of things a browser can see without being logged in. Consider checking this page: http://webkay.robinlinus.com/ Private Browsing simply prevents cookies and nothing else, and for the average person we find that is not what's expected from something defined as "private" browsing.

> Private Browsing simply prevents cookies and nothing else Not true, at least for Firefox. In Private Browsing mode, Firefox will avoid saving temporary files and other data to disk, keeping everything in RAM instead, which is wiped when Private Browsing mode is exited. This includes history, cookies, and cache data. I believe localStorage behaves differently as well. Firefox also makes an effort to block tracking s…

> I believe localStorage behaves differently as well.

My recollection is that the browser claims to support localStorage, but attempts to use it fail. I don't know why it couldn't just be backed by non-persistent storage.

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