Internet browsers haven’t changed much since they were first introduced in the 1990’s. “Normal” browsing quickly came to mean (and still does) that browsing history, URLs, caching and cookies are stored locally on your computer or phone.
- Browsing history means websites you’ve visited and URLs or addresses for these sites.
- Caching refers to shortcuts used to serve data you’ve requested faster (often by storing a copy of the data in another location like a server and/or your device).
- Cookies are text files your browser stores on your computer or phone to keep you logged into sites and for tracking your activity (for analytics and marketing).
When you close your browser, this data remains on your device. If you share a device with anyone at home or at work, you have to clear your history, cache, and cookies and logout from sites if you don’t want sites you visited exposed.
Consider anything personal you want to research, but aren’t yet ready to share with others:
- An embarrassing medical diagnosis
- A life decision
- Curiosity about an old flame
- Surprise gifts for family and friends
It took time for browsers to catch up to the real privacy needs of people online. Private browsing first appeared in 2005 and presented an alternative browsing experience. People could access the Internet without storing revealing Internet history on their device. Though “private” browsing wasn’t as convenient for repeatedly visiting a site with a login, it provided cover when searching sensitive information.
Fast forward to today. Many companies want to keep you logged into their services so they can learn more about you. As a result, your online experiences are increasingly “personalized” and colored by past searches, purchases and friends in your network. “Normal” browsing has become a way for companies and their algorithms to influence and control your behavior.
Imagine you want to find the best ice cream on the planet. As someone logged in and browsing “normally,” you may be shown results:
- Located near you
- That your friends reviewed or posted about
- Where you made a past purchase
But none of these results may actually reflect what you want to know.
For a neutral browsing experience that doesn’t reflect past behavior, people regularly search in “private” or “incognito” mode. This gives people the option to appear anonymous and obtain more objective information. In a survey our company recently conducted among people who use our products, only half of them said they use their system browser (Chrome and Safari) to conduct private searches.
While “private” mode is an improvement on the “normal” browsing mode we’ve come to accept, a truly private browser puts privacy controls in your hands.
- Whether to store data: You should be able to decide whether you want to store your data locally on your device for convenience’s sake (to stay logged in to sites) or not at all.
- Browsing activity shouldn’t be tracked: A private browser should never create a profile of you on the basis of your searches and browsing regardless of what mode you use.
- Ability to block other trackers: A browser designed for discretion should also allow you to block third-party trackers so you can protect yourself from being tracked by sites you visit.
These are the features that truly define a private browser and the ones you should demand to keep your web searches and browsing activity truly private. With a private browser, you get to decide how to personalize your experience.
When you pair a private browser with a VPN, you can further enhance your privacy and security. VPN hides your IP address and location and encrypts browsing activity so no one can intercept it when you’re using a public WiFi network. Using a VPN gives you privacy from your Internet Service Provider and keeps personal and financial data safe on Internet hotspots.
Online privacy is an urgent issue. Giving people the freedom to browse where they like without fear of being found out or followed is critical to us at Keepsafe. That’s why we’re proud to have created a browser that’s among the most private on the market. We built Keepsafe Browser so people can have convenience when they need it (and store cookies and URLs locally to return to web pages and stay logged into sites), while always maintaining a level of privacy. Keepsafe Browser never tracks you, and when you turn on its tracker blockers, you also can’t be tracked by sites you visit.
Keepsafe Browser accompanied by Keepsafe VPN is the most private and secure experience you can have on your mobile device. Keepsafe Browser is free, and you can try Keepsafe VPN on us for the first week. With Keepsafe Browser and Keepsafe VPN, you can easily protect your privacy and safety. Only you know where you’ve been or where you’re going. Try them today!
