Many browsers have a private mode built in. This may just be called private browsing or incognito mode. The exact terms differ from one company’s product to the next, but the general idea is that you can use the browser and it will not track your history or your online activity, keeping that information private.
But one key thing to remember is that private browsing is nothing more than a local feature. The browser essentially runs an independent session where it does not locally store information about the sites you have visited and things of that nature.
But because that information is only being deleted locally, it may still exist in other places. Your internet service provider likely still has a record of all the sites you visited, even in private browsing mode. If you are on a network at a school or an office building, the administrator can see the sites you visited. That information simply is not stored on your physical device, but it does still exist.
Why this matters in criminal cases
This is an important thing to keep in mind if you are facing criminal charges. Investigators may believe that they can obtain evidence based on your internet activity, such as if you ran searches related to the alleged crime – looking up how to make or sell illegal drugs, for example.
Even if you used private browsing mode when running those searches, remember that they may be able to get the information they are looking for. It may not be saved on your computer, but they can still talk to your internet service provider or other entities to seek the appropriate evidence in your case.
Exactly how evidence is gathered can have a large impact on a criminal case, and you must know what defense options you have.