Many internet browsers have a private browsing mode, also known as an “incognito” browsing mode. However, this is not really private. Activity conducted in private browsing mode can still be tracked in numerous ways.
This is often important for those who find themselves facing misconduct charges or allegations of internet sex crimes. These offenses include searching the internet for child pornography or distributing illegal sexual material to another user. During the investigation into such a crime, the police will want to see internet records, and they may be able to find searches done in this mode.
Tracking your IP address
For one thing, even in private browsing mode, your computer’s internet protocol (IP) address may still be tracked by websites that you visit. All that the private browsing mode does is ensure that those addresses are not locally stored on your physical device. It does not eliminate all evidence of your internet activity.
Networks and ISPs
Likewise, your internet service provider (ISP) also has a record of the sites that you visit. If the police provide them with the proper documentation, such as a subpoena, they may give those records to the authorities.
The same thing is true if you are using a local network. Examples include a company network at work or a school network at a college or university. Even if you were in private browsing mode at the time, and those websites are not locally stored on the computer you were using, the network administrator can still see evidence of your visits.
This helps demonstrate how digital evidence can still be obtained in these types of cases. Anyone facing criminal charges should get experienced legal guidance as early as possible.