Any web browser by default saves some traces of the user's network activity. And we are talking not only about the Favorites folder, well-known since the first Internet Explorer and Netscape, and all its modern derivatives, but also visited web pages, autocomplete forms, download lists and cached multimedia files. And if there is a need to conduct a session that is not reflected in the browser statistics, or there is no desire to constantly clean the browser history, you should use the so-called “Incognito” mode. Include in the "Opera", as in most other browsers, it can be a combination of Ctrl, Shift and N.
Principle of operation
It should be noted that the functionality of this mode is somewhat simpler than the rather loud name promises: it provides only the cleanliness of visit and download logs, the absence of data recording in forms, as well as the removal of all cookies when closing the window. In this case, all the settings made are saved, and the downloaded files will need to be deleted manually. Therefore, the only purpose of the Incognito regime in Opera is to ensure a “clean” session on a public device.
Privacy and anonymity
Privacy is guaranteed only within the boundaries of a specific device and only in relation to other possible users. But at the external borders of the network (provider - host - server - site level), as well as inside the network location (if the device is connected to the Internet via a local network), anonymity and privacy can not be expected.
The VPN service built into the browser, in fact, is the most common proxy with HTTP and HTTPS encryption, while the IP address is not particularly hiding. And the blame for this is the infamous WebRTC service, which demonstrates public IP, which none of the add-ons currently available can fully disable. Therefore, completely different means are used to ensure confidentiality. For example, specialized browser builds from enthusiasts (most often paid), in which the anonymization mechanisms are written in the code itself, or various paid or free vpn services.
Mode activation
Private devices run differently on different devices. It all depends on what exactly you use. Below we consider the most popular connection options.
Turning on the incognito mode in the Opera on a desktop computer
There are two ways to take advantage of private visits to sites and enable the "Incognito" mode in "Opera":
- Ctrl, Shift, and N are a single keyboard shortcut accepted by most web browser developers.
- Through the main menu - the line "Create a private window."
The mode is activated in a new window, and each new private tab will open here. In this case, public tabs will not be closed, and the browser can be used simultaneously in two modes. However, please note that all installed user extensions in private tabs do not work. In the settings of extensions, you can disable the default settings for each add-on separately, but some add-ons in Opera with Incognito mode are partially incompatible because they require access to the browser history.
At each first launch, the browser instead of the usual start screen will display a message of this kind:
To turn it off, just move the cursor down to put a checkmark on the item "Do not show again." When closing the last active tab, the “Incognito” mode window in “Opera” will also be closed, and all data from the current session will be erased.
In devices based on the MaC OS operating system, the mode is activated in the same way as on Windows-compatible PCs, except that instead of CTRL, the “Command” function key is used.
Running mode on Android devices
You can enable the Incognito mode in Opera on both smartphones and tablets on the start page of your mobile browser. To the right of the address bar is an icon that displays the number of tabs currently open. By clicking on it, the user enters the mode selection menu, where you should select "Private". The browser window will change color to dark gray, otherwise the whole navigation is similar to the usual mode.
Launch on iOS
Until recently, only Opera Mini was the only browser with the ability to work in privacy mode. You can activate the function in this browser using the special button, the mode located in the “Gallery of tabs”. First you need to tap on it, and then click on the icon for opening a new tab. It should be borne in mind that in devices based on the iOS operating system, if desired, and from the private mode, you can remove the entire history of the user's virtual walks. The reason for this is the organization of a data warehouse that is common to all browser modes.
In the Opera Touch mobile browser prior to version 1.10.5, there was no private mode, but developers promise to add this feature already in it.
The “Incognito” mode in “Opera” is a very useful feature, intended only for local privacy when working on public devices to which more than one user has access. All information transmitted through the session will be available only to the current user, while there is no need to clear data upon completion of work.