Private browsing: what does it really hide?

The questions

1. Question 1 of 6Myth or fact: Private Browsing makes you invisible to your internet provider.

   • Fact
   • Myth: your provider, your employer's network and the websites still see the visit

   Show answer

   Answer: Myth: your provider, your employer's network and the websites still see the visit

   Private Browsing does not make you invisible. Your internet provider, your employer's network and the websites themselves still see the visit; Safari just doesn't remember pages, searches or AutoFill after you close the tab.

   Source: Apple iPhone User Guide: Browse the web privately in Safari on iPhone

   Private Browsing in Safari on an iPhone

2. Question 2 of 6You clear Safari's history and website data. What else happens?

   

   • Your photos are deleted
   • Cookies go too, so websites may sign you out
   • Your contacts are removed
   • Nothing else

   Show answer

   Answer: Cookies go too, so websites may sign you out

   Apple says clearing also removes cookies, so websites may sign you out, and it removes permissions you gave websites for location or notifications. AutoFill is unchanged.

   Source: Apple Support: Delete your Safari history, cache, and cookies on iPhone; Apple iPhone User Guide: Clear your cache and cookies on iPhone

   Clear Safari history on iPhone

3. Question 3 of 6"Clear History and Website Data" is greyed out. One cause Apple gives?

   • Low battery
   • Screen Time web content restrictions are on
   • Dark mode
   • Wi-Fi is off

   Show answer

   Answer: Screen Time web content restrictions are on

   Apple Support gives two causes: there is nothing to clear, or Screen Time web content restrictions are on.

   Source: Apple Support: Delete your Safari history, cache, and cookies on iPhone

   Clear Safari history on iPhone

4. Question 4 of 6In Chrome on Android, can you delete cookies for just one website?

   • No, it is all or nothing
   • Yes: Site settings, All sites, the bin next to the site
   • Only on a computer
   • Only in Incognito

   Show answer

   Answer: Yes: Site settings, All sites, the bin next to the site

   Tap the three dots, Settings, Site settings, All sites, then the bin next to the site and Delete & reset. You stay signed in everywhere else (Google).

   Source: Google Chrome Help: Delete, allow and manage cookies in Chrome (Android)

   Clear cookies for one site in Chrome

5. Question 5 of 6YouTube Incognito on Android switches itself off after how long without activity?

   • 5 minutes
   • 90 minutes
   • 24 hours
   • Never

   Show answer

   Answer: 90 minutes

   YouTube says the session ends after more than 90 minutes of inactivity, and Incognito only works when you are signed in to the app.

   Source: YouTube Help: Browse YouTube while incognito on mobile devices

   Use Incognito mode in YouTube

6. Question 6 of 6You pause YouTube history. What happens to what is already saved?

   • It is deleted at once
   • It stays until you delete it
   • It moves to Incognito
   • It is shared publicly

   Show answer

   Answer: It stays until you delete it

   The pause stops new history on every device signed in to the account; what is already saved stays until you delete it (YouTube).

   Source: YouTube Help: View, delete, or turn on or off watch history (Android)

   Pause YouTube history on Android