Can a site knows if you're using the incognito mode?

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Yes it can tell if you're in incognito or not.
 
I don't think so, but your internet provider does know it.
 
Yes because i tried to login before on netflix website with that mode and they told me that i can't login because im using icn
 
ziko12345 said:
Are you joking?
Everyone knows, google, isp and the websites as well. Incognito mode just doesnt save your history.
Click to expand...
My question was, how does the isp know that I am using incognito mode? Can you point me to an article that documents this?

Unless I am being MITMd, I don't think the isp knows anything, especially for secure communications. I would like to be proven otherwise.
 
Yes, a website can know if you are in Incognito mode. Here is a working code, just tested on latest Chrome (83.0.4103.106). Put the content in a file. Open Console and navigate to the url. Didn't had time to check on other browsers. I think it requires a different code for each browser. Add script tags for JS code, as I couldn't post the full code.
Code: 
<html>
async function start() {
if ('storage' in navigator && 'estimate' in navigator.storage) {
    const {usage, quota} = await navigator.storage.estimate();
    console.log(`Using ${usage} out of ${quota} bytes.`);

    if(quota < 120000000){
        console.log('Incognito')
    } else {
        console.log('Not Incognito')
    }  
} else {
    console.log('Can not detect')
}
}
start();
</html>
 
TomTheCat said:
Yes, a website can know if you are in Incognito mode. Here is a working code, just tested on latest Chrome (83.0.4103.106). Put the content in a file. Open Console and navigate to the url. Didn't had time to check on other browsers. I think it requires a different code for each browser. Add script tags for JS code, as I couldn't post the full code.
Code: 
<html>
async function start() {
if ('storage' in navigator && 'estimate' in navigator.storage) {
    const {usage, quota} = await navigator.storage.estimate();
    console.log(`Using ${usage} out of ${quota} bytes.`);

    if(quota < 120000000){
        console.log('Incognito')
    } else {
        console.log('Not Incognito')
    }
} else {
    console.log('Can not detect')
}
}
start();
</html>
Click to expand...
Hmm so this one checks if the localstorage works. It could be an indication, but I am almost sure this is not a fool proof way to know if the user is using incognito.
 
Only indirectly. Regarding the isp thing, i've read similar stuff but I think it's more for people for whom knowing that you can hide your local ip is some sort of revelation.
 
Hanzo_AA said:
Only indirectly. Regarding the isp thing, i've read similar stuff but I think it's more for people for whom knowing that you can hide your local ip is some sort of revelation.
Click to expand...
ISP is sitting between me and the website I am visiting. How can they know if I am using incognito? It would be possible if the website I am visiting manages to fetch this info from my browser, and send it to their server. The ISP being in the middle could intercept this communication through a couple of ways. If the communication is not secure (i.e., non ssl sites), then the parameters being sent will be unencrypted. So, if anyone wanted to look; they could. If the communication is secure, the only way to view this info would be to install a fake certificate in my browser, or by tearing the ssl apart (the later case is unlikely, but it has been done before.). Otherwise, the ISP knows the host; but that's about it. Not to mention, there is no direct way for the isp to know that I am using incognito. Also, there is no fool proof way for even the website to know that I am using incognito (like I mentioned earlier).

They (the isp) could however inject a JS payload in the server response and track me that way, but that will be highly illegal in most of the countries. If anyone is caught doing that, they will be out of business after that. Read up on this, may be. ;)
 
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Gogol said:
ISP is sitting between me and the website I am visiting. How can they know if I am using incognito? It would be possible if the website I am visiting manages to fetch this info from my browser, and send it to their server. The ISP being in the middle could intercept this communication through a couple of ways. If the communication is not secure (i.e., non ssl sites), then the parameters being sent will be unencrypted. So, if anyone wanted to look; they could. If the communication is secure, the only way to view this info would be to install a fake certificate in my browser, or by tearing the ssl apart (the later case is unlikely, but it has been done before.). Otherwise, the ISP knows the host; but that's about it. Not to mention, there is no direct way for the isp to know that I am using incognito. Also, there is no fool proof way for even the website to know that I am using incognito (like I mentioned earlier).

They (the isp) could however inject a JS payload in the server response and track me that way, but that will be highly illegal in most of the countries. If anyone is caught doing that, they will be out of business after that. Read up on this, may be. ;)
Click to expand...

No real idea about any of this lol or how exchange points really work, i'm just simply saying the audience of articles like that, that say 'isp can still track your activity' even if you're using incognito is for people who think in their heads that it means all their traffic is encrypted. There are people like this out there, i've seen articles like from vpn advertisements for example.

If an isp can see traffic clear as day through ip, resolvers then i don't think they could careless whether or not someone was using private brwsing lol
 
Hanzo_AA said:
If an isp can see traffic clear as day through ip, resolvers then i don't think they could careless whether or not someone was using private brwsing lol
Click to expand...
LOL that's a different story. :D
Hanzo_AA said:
No real idea about any of this lol or how exchange points really work, i'm just simply saying the audience of articles like that, that say 'isp can still track your activity' even if you're using incognito is for people who think in their heads that it means all their traffic is encrypted. There are people like this out there, i've seen articles like from vpn advertisements for example.
Click to expand...
It's interesting stuff for sure. Google is your friend. Don't just believe whatever an article tells you. If I was you, I would probably dig it up. :)
 
Also.. on topic (double posting since lounge posts do not count)...

I think the incognito mode was never intended for keeping you "secure" from the eye of the website owner (or anyone in between). It was intended for keeping you "secure" from other users of your shared computer. It does that by not saving any session and not keeping any history item after you get out of private mode. So, your younger brother won't know that you went to xvideos (unless you are logging in through a non admin, managed OS user account). But xvideos owner WILL know that you were there. Hope that clears it up for some people.
 
Gogol said:
Also.. on topic (double posting since lounge posts do not count)...

I think the incognito mode was never intended for keeping you "secure" from the eye of the website owner (or anyone in between). It was intended for keeping you "secure" from other users of your shared computer. It does that by not saving any session and not keeping any history item after you get out of private mode. So, your younger brother won't know that you went to xvideos (unless you are logging in from a non admin, managed account). But xvideos owner WILL know that you were there. Hope that clears it up for some people.
Click to expand...
Adding to that, if someone wants real privacy `tor on tails` is the way to go.
 
I just noticed this while reading a post on NewYorkTimes.

CuNgkxW


Looks like they have a mechanism.

These were my steps.
1) Go to an NYT post (non-incognito)
2) You'll get a pop-up to login/create an account
3) Visit the same URL in incognito.

You will get this "continue reading in private mode" popup.

Interesting...

Edit: This was on the latest version of chrome
 
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