Call it what you like—private browsing mode, Incognito mode—most people still just consider private browsing features in web browsers "porn mode". But your private browsing feature is useful for a whole lot more than covering porn habits.


Yesterday we asked you to share when you turn on private browsing mode. Here's a look at some of our favorite answers:


Logging Into Your Stuff on Others' Computers

Reader jeremiah89 says:

I use it when I'm on someone else's computer. Especially if I'm going to login to Facebook, or some other popular site that everyone has. I'd rather not screw up any saved passwords or have to log out of someones else's session, so I just start a new private session. Works great for this!

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Testing and Debugging Web Sites

Reader jkb1 shares:

Pr0n mode is godsend when I have to test or debug anything that's cookie-related of session-related. I use Chrome most of the time, so I can open two separate sessions (say, admin and user) on one given site at once, it really speed things up.


Manage Multiple Google Apps Accounts

Reader judisohn says:

I have 4 Google Apps accounts for work and organizations I volunteer. The only way I can manage multiple Google Docs accounts without going insane is by opening links in Chrome's Incognito mode. Finish editing a doc, close the window so it's ready if I have to open a doc from a different account. So it's not a time of day thing...I do it all day long.


Put Up a Facebook Wall

jishi9 says:

For Facebook really.. don't like people snooping through my history and seeing every single page or person I've been to.


...while dangerp says:

I -always- use private mode for Facebook. I'm so fed up with their privacy invading cookies all over the internet that I've essentially quarantined the site.


Avoid Autofill History on Public Computers

jcrod07 says:

I use it on the University's computers all the time for when I don't want to leave any autofill information into the login screens of some websites.


Planning Surprises

rad.raderson uses private browsing when he's:

Planning surprise family trips so the kids don't find out

Shopping for Gifts

srwight says:

I turn on private browsing to shop online for gifts to mark anniversaries and birthdays.


View "Risque" Content (Not Porn)

Kaheil explains:

I use the private mode mostly to watch certain Japanese anime that are a bit too violent or feature homosexual relationships (c.f. Elfen Lied, Junjou Romantica, etc). I guess in the US that's not that big of a deal, but were I live watching violent "cartoons" is a big NO.


Leave a Smaller Footprint at Work

jlcrain says:

I use private browsing at work when I check personal email or use other sites that I need to sign into. I'm not trying to "hide my tracks," since I know that it's ludicrous to think I have any privacy at work. But I like the all-in-one convenience private browsing offers of not keeping me logged in, not saving passwords, and erasing my history. Since this computer doesn't belong to me, I don't want to leave too much of a personal footprint.


Remember, especially at work, private browsing almost never means your IT department doesn't have countless other ways of seeing what you're doing on your computer. Also, when you're just on your own computer, private browsing mode isn't always completely fingerprint free, so check out our previous guide on how to really browse without leaving a trace for more. Got a great use for private browsing we didn't mention? Let's hear it in the comments.