While incognito mode is designed not to save your browsing history directly within the browser, certain technical methods might reveal information about recently visited websites from any session, including incognito.
Understanding Incognito Mode
Incognito or Private Browsing mode prevents your browser from saving:
- Browsing history
- Cookies and site data
- Information entered in forms
However, it's important to understand that this mode doesn't make you invisible online. Your activity might still be visible to:
- Websites you visit
- Your employer or school (if using their network)
- Your Internet Service Provider (ISP)
Checking Recently Visited Domains via DNS Cache
One method that can show a list of recently visited domains across all browsing sessions, including those from incognito tabs, is by checking your computer's DNS cache. The Domain Name System (DNS) translates human-readable domain names (like google.com) into IP addresses that computers use to communicate. Your computer temporarily stores these translations in a cache to speed up future visits.
According to one reference, you can access this cache using the Command Prompt on Windows. This method shows the domains you've recently resolved, which includes sites visited in incognito mode, but it does not provide a detailed history log with timestamps, specific pages visited within a site, or other browsing details typically found in a browser's history.
Steps to Check DNS Cache on Windows
Follow these steps to view your DNS resolver cache:
- Open Command Prompt as Administrator: Find "Command prompt" using the Windows search bar, and choose the "Run as administrator" option.
- Execute the Command: Type “ipconfig /displaydns” in the “Command prompt” window and press “Enter.”
ipconfig /displaydnsWhat You Will See
After executing the command, you will see a list of records, including:
- Record Name: The domain name you visited (e.g.,
www.example.com). - Record Type: (Often A or AAAA for IPv4 or IPv6 addresses).
- Time To Live (TTL): How long the record remains in the cache.
- Data Length:
- Section:
- A (Host) Record: The IP address associated with the domain name.
This output will show the list of domains you've recently visited on any browser, including the incognito sessions, as stated in the reference.
Limitations of Using DNS Cache
It's crucial to understand the limitations of this method:
- Not a Full History: It only shows domain names, not specific pages within a site, visit times, or how long you spent on a page.
- Limited Duration: The DNS cache only stores records for a limited time (based on TTL) or until the cache is cleared.
- Includes All Activity: It shows domains visited in all browsing modes (regular, incognito), not just incognito.
- Doesn't Include All Connections: Not all network activity results in a DNS cache entry (e.g., direct IP connections).
Therefore, while ipconfig /displaydns can provide some insight into recently visited domains that include incognito sessions, it does not function as a dedicated incognito history log. Incognito mode's core function is to prevent the browser from saving that specific history internally.
