Privacy and security are of utmost importance when surfing the web online. If you are an avid Digit.in reader, then you know how cookies, plug-ins and other methods can be used to track a user across websites. Going incognito in Chrome is one way to restrict the data websites can collect about a user, but it is not too effective since some sites can detect when a user is browsing in incognito mode and pester them to buy a subscription or to register. However, a report suggests that Google is testing implementation of a Filesystem API flag that thwarts such sites from detecting a user who is browsing in incognito mode.
Google is reportedly enabling a Filesystem API flag in Chrome’s incognito mode with version 75. It disables pesky websites from discovering if a user is browsing the web in incognito mode and the API is available in Chrome 75 Canary. However, it is not enabled by default when one is in incognito mode and needs to be switched on. This can be done by entering chrome://flags in the URL and finding the “Filesystem API in Incognito” flag. Enabling the flag and restarting the browser should do the trick and websites should no longer be able to track users who are browsing in incognito mode. To check if the API is working or not, one can navigate to the testing website here, which can detect if a user is in incognito mode or not.
Google isn't the only one who is thinking about enhancing user’s privacy when it comes to revoking tracking website’s access. Firefox rolled out a new ‘strict’ advanced content blocking for its users back in January this year. The feature stops third party trackers from following users across websites.Enabling the Strict option will disable all web tracking and cookies, preventing tracking of your browser and users will not see ads based on their browsing habits.