Chrome Incognito Tabs On Android Can Now Be Locked

Jokes aside, the ability to open a private tab for sensitive browsing in Chrome is extremely useful. You can conduct searches that you don’t want to affect your recommendations or appear in your search history—this applies equally to tax information and medical questions as it does to anything more enthralling.

You can also protect your incognito tabs from prying eyes by locking them down on all phones and tablets. A quick change to Chrome settings on iOS and Android requires biometric or PIN authentication to view your private tabs whenever you leave and then return to the app. It’s an extra layer of security in case you forget to close a tab when you’re done, which is easy to do if you’re constantly switching between apps. There’s no need to be concerned about banking information, for example.

Also: Chrome Now Has Memory And Energy-Saving Settings

Trying to make a name for yourself is simple. If it’s been rolled out to your Android device (or if you’re only now trying it on your iPhone or iPad), go to Chrome’s three-dot menu, then Privacy and Security. Toggle the option Lock Incognito Tabs When Closing Chrome. When you exit Chrome and return, you’ll have to pass an authentication check before you can see or interact with those private tabs again.

Flip the toggle to enable the feature. This feature is a very welcome addition for people who use incognito tabs on mobile rather than dedicated apps, and I hope to see it come to desktop computers next. I leave my incognito windows open on my PC for much longer periods of time than I do on my phone or tablet. I’ve yet to come across a browser window stuffed with tabs that I didn’t want to keep open. And sometimes I’m researching something I don’t want my roommates to know about; other times, I’m working on private correspondence that I don’t want anyone to see.

I can always lock my computer, but I sometimes forget to press Win + L before rushing off to deal with an overflowing pot or a vomiting cat. Setting up Dynamic Lock in Windows is the best alternative, but it only works if you move far enough away from your computer to trigger the auto-lock. Unfortunately, it doesn’t stop someone in your kitchen from passing by your screen and making fun of your recent discovery of r/illegallysmolcats. 

Source: Alaina Yee of PCWorld