We show you how to start Internet Explorer, Firefox & Co. automatically in private mode. Starting a browser, activating private mode, surfing away – that’s far too fiddly and is quickly forgotten. Magnus shows you how to start your browser automatically so that no treacherous traces appear on the hard disk while surfing.
Sometimes you want to roam the net without leaving any traces on your computer. But there is the private mode, which is offered today by Internet Explorer over Firefox and Safari up to Chrome and Opera all important browsers. But it has to be activated manually every time. It is more practical to set the browser so that it starts automatically in private mode. If this goes too far for you, simply set up a second browser accordingly. For normal tours on the net you can use Firefox for example, for the special moments the second browser preconfigured for the private mode, for example Chrome.
Automatic private mode for Internet Explorer and Opera
With Internet Explorer, the switch is called “-private” as with Firefox. However, it only works from Internet Explorer 8. You can tell that you have entered the switch correctly by the fact that “InPrivate” appears on the left edge of the address field. There is still Opera. Here the switch you have to add to the shortcut is “-newprivatetab”. Interesting: If you click on the shortcut while Opera is already running, it will add a new tab in private mode to the existing browser window. Opera marks private tabs with a symbol similar to the “Do not disturb” door tag known from hotels. Also Opera has an integrated VPN.
Opera can provide private and ordinary tabs at the same time
With the exception of Safari, all current browsers can be configured accordingly and the procedure is always the same. We will first demonstrate them using Google Chrome as an example.
Setting up automatic private mode with Chrome
In the start menu under “All programs \ Google Chrome“, right-click on the link to Google Chrome. Then go to “Copy”. Close the start menu, right-click on the desktop and select “Paste”. This creates a copy of the Google Chrome shortcut on the desktop.
Right-click the new chrome shortcut and select Properties. On the “Shortcut” tab, move the cursor to the end of the input field to the right of “Target”. Type a space followed by “–incognito”. Confirm the change with “OK”. Whenever you double-click on the shortcut on the desktop, Chrome starts in private mode – recognizable by the man with the floppy hat that appears in the top right corner of the browser window.
- As here with Chrome, all you have to do is attach a button to the browser shortcut to automatically start the browser in private mode.
- It’s a good idea to name the shortcut so you can see it. Click the link with the right mouse button and go to “Rename”. Then type for example “Google Chrome (private mode)” and confirm with the enter key.
Automatic private mode for Firefox
Firefox fans first create an additional link for their browser (see Chrome Setup). But here the switch is not “–incognito”, but “-private”. It is also preceded by a space, which follows the closing quotation mark in the input field “Target”. You can tell that Firefox is actually started in private mode by the grayed out entry “Exit private mode” in the “Extras” menu. Firefox offers a second possibility to start the private mode automatically. Instead of manipulating the link, click on the “Privacy” tab under “Tools \ Settings”. Behind “Firefox will create a chronicle” activate “Create according to user-defined settings”. Then check the box “Start Firefox automatically in private mode” and confirm with “OK”.
Firefox also offers a possibility to activate the private mode automatically in the settings.