Almost all browsers have a privacy feature to allow users to surf the Internet without having their digital footprints saved in their browsing history or web cache. Some call it “private browsing,” while others refer to it as “incognito mode.” The privacy offered by these features comes with a cost: not being able to go back and visit a site you were just on.
Enter Off The Record -- a Google Chrome extension that saves your browsing history in incognito mode for a limited amount of time. The extension offers Chrome users the best of both worlds, as they can surf the Internet incognito and have their history saved as long as their window is open.
Closing the window deletes all records of the sites a user has visited and the tabs they opened. But while the window is open, users have the luxury to go back and visit their browser history. The key features of the extension, a listed on the Chrome Web Store includes:
- Access to full private browsing history
- Access to list of recently closed tabs
- Self-destruction of history on browser cache
- Option to delete history manually
To use, download the extension from the Chrome Web Store. Then select the hamburger icon, click on “More Tools,” and select “Extensions.” Then go to “Off The Record History” and check off “Allow in incognito” to let the extension work its magic.
While it may seem counterintuitive for someone using incognito mode to want access to their browser history, there are practical applications for this extension. For example, some travel sites are known to hike up prices when a user has been searching for specific locations on a regular basis. Experts advise researching destinations in a private mode to get the best rate and in this case, being able to go back to recently closed tabs and browsing history can be helpful.
