[No wonder Google Chrome's incognito mode is so popular. But while one might think that incognito mode would prevent people from being tracked online, a recent lawsuit has revealed that this is not the case.

As reported by MSPowerUser, Google settled a $5 billion class action lawsuit late last year alleging that Chrome's incognito mode collected user data. The search giant initially tried to have the lawsuit dismissed, but a judge disallowed it on the grounds that the company had not given users clear notice of how data was collected during incognito mode.

Even though incognito mode prevents Chrome from storing cookies, site data, and browsing history, it does not prevent websites and Internet service providers (ISPs) from tracking users and knowing what they are doing online. While the news has shocked many Chrome users, privacy experts have long warned that the browser's incognito mode is not as private as you might think.

But now, as a result of the settlement, Google plans to make some changes to incognito mode to better inform Chrome users about how they are being tracked online.

These changes are not yet reflected in the stable version of Chrome, but MSPowerUser was able to find these changes in Chrome Canary (an experimental release channel for new builds of the Google browser).

Once these new disclaimers are reflected in the stable build of Chrome, the following message will appear when in incognito mode: Other users using this device will not see your activity. Other users using this device will not see your activity, allowing you to browse with more privacy. Downloads, bookmarks, and Reading List items will be preserved."

The main point here is that incognito mode is primarily intended to keep your browsing data private from other users using the same computer as you. While this may be useful on computers shared by family members, most people now use their own dedicated laptops or desktops for browsing the Web. However, these new disclaimers may help dispel some of the myths surrounding Chrome's incognito mode.

So what if you actually want to browse the web in incognito mode?

Unlike in incognito mode, where your real IP address is displayed on websites and ISPs, with a VPN you are provided with an entirely different IP address that cannot be easily traced back. For example, let's say you are using ExpressVPN and you are connecting to a VPN server located in California. In this case, all browsing you do while connected to the VPN will appear as if you are actually in California, which is great for privacy protection as well as avoiding region-blocked content.

Your ISP, on the other hand, will only know that your computer or smartphone is connected to a VPN server owned by ExpressVPN. However, for additional privacy, you may want to look into VPN services that offer dual VPNs, where your Internet traffic is double encrypted.

Those who are fed up with Chrome and are looking for a more privacy-focused alternative may want to consider Brave or, if they have the technical know-how, Tor.

Using a VPN can protect your online privacy while preventing your browsing data from leaking, but remember to combine it with the best anti-virus software to keep all your devices safe from malware and other cyber threats Don't forget to combine it with the best antivirus software to keep all your devices safe from malware and other cyber threats.