Incognito Searches

In this article, we will explain why Incognito Searches falls under the classification of potentially unwanted programs. According to its creators: “Big companies track your searches and follow you around the internet,” while this extension can help you search the Internet without being tracked. It is true most of the search engines, or in fact, any other web pages collect information about their visitors’ browsing habits but so does this application. After reading its Privacy Policy, we learned it could gather various anonymous data while the user is browsing and even share such information with its third-party partners. Consequently, we doubt Incognito Searches is the tool to use if you do not want any tool to be able to record visited web pages, search keywords, etc., so we recommend removing it. For this reason, you will find deletion instructions at the end of the text, but if you do not want to rush into anything you could read the article first and find out more about this potentially unwanted program.

Incognito Searches works only on Google Chrome, and it could be downloaded from install.incognitosearches.com or chrome.google.com/webstore/detail/incognito-searches/imkklhlanknlpppcoijagicbnckomhkp. Besides the mentioned sites, we believe it might be spread with bundled installers. Thus, if you did not add this extension intentionally, you could have received it unknowingly while installing other doubtful programs. Also, the potentially unwanted program might come as a redirect after clicking suspicious pop-up advertisements, so if you do not wish to encounter such applications in the future, we would advise you not only be more attentive during the installation process but also avoid clicking unreliable pop-up ads.

The software’s description says “By installing, Incognito Searches will become your default search.” It means the potentially unwanted program is supposed to change user’s default search engine’s preferences. Our researchers say, the given search engine redirects the user through feed.incognitosearches.com and then to search.yahoo.com. Therefore, it is possible the results could be modified by this extension even though it seems they are displayed by Yahoo. Moreover, while reading the application’s Privacy Policy paper, we learned it might gather user’s anonymous data or information about his browsing habits with the help of “a cookie (session or persistent), web beacons or other related technologies.” Apparently, this information might be shared with third-party partners and used to “recommend content based on your preferences.”

As we already mentioned, in the beginning, a lot of web pages gather non-personal user’s data and use the suggested technologies for it, so you may wonder where the difference between them and Incognito Searches is? Our researchers would say search engines like Yahoo or Google are considered to be trustworthy while this extension is classified as a potentially unwanted program by computer security specialists. Then, its description lets you understand the software is not supposed to track you while you browse the Internet like other search engines and yet its Privacy Policy says it could gather anonymous data and share it with third parties just the same. Not to mention, the extension seems to be created by an unknown company, and it is difficult to say if it can be trusted.

All things considered, Incognito Searches does not look like a reliable application, and if you truly wish to search the Internet without being tracked we would suggest using your browser's incognito mode, for example, Google Chrome users can access it if they press ALT+F and pick New incognito window. As for Incognito Searches, we would recommend not to waste any time on such suspicious tool. Those who decide to delete it might do so manually while following the instructions available below the article. The other option is to pick a reliable antimalware tool and remove the potentially unwanted program or other possible threats as well right after the system scan. Users who have questions could leave a comment below too or contact us via social media.

Eliminate Incognito Searches

1. Press ALT+F and select Settings.
2. Click on More tools and pick Extensions.
3. Find the unwanted extension.
4. Press the trash bin button near it.
5. Select Remove.