Technology

Google finally admits data collection in Chrome's 'incognito' mode

Published

2 years ago

January 20, 2024

Google finally admits data collection in Chrome's 'incognito' mode

Google is finally revealing it is collecting your data if you use Google Chrome, even if you use incognito mode. This comes after the internet giant agreed to settle for $5 billion to avoid a 2020 lawsuit.

The lawsuit claimed Google collected information like your IP address, device data and even browser history — despite incognito mode seemingly offering a private browsing experience. Google claimed it warned users about websites potentially tracking user activity in order to dismiss the lawsuit.

However, a judge ruled that Google never explicitly told users it was tracking them and collecting information. And if users weren’t aware, they couldn’t consent to data collection.

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What’s happened since Google agreed to settle the lawsuit

Google Chrome on smartphone. (Kurt “CyberGuy” Knutsson)

Since Google agreed to settle last month, two major developments have happened: Google has updated its disclaimer in incognito mode, according to MSPowerUser, and lawyers have been working to finalize a settlement.

So far, Google has only updated the disclaimer in its Canary developer tool on Windows, Android and other devices. If you use it and go into incognito mode, you’ll see a message that says:

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“Others who use this device won’t see your activity, so you can browse more privately. This won’t change how data is collected by websites you visit and the services they use, including Google. Downloads, bookmarks and reading list items will be saved.”

Google Chrome Incognito Mode. (Google)

Lawyers also have until Feb. 24 to present the court with a finalized settlement agreement. Plaintiffs originally wanted $5,000 in damages per user for violating federal wiretapping and California privacy laws.

We reached out to Google, and a spokesperson released this statement to Cyberguy:

“Incognito mode in Chrome will continue to give people the choice to browse the internet without their activity being saved to their browser or device.”

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How to stay private when browsing the internet

Keeping your information private while browsing the internet can be a tough task. However, here are some easy ways to keep your data away from any prying eyes:

Turn off “web & app” activity

“Web & App” Activity is basically Google’s main tool to collect your data. Google assumes you have given them access to your online activity when this setting is on. Google claims it does not sell your personal information to anyone. However, Google may use your activity data to show you personalized ads on Google sites and apps and on sites and apps that partner with Google to show ads.

How to turn “web & app” activity off using a Mac

On the Google Chrome page, click on your icon in the top right corner and select Manage your Google Account, or click on this link
In the top left, click on Data & Privacy
Scroll down and find the box that says History Settings
In the box, the first row says Web & App Activity; Click on the blue check next to the word On
Find the box that says Web & App Activity and click Turn Off on the right
Select Turn off and Delete activity
Click Next in the bottom right
Select any Google products you wish to delete your activity by selecting its respective box to the right, checking it off, or clicking Select All in the top right to delete all activity
Click Next and then Delete once you have confirmed you want to delete. Then tap Got it.

Turning “web & app” activity off using a PC

On the Google Chrome page, go to Activity controls in a web browser. To turn off web and app activity on your PC, you can access your Activity Controls in a web browser. If you’re not signed in to your Google account, you’ll be prompted to do so
Click Turn Off under “Web & App Activity.” You’ll see this option near the top of the page
Scroll down and click the Pause button. You won’t be able to click Pause until you’ve scrolled to the bottom of the page. This pauses your web and search activity until you enable it again. To delete your Web & App Activity history, click Delete old activity under “Setting is Off” and then select a time range. Click Got It when you’re finished to return to the previous screen.

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How to turn “web & app” activity off using iPhone

On the Google home page, click on your icon in the top right corner
Select Google Account or click on this link
Then tap Data & Privacy near the top of the screen
Scroll down and find the box that says History Settings

Google Account page. (Google)

In the box, the first row says Web & App Activity; Click on the > icon
Find the box that says Web & App Activity and click Turn Off on the right
Select Turn off and Delete activity
Click Next in the bottom right
Select any Google products you wish to delete your activity by selecting its respective box to the right, checking it off, or clicking Select All in the top right to delete all activity
Click Next and then Delete once you have confirmed you want to delete. Then tap Got it.

How to turn “web & app” activity off using Android

Settings may vary depending on your Android phone’s manufacturer.

On the Google home page, click on your icon in the top right corner
Select Google Account, or click on this link
Click on Data & Privacy
Scroll down and find the box that says History Settings
Find the row that says Web & App Activity and click the > icon
Find the box that says Web & App Activity and click Turn Off on the right
Select Turn off and Delete activity
Click Next in the bottom right
Select any Google products you wish to delete your activity by selecting its respective box to the right, checking it off, or clicking Select All in the top right to delete all activity
Click Next and then Delete once you have confirmed you want to delete. Then tap Got it.

Limit data sharing with sites and services

While there are many valid reasons for allowing Google to give third-party apps and services access to your data, it puts your privacy at risk. Google can track whenever you sign in to another app with your Google sign-in and which service.

How to turn off data sharing with sites and services on Mac

On the Google Chrome page, click on your icon in the top right corner and select Manage your Google Account, or click on this link
In the top left, click on Data & Privacy
Scroll down and find the box under the heading Data from apps and services you use
Click on Third-party apps & services
Select any apps you wish to get rid of Google’s connections with
Click the box on the bottom that says Delete all connections you have with [website] and click confirm

Turning off data sharing with sites and services on PC

On the Google Chrome page, click the menu icon (three dots) in the top right corner and select Settings
Then, click Privacy and security

Google Settings page. (Google)

Next, tap Site settings
Here, you can manage how Chrome handles cookies, location, camera, microphone, notifications, and other permissions for different sites
You can also clear your browsing data and disable third-party services from accessing your data

How to turn off data sharing with sites and services on iPhone

On the Google home page, click on your icon in the top right corner and select your
Select Google Account, Or click on this link
Click on Data & Privacy
Scroll down and find the box under the heading Data from apps and services you use
Click on Third-party apps & services
Scroll down and select any apps you wish to get rid of Google’s connections with by clicking on it
Next, scroll down and click the box on the bottom that says Delete all connections you have with [website] and click confirm

How to turn off data sharing with sites and services on Android

Settings may vary depending on your Android phone’s manufacturer.

On the Google home page, click on your icon in the top right corner
Select Google Account, or click on this link
Click on Data & Privacy
Scroll down and find the box under the heading Data from apps and services you use
Click on Third-party apps & services
Select any apps you wish to get rid of Google’s connections with by clicking on it
Click the box on the bottom that says Delete all connections you have with [website] and click confirm

Turn off Location History

Google can track the places you go and collect your location data. However, the tricky thing with this setting is that you must have Web & App activity turned off for your Location History to be fully turned off.

How to turn off Location History on Mac

On the Google Chrome page, click on your icon in the top right corner and select Manage your Google Account, or click on this link
In the top left, click on Data & Privacy
Scroll down and find the box that says History Settings
Click on the row that says Location History
Click on the box that says Turn off
Select Turn off again and then Got it

MORE: HOW TO CHECK THAT YOU’RE NOT ACCIDENTALLY SHARING YOUR LOCATION

How to turn off “web & app” activity using a PC

On the Google Chrome page, go to Activity controls in a web browser. To turn off web and app activity on your PC, you can access your Activity Controls in a web browser. If you’re not signed in to your Google account, you’ll be prompted to do so
Click Turn Off under “Web & App Activity.” You’ll see this option near the top of the page
Scroll down and click the Pause button. You won’t be able to click Pause until you’ve scrolled to the bottom of the page. This pauses your web and search activity until you enable it again. To delete your Web & App Activity history, click Delete old activity under “Setting is Off” and then select a time range. Click Got It when you’re finished to return to the previous screen

How to turn Location History off on iPhone

On the Google home page, click on your icon in the top right corner
Select your Google Account or click on this link
At the top, click on Data & Privacy
Scroll down and find the box that says History Settings
Click on the row that says Location History

Google Location History setting. (Google)

Click on the box that says Turn off
Select Turn off again and then Got it

How to turn off Location History on Android

Settings may vary depending on your Android phone’s manufacturer.

On the Google home page, click on your icon in the top right corner
Select Google Account, or click on this link
Click on Data & Privacy
Scroll down and find the box that says History Settings
Click on the row that says Location History
Click on the box that says Turn off
Select Turn off again and then Got it

Stop targeted ads

Google’s targeted ads can be a bit too specific for comfort, but there is a way to turn them off:

How to stop targeted ads on Mac

On the Google Chrome page, click on your icon in the top right corner and select Manage your Google Account, or click on this link
In the top left, click on Data & Privacy
Find the box that is titled Personalized ads and click on My Ad Center
In the top right corner, click on the box that says Personalized ads, and then click on Turn Off in the bottom right of the next box. Then tap Got it

How to stop targeted ads on iPhone

On the Google home page, click on your icon in the top right corner
Select Google Account, or click on this link
Click on Data & Privacy
Find the box that is titled Personalized Ads and click on My Ad Center
In the top right corner, click where it says On
Then on the bottom right, click where it says Turn Off
Then tap Got it

How to stop targeted ads on Android

On the Google home page, click on your icon in the top right corner
Select Google Account, or click on this link
Click on Data & Privacy
Find the box that is titled Personalized ads and click on My Ad Center
In the top right corner, click where it says ON next to Personalized ads
Scroll down and click Turn Off in the bottom right
Then click Got it

Person on Google home page. (Kurt “CyberGuy” Knutsson)

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Use a VPN for better privacy

Consider using a VPN to protect against being tracked and to identify your potential location on websites that you visit. Many sites can read your IP address and, depending on their privacy settings, may display the city from which you are corresponding. A VPN will disguise your IP address to show an alternate location. See my expert review of the best VPNs for browsing the web privately on your Windows, Mac, Android & iOS devices.

Kurt’s key takeaways

While it can be exhausting taking so many precautions to protect your data, it really pays off at the end of the day. Taking a few steps can make all the difference. But by not protecting yourself, you are leaving yourself susceptible to data collection, targeted ads and even worse. At the end of the day, protecting your privacy is your responsibility.

How do you protect yourself from data collection? Are you worried about Google collecting your data? Let us know by writing us at Cyberguy.com/Contact

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Ask Kurt a question or let us know what stories you’d like us to cover.

Answers to the most-asked CyberGuy questions:

Kurt “CyberGuy” Knutsson is an award-winning tech journalist who has a deep love of technology, gear and gadgets that make life better with his contributions for Fox News & FOX Business beginning mornings on “FOX & Friends.” Got a tech question? Get Kurt’s CyberGuy Newsletter, share your voice, a story idea or comment at CyberGuy.com.

Technology

Google’s annual revenue tops $400 billion for the first time

Published

8 hours ago

February 4, 2026

Press Room

Google’s annual revenue tops 0 billion for the first time

Google’s parent company, Alphabet, has earned more than $400 billion in annual revenue for the first time. The company announced the milestone as part of its Q4 2025 earnings report released on Wednesday, which highlights the 15 percent year-over-year increase as its cloud business and YouTube continue to grow.

As noted in the earnings report, Google’s Cloud business reached a $70 billion run rate in 2025, while YouTube’s annual revenue soared beyond $60 billion across ads and subscriptions. Alphabet CEO Sundar Pichai told investors that YouTube remains the “number one streamer,” citing data from Nielsen. The company also now has more than 325 million paid subscribers, led by Google One and YouTube Premium.

Additionally, Pichai noted that Google Search saw more usage over the past few months “than ever before,” adding that daily AI Mode queries have doubled since launch. Google will soon take advantage of the popularity of its Gemini app and AI Mode, as it plans to build an agentic checkout feature into both tools.

Technology

Waymo under federal investigation after child struck

Published

8 hours ago

February 4, 2026

Press Room

Waymo under federal investigation after child struck

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Federal safety regulators are once again taking a hard look at self-driving cars after a serious incident involving Waymo, the autonomous vehicle company owned by Alphabet.

This time, the investigation centers on a Waymo vehicle that struck a child near an elementary school in Santa Monica, California, during morning drop-off hours. The crash happened Jan. 23 and raised immediate questions about how autonomous vehicles behave around children, school zones and unpredictable pedestrian movement.

On Jan. 29, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration confirmed it had opened a new preliminary investigation into Waymo’s automated driving system.

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Waymo operates Level 4 self-driving vehicles in select U.S. cities, where the car controls all driving tasks without a human behind the wheel. (AP Photo/Terry Chea, File)

What happened near the Santa Monica school?

According to documents posted by NHTSA, the crash occurred within two blocks of an elementary school during normal drop-off hours. The area was busy. There were multiple children present, a crossing guard on duty and several vehicles double-parked along the street.

Investigators say the child ran into the roadway from behind a double-parked SUV while heading toward the school. The Waymo vehicle struck the child, who suffered minor injuries. No safety operator was inside the vehicle at the time.

NHTSA’s Office of Defects Investigation is now examining whether the autonomous system exercised appropriate caution given its proximity to a school zone and the presence of young pedestrians.

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Federal investigators are now examining whether Waymo’s automated system exercised enough caution near a school zone during morning drop-off hours. (Waymo)

Why federal investigators stepped in

The NHTSA says the investigation will focus on how Waymo’s automated driving system is designed to behave in and around school zones, especially during peak pickup and drop-off times.

That includes whether the vehicle followed posted speed limits, how it responded to visual cues like crossing guards and parked vehicles and whether its post-crash response met federal safety expectations. The agency is also reviewing how Waymo handled the incident after it occurred.

Waymo said it voluntarily contacted regulators the same day as the crash and plans to cooperate fully with the investigation. In a statement, the company said it remains committed to improving road safety for riders and everyone sharing the road.

Waymo responds to the federal investigation

We reached out to Waymo for comment, and the company provided the following statement:

“At Waymo, we are committed to improving road safety, both for our riders and all those with whom we share the road. Part of that commitment is being transparent when incidents occur, which is why we are sharing details regarding an event in Santa Monica, California, on Friday, January 23, where one of our vehicles made contact with a young pedestrian. Following the event, we voluntarily contacted the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) that same day. NHTSA has indicated to us that they intend to open an investigation into this incident, and we will cooperate fully with them throughout the process.

“The event occurred when the pedestrian suddenly entered the roadway from behind a tall SUV, moving directly into our vehicle’s path. Our technology immediately detected the individual as soon as they began to emerge from behind the stopped vehicle. The Waymo Driver braked hard, reducing speed from approximately 17 mph to under 6 mph before contact was made.

“To put this in perspective, our peer-reviewed model shows that a fully attentive human driver in this same situation would have made contact with the pedestrian at approximately 14 mph. This significant reduction in impact speed and severity is a demonstration of the material safety benefit of the Waymo Driver.

“Following contact, the pedestrian stood up immediately, walked to the sidewalk and we called 911. The vehicle remained stopped, moved to the side of the road and stayed there until law enforcement cleared the vehicle to leave the scene.

This event demonstrates the critical value of our safety systems. We remain committed to improving road safety where we operate as we continue on our mission to be the world’s most trusted driver.”

Understanding Waymo’s autonomy level

Waymo vehicles fall under Level 4 autonomy on NHTSA’s six-level scale.

At Level 4, the vehicle handles all driving tasks within specific service areas. A human driver is not required to intervene, and no safety operator needs to be present inside the car. However, these systems do not operate everywhere and are currently limited to ride-hailing services in select cities.

The NHTSA has been clear that Level 4 vehicles are not available for consumer purchase, even though passengers may ride inside them.

This is not Waymo’s first federal probe

This latest investigation follows a previous NHTSA evaluation that opened in May 2024. That earlier probe examined reports of Waymo vehicles colliding with stationary objects like gates, chains and parked cars. Regulators also reviewed incidents in which the vehicles appeared to disobey traffic control devices.

That investigation was closed in July 2025 after regulators reviewed the data and Waymo’s responses. Safety advocates say the new incident highlights unresolved concerns.

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No safety operator was inside the vehicle at the time of the crash, raising fresh questions about how autonomous cars handle unpredictable situations involving children. (Waymo)

What this means for you

If you live in a city where self-driving cars operate, this investigation matters more than it might seem. School zones are already high-risk areas, even for attentive human drivers. Autonomous vehicles must be able to detect unpredictable behavior, anticipate sudden movement and respond instantly when children are present.

This case will likely influence how regulators set expectations for autonomous driving systems near schools, playgrounds and other areas with vulnerable pedestrians. It could also shape future rules around local oversight, data reporting and operational limits for self-driving fleets.

For parents, commuters and riders, the outcome may affect where and when autonomous vehicles are allowed to operate.

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Kurt’s key takeaways

Self-driving technology promises safer roads, fewer crashes and less human error. But moments like this remind us that the hardest driving scenarios often involve human unpredictability, especially when children are involved. Federal investigators now face a crucial question: Did the system act as cautiously as it should have in one of the most sensitive driving environments possible? How they answer that question could help define the next phase of autonomous vehicle regulation in the United States.

Do you feel comfortable sharing the road with self-driving cars near schools, or is that a line technology should not cross yet? Let us know by writing to us at Cyberguy.com

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Get my best tech tips, urgent security alerts and exclusive deals delivered straight to your inbox. Plus, you’ll get instant access to my Ultimate Scam Survival Guide – free when you join my CYBERGUY.COM newsletter.

Kurt “CyberGuy” Knutsson is an award-winning tech journalist who has a deep love of technology, gear and gadgets that make life better with his contributions for Fox News & FOX Business beginning mornings on “FOX & Friends.” Got a tech question? Get Kurt’s free CyberGuy Newsletter, share your voice, a story idea or comment at CyberGuy.com.

Technology

Adobe actually won’t discontinue Animate

Published

20 hours ago

February 4, 2026

Press Room

Adobe actually won’t discontinue Animate

Adobe is no longer planning to discontinue Adobe Animate on March 1st. In an FAQ, the company now says that Animate will now be in maintenance mode and that it has “no plans to discontinue or remove access” to the app. Animate will still receive “ongoing security and bug fixes” and will still be available for “both new and existing users,” but it won’t get new features.

An announcement email that went out to Adobe Animate customers about the discontinuation did “not meet our standards and caused a lot of confusion and angst within the community,” according to a Reddit post from Adobe community team member Mike Chambers.

Animate will be available in maintenance mode “indefinitely” to “individual, small business, and enterprise customers,” according to Adobe. Before the change, Adobe said that non-enterprise customers could access Animate and download content until March 1st, 2027, while enterprise customers had until March 1st, 2029.