Chrome is the most popular browser which is also available on Android phones. The browser comes with a host of features including a number of privacy and security related features. Incognito Tabs is a feature that has been available for many years. And now Incognito Tabs has got the additional privacy feature you’ve probably been waiting for. This is biometric authentication on Incognito tabs.
Google recently published 5 tips to stay secure while using the browser to celebrate Data Privacy Day (January 28). And within these 5 tips, Google also announces the release of biometric authentication to resume incognito browsing. The feature is already available on Chrome for iOS and is now rolling out to Chrome for Android.
There are several built-in privacy features available in Settings that you can enable and use on your Chrome browser to enhance security and privacy to stay safe from online threats. These privacy features include enhanced protection, cookies control, permission control, incognito tabs, and more. And a new biometric authentication feature adds another layer of security to your browsing.
Biometric Authentication in Incognito Tabs
Incognito tabs are quite useful when you want your browsing privacy, but if someone has access to your phone while incognito tabs are open then that privacy is invalid. And to top it off, Google is now adding a biometric authentication requirement to resume the incognito journey.
This means when the biometric feature is enabled, on resuming any open incognito tab will ask for a face or fingerprint to unlock the page. This is a very useful feature that was missing till now. Yes, it was possible earlier but as an experimental feature and users had to enable it through chrome flags.
How to enable Biometric Authentication for Incognito Tabs
The new privacy feature is rolling out to Android users. This means that some users may have already got the update while some users may have to wait for a few more days. Also, the feature is off by default. This means that you have to activate it manually before you can start using it. It’s quite easy, here’s how to do it.
- Fire make sure to update the Google Chrome app on your Android phone.
- Open the Chrome browser.
- Tap on the three dots at the top right corner and open Settings.
- Under Settings, scroll down and select Privacy and security.
- Here you will find a new option ‘Lock incognito tabs when you close Chrome.’ Enable it by turning on its toggle. If it’s not available, you need to wait.
- Once activated, the browser will ask for authentication when you resume incognito tabs.
Later if you want to disable it, you can follow the same steps followed by turning off the toggle.
It is important to be aware of every privacy feature of a browser for safe browsing. You can follow five privacy tips shared by Google itself by heading to this page.
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