In the Perplexity app, you can activate incognito mode in just a few steps. We will explain how to do it and also discuss the advantages.
How to activate incognito mode in the Perplexity app
To activate incognito mode in the Perplexity app, please follow these steps. Please note that this mode is not available if you are not logged in, as in this case your searches are anonymous anyway.
- Sign in: Make sure you are signed in to your Perplexity account. Incognito mode is only available to signed-in users.
- Open the profile menu: Click on your username or avatar to open the drop-down menu.
- Select incognito mode: Select “Incognito” from the menu. Once this is activated, you will see an icon next to the input field confirming incognito mode.
- How it works: in incognito mode, your searches are not stored in your library and threads automatically expire after 24 hours.
Advantages and limits of incognito mode in the Perplexity app
Incognito mode in the Perplexity app offers practical advantages for more privacy when using the app, especially on shared devices. However, it has clear limitations and is not suitable for complete anonymity or comprehensive protection on the internet. For greater security, consider using a VPN.
- Advantages of incognito mode: Incognito mode prevents your searches from being stored in the app’s library. This increases privacy, especially for sensitive topics. Your search history remains invisible to other users of the same device. This is especially useful if you share a device with other people.
- Some website paywalls can be circumvented in incognito mode because no cookies are stored permanently. The mode can be activated directly from the app’s user interface by selecting it in the settings.
- Limitations of Incognito Mode: Incognito Mode does not protect you from third-party tracking, such as that of your internet service provider, website operators, or school and corporate networks. Your IP address remains visible. Incognito Mode does not protect you from phishing, malware, or other cyberattacks. We recommend using a VPN for more comprehensive security.
- If you are not signed in to Perplexity, your threads are anonymous anyway, making incognito mode redundant. Data such as location, browser type and operating system may still be collected.
Privacy and security in the Perplexity app
The Perplexity app places a high value on privacy and security, but there are some aspects that you as a user should be aware of. The security measures are modern, but there are uncertainties regarding GDPR compliance for European users.
- Privacy: Perplexity stores personal information such as name, email address and password when you create an account. In addition, technical data such as IP address, device type and location, as well as interaction data with the website, are collected.
- Search queries and feedback reports can be used to improve the AI models. Users can disable this feature in their account settings.
- Personal information will be removed within 30 days after an account has been deleted. Data is not sold or traded, but may be shared with service providers that provide specific services.
- Security measures: Data transmission is encrypted (SSL/TLS). Cloudflare is used for DDoS protection and firewall. Perplexity uses multi-factor authentication (MFA) and just-in-time access controls for sensitive resources.
- Mobile Device Management (MDM) and Endpoint Detection and Response (EDR) protect devices from threats. Real-time monitoring with Panther SIEM and a 24/7 security team ensure rapid threat detection and response. Perplexity conducts regular security reviews, including penetration testing and bug bounty programs.
- ABER: The main servers are located in the United States, which can be problematic from a data protection perspective, as there is no adequacy decision under EU standards.
- There are uncertainties regarding GDPR compliance because Amazon Web Services’ server locations are not clearly traceable.
