all-in-one privacy solution":["Proton Unlimited — комплексное решение для защиты данных"],"Black Friday":["Черная пятница"],"No ads. Privacy by default.":["Без рекламы. Гарантия конфиденциальности"],"People before profits":["Люди важнее прибыли"],"Security through transparency":["Безопасность, основанная на прозрачности"],"The best Proton Mail ${ BLACK_FRIDAY } deals":["${ BLACK_FRIDAY }: лучшие предложения Proton Mail"],"The world’s only community- supported email service":["Единственный в мире сервис электронной почты с поддержкой сообщества"]},"specialoffer:limited":{"${ hours } hour":["${ hours } час","${ hours } часа","${ hours } часов","${ hours } часа"],"${ hoursLeft }, ${ minutesLeft } and ${ secondsLeft } left":["Осталось ${ hoursLeft }, ${ minutesLeft } и ${ secondsLeft }"],"${ minutes } minute":["${ minutes } минута","${ minutes } минуты","${ minutes } минут","${ minutes } минуты"],"${ seconds } second":["${ seconds } секунда","${ seconds } секунды","${ seconds } секунд","${ seconds } секунды"],"Limited time offer":["Ограниченное по времени предложение"]},"specialoffer:listitem":{"Create multiple addresses":["Создавайте несколько адресов"],"Hide-my-email aliases":["Создавайте алиасы hide-my-email"],"Quickly unsubscribe from newsletters":["С легкостью отменяйте подписку на рассылки"],"Use your own domain name":["Используйте собственное доменное имя"]},"specialoffer:logos":{"As featured in":["О нас в СМИ"]},"specialoffer:metadescription":{"Get an encrypted email that protects your privacy":["Электронная почта, защищающая вашу конфиденциальность"]},"specialoffer:metatitle":{"Proton Mail Black Friday Sale - Up to 40% off":["Черная пятница в Proton Mail: скидки до 40 %"]},"specialoffer:newmetadescription":{"Get up to 40% off Proton Mail subscriptions this Black Friday. Find great deals on our secure end-to-end encrypted email plans.":["Получите Proton Mail со скидкой до 40 %. Не пропустите выгодные предложения на планы безопасной электронной почты, зашифрованной сквозным шифрованием, в честь «черной пятницы»."]},"specialoffer:newmetatitle":{"Proton Mail Black Friday sale | Up to 40% off secure email":["«Черная пятница» в Proton Mail | Скидки до 40 %"]},"specialoffer:note":{"* Billed at ${ TOTAL_SUM } for the first year":["* ${ TOTAL_SUM } за первый год."],"*Billed at ${ TOTAL_SUM } for the first 2 years":["* ${ TOTAL_SUM } за первые два года."],"30-day money-back guarantee":["Гарантия возврата средств в течение 30 дней"],"Billed at ${ TOTAL_SUM } for the first 2 years":["${ TOTAL_SUM } за первые 2 года"],"Billed at ${ TOTAL_SUM } for the first year":["${ TOTAL_SUM } за первый год"],"You save ${ SAVE_SUM }":["Вы экономите ${ SAVE_SUM }."]},"specialoffer:off":{"${ DISCOUNT } off":["–${ DISCOUNT }"],"${ PERCENT_OFF } off":["–${ PERCENT_OFF }"]},"specialoffer:testimonial":{"I love my ProtonMail":["Обожаю ProtonMail!"],"My favorite email service":["Мой любимый сервис электронной почты"],"Thanks Proton for keeping us all safe in the complicated internet universe.":["Спасибо Proton за защиту в запутанном интернет-пространстве."],"You get what you pay for. In the case of big tech, if you pay nothing, you get used. I quit using Gmail and switched to @ProtonMail":["Полностью оправданное вложение денег. Бигтех-компании используют тебя, если ты им не платишь. Поэтому я перешла с Gmail на @ProtonMail."]},"specialoffer:time":{"Days":["дн."],"Hours":["ч."],"Min":["мин."]},"specialoffer:title":{"And much more":["И это еще не всё"],"Make your inbox yours":["Настройка на свой вкус"],"Safe from trackers":["Защита от трекеров"],"Stay organized":["Всё по полочкам"],"Black Friday email deals":["Безопасная почта для покупок в «черную пятницу»"],"Don’t just take our word for it":["Отзывы наших клиентов"],"Our story":["Наша история"],"Transfer your data from Google in one click":["Перенесите данные из Gmail в одно нажатие"]},"specialoffer:tooltip":{"Access blocked content and browse privately. Includes ${ TOTAL_SERVERS }+ servers in ${ TOTAL_COUNTRIES }+ countries, connect up to 10 devices, access worldwide streaming services, malware and ad-blocker, and more.":["Сохраняйте конфиденциальность в Интернете и получайте доступ к заблокированному контенту. Включает ${ TOTAL_SERVERS } серверов более чем в ${ TOTAL_COUNTRIES } странах с возможностью подключения на 10 устройствах, доступ к стриминговым платформам со всего мира, блокировщик рекламы, функцию защиты от вредоносных программ и другие преимущества."],"Easily share your calendar with your family, friends or colleagues, and view external calendars.":["Предоставляйте доступ к календарю родственникам, друзьям и коллегам, а также просматривайте календари других сервисов"],"Includes support for 1 custom email domain, 10 email addresses, 10 hide-my-email aliases, calendar sharing, and more.":["Включает поддержку 1 пользовательского домена, 10 адресов электронной почты, 10 алиасов hide-my-email, совместный доступ к календарю и другие преимущества."],"Includes support for 3 custom email domains, 15 email addresses, unlimited hide-my-email aliases, calendar sharing, and more.":["Включает поддержку трех пользовательских доменов, 15 адресов электронной почты, неограниченного числа алиасов hide-my-email, совместный доступ к календарю и другие преимущества."],"Manage up to 25 calendars, mobile apps, secured with end-to-end encryption, 1-click calendar import from Google, and more.":["До 25 календарей, мобильные приложения, сквозное шифрование, удобный перенос данных из Google Календаря и другие преимущества"]},"Status Banner":{"At the moment we are experiencing issues with the Proton VPN service":["При использовании сервиса Proton VPN могут возникать проблемы"],"Learn more":["Подробнее"]},"Status banner":{"Learn more":["Подробнее"],"Please note that at the moment we are experiencing issues with the ${ issues[0] } service.":["Сейчас при использовании сервиса ${ issues[0] } могут возникать проблемы."],"We are experiencing issues with one or more services at the moment.":["При использовании одного или нескольких сервисов могут возникать проблемы."]},"suggestions":{"Suggestions":["Предложения"]},"Support":{"Sub category":["Подкатегория","Подкатегории","Подкатегорий","Подкатегорий"]},"Support article":{"${ readingTime } min":["${ readingTime } мин.","${ readingTime } мин.","${ readingTime } мин.","${ readingTime } мин."],"Category":["Категория","Категории","Категорий","Категорий"],"Didn’t find what you were looking for?":["Не нашли желаемый контент?"],"General contact":["Общие контакты"],"Get help":["Получить помощь"],"Legal contact":["Контакты юридического отдела"],"Media contact":["Контакты для прессы"],"Partnerships contact":["Контакты по вопросам партнерства"],"Reading":["Чтение"]},"Support categories":{"Browse Proton product support":["Смотреть ресурсы по поддержке продуктов Proton"]},"Support category":{"There is no article in this category yet.":["В этой категории еще нет статей."]},"Support troubleshooting":{"--- Select ---":["— Выбрать —"],"App version":["Версия приложения"],"Browser":["Браузер"],"Check if this helps":["Возможно, нужный ответ найдется здесь"],"Choose a category for your question":["Выберите категорию запроса"],"Choose a product":["Выберите продукт"],"Did this solve your issue ?":["Удалось ли нам решить вашу проблему?"],"Faster assistance is just a few clicks away — please make your selections":["Выберите подходящие варианты. Всего пара нажатий — и вы на шаг ближе к решению проблемы."],"No, contact support":["Нет, связаться со службой поддержки"],"Proton account":["Аккаунт Proton"],"Proton Bridge":["Proton Bridge"],"Proton Calendar":["Proton Calendar"],"Proton Drive":["Proton Drive"],"Proton for Business":["Proton for Business"],"Proton Mail":["Proton Mail"],"Proton Pass":["Proton Pass"],"Proton VPN":["Proton VPN"],"Thank you for your feedback":["Спасибо за отзыв!"],"Troubleshooting":["Устранение неполадок"],"What can we help with ?":["Чем мы можем вам помочь?"],"Yes":["Да"]},"support_modal_search_query":{"Search query":["Поисковый запрос"]},"support_search_button":{"Search":["Найти"]},"support_search_i_am_looking_for":{"I'm looking for":["Я ищу"]},"SupportForm":{"For a faster resolution, please report the issue from the Bridge app: Help > Report a problem.":["Чтобы быстро устранить проблему в приложении Bridge, выберите «Справка» > «Сообщить о проблеме»."],"Information":["Информация"]},"SupportForm:option":{"Account Security":["Безопасность аккаунта"],"Contacts":["Контакты"],"Custom email domain":["Пользовательский домен адреса электронной почты"],"Email delivery and Spam":["Доставка электронных писем и спам"],"Encryption":["Шифрование"],"Login and password":["Имя пользователя и пароль"],"Merge aliases and accounts":["Объединение псевдонимов и аккаунтов"],"Migrate to Proton":["Переход на Proton"],"Notifications":["Уведомления"],"Other":["Другое"],"Plans and billing":["Тарифы и оплата"],"Proton for Business":["Proton for Business"],"Sign up":["Регистрация"],"Storage":["Хранилище"],"Users, addresses, and identities":["Пользователи, адреса и личные данные"]},"SupportForm:optionIntro":{"Select a topic":["Выберите тему"]},"swiss_baseed_feature":{"Swiss based":["В Швейцарии"]},"Testimonial":{"Awards":["Награды"],"Customers":["Клиенты"],"Featured":["Что о нас говорят"],"Go to testimonial source":["Перейти к источнику отзыва"],"Reviews":["Отзывы"],"Videos":["видео."]},"Text":{"Find the plan that's right for you":["Найдите подходящий план"],"If you need help, check out our ${ supportLink }.":["Если вам нужна помощь, перейдите в ${ supportLink }."],"The page you’re looking for might have been removed, or it could be an\nold link.":["Возможно, страница удалена\nили у вас устаревшая ссылка."]},"Title":{"On this page":["На этой странице"],"Related articles":["Статьи по теме"],"Share ${ thisPage }":["Поделиться ${ thisPage }"],"Thank you!":["Спасибо!"],"this page":["этой страницей"]},"Tooltip":{"More information":["Подробнее"]},"tooltip_calendar":{"Create up to 20 custom & shareable encrypted calendars. On top of that, add up to 5 calendars from friends, family, colleagues, and organizations.":["Есть возможность создать до 20 зашифрованных пользовательских календарей и делиться ими с другими людьми, а также добавить до 5 календарей друзей, родственников, коллег и организаций."]},"tooltip_vpn":{"Access blocked content and browse privately. Includes ${ TOTAL_SERVERS }+ servers in ${ TOTAL_COUNTRIES }+ countries, highest VPN speed, ${ TOTAL_VPN_CONNECTIONS } VPN connections, worldwide streaming services, malware and ad-blocker, and more.":["Получайте доступ к заблокированному контенту, просматривайте страницы анонимно и пользуйтесь стриминговыми сервисами со всего мира. Мы предлагаем ${ TOTAL_SERVERS } серверов более чем в ${ TOTAL_COUNTRIES } странах, высочайшую скорость VPN, ${ TOTAL_VPN_CONNECTIONS } VPN-подключений, защиту от вредоносных программ, блокировщик рекламы и многое другое."],"Access blocked content and browse privately. Includes ${ TOTAL_SERVERS }+ servers in ${ TOTAL_COUNTRIES }+ countries, highest VPN speed, 10 VPN connections, worldwide streaming services, malware and ad-blocker, and more.":["Получайте доступ к заблокированному контенту, просматривайте страницы анонимно и пользуйтесь стриминговыми сервисами со всего мира. Мы предлагаем ${ TOTAL_SERVERS } серверов более чем в ${ TOTAL_COUNTRIES } странах, высочайшую скорость VPN, 10 VPN-подключений, защиту от вредоносных программ, блокировщик рекламы и многое другое."]},"version_history_label":{"Version history":["История версий"]},"version_history_tooltip":{"Store up to ${ versionHistoryNumber } versions of each file for up to ${ years } years":["Храните версии каждого файла (до ${ versionHistoryNumber }) не более нескольких лет (${ years })."]},"vpn_features_link":{"View VPN plans":["Посмотреть тарифы VPN"]},"vpn_features_useCase":{"Access blocked content and browse privately":["Доступ к заблокированному контенту и конфиденциальный просмотр веб-страниц"]}}},"unleashApi":"https://account.proton.me/api"};
// We need to import data (the framework context) from the server
// This Astro feature with define:vars works well but creates an inline script
// So we can't directly import the initFramework helper, we have to store the context
window.frameworkContext = frameworkContext;
})();
The ‘Incognito Mode’ lawsuit is another legal blow to Google’s privacy-washing tactics | Proton
In December 2023, Google agreed to a settlement with the plaintiffs in this case, the day before it was set to go to trial. And on April 1, 2024, the terms of that agreement were made public.
The settlement terms(new window) reveal the truly massive scale of the company’s data collection even when users were in Incognito mode. It turns out Google collected and stored hundreds of billions of browsing records of at least 136 million people who assumed their online activity was private.
Google was also using secret “private browsing detection bits” to track people’s decision to enter Incognito mode, despite never disclosing this.
And Google’s top executives knew their Incognito mode splash page was problematic but continued to use it anyway. In an email to CEO Sundar Pitchai, the chief marketing officer cautioned that the Incognito disclosures used “really fuzzy, hedging language that is almost more damaging”. Employees described it as “effectively a lie”.
Under the deal, Google will not pay any money to the plaintiffs, but individual class members can still sue for damages. Instead, Google agreed to delete the browsing records, clarify the limitations of Incognito mode on its splash page, remove the private browsing detection bits, and block third-party cookies in private browsing mode by default for the next five years.
Experts estimated the value of the data Google will lose from these changes to be between $4.75 billion and $7.8 billion.
If a web browser tells you you’re “incognito” and can “browse privately”, you might assume your online activities are private and no one is collecting your data. But you’d be wrong.
It’s precisely this ambiguity that has landed Google in the crosshairs of a $5 billion lawsuit. In August, a federal judge paved the way for this high-stakes case to go to trial, where Google’s attempts to redefine the meaning of privacy(new window) will once again face reality.
Privacy washing is Google’s attempt to portray its services as private, even as it sweeps vast quantities of your personal data into its profitable advertising engine. According to investor reports(new window), the company has recognized the public appetite for privacy. Recent marketing and product decisions reflect efforts to address privacy in ways it hopes will pacify consumers and regulators without changing its lucrative business model.
But as we’ve shown in a previous article(new window), privacy washing may work for marketing, but it doesn’t work in the courts. When Google’s notion of privacy conflicts with legal principles, Google consistently loses.
The battle over Incognito Mode is a decisive challenge. Because Chrome is the hands-down favorite web browser, with over 3 billion users globally, the product is a window into human browsing activities. If even something called “Incognito Mode” doesn’t offer meaningful privacy for Google users, then it’s worth closely examining what privacy actually means to Google and how far you should trust the company’s claims.
What the Incognito Mode lawsuit is all about
In 2020, a group of five plaintiffs sued Google with multiple allegations, including violations of the federal wiretapping law, California privacy laws, breach of contract, and other counts. Seeking “at least” $5 billion in damages, they say Google promised not to collect their data while in Incognito Mode but did so anyway.
Google asked a federal judge in California to throw out the case, which is the typical response to such lawsuits. The company argues that Incognito Mode tells you that websites can still track you whenever you open a private tab, a spokesperson told The Verge(new window).
“We strongly dispute these claims and we will defend ourselves vigorously against them,” he said. “Incognito mode in Chrome gives you the choice to browse the internet without your activity being saved to your browser or device. As we clearly state each time you open a new incognito tab, websites might be able to collect information about your browsing activity during your session.”
The judge disagreed. You can read her ruling here(new window). She said Google’s claim that people consented to letting the company collect their data while in Incognito mode is questionable. “Google never explicitly told users that it does so,” she wrote. And crucially: “By browsing privately, plaintiffs could be said to have asserted their expectation of privacy. Google is welcome to make the counterargument at trial.”
In other words, the judge believes that when people activated a feature explicitly named “incognito”, they were relying on the common-sense meaning of words to assert an expectation of privacy. It’s a direct rebuke of privacy washing.
The plaintiffs further claim that Google still collects data during private Chrome sessions that the company can de-anonymize and use to target you with ads. They say the company stores people’s browsing data in the same logs, whether they’re in regular or private mode. When combined, “Google can use them to ‘uniquely identify a user with a high probability of success.’”
The technical details of this system will certainly come up if the case goes to trial, which still isn’t a guarantee. Google has historically preferred to settle privacy lawsuits out of court rather than face real scrutiny of its data practices.
How Incognito Mode works
Google has at least one thing working in its favor: Chrome isn’t the only browser with a misleading “private mode” feature. Safari, Firefox, and others offer similar options. It may be that tech companies simply take for granted that people understand how private mode works, but that’s certainly not the case.
The proliferation and complexity of online tracking technologies mean it’s not reasonable to expect even tech-savvy internet users to understand who is tracking their behavior and what data is collected at any given moment.
So here’s what actually happens when you switch to Incognito Mode:
First, the splash page of a new private tab lets you know that Chrome won’t see your browsing history, cookies, site data, or information entered in forms. This means Chrome won’t save any of this data locally on your device.
This does not mean that other websites or even Google itself can’t see and log your data. Other websites will still be able to see that you’ve visited their page. Although they can’t see any tracking cookies previously associated with you, they can still see your IP address, what browser you’re using, and what device you’re using, among other potentially personally identifying data. Google Analytics and Google’s ad network will still see you.
If you log in to any accounts while in Incognito Mode, this will also reduce your privacy. For example, if you log in to your Google Account to check your Gmail, Google will know that you’ve visited Gmail. If you stay logged in and search for something in Google, the company will know about that search.
The Incognito Mode start window also informs you of some other limitations of the feature. As mentioned above, it doesn’t protect you from other websites you visit monitoring your activity. And it doesn’t prevent your internet service provider (ISP) or local network administrator from seeing what websites you visit.
We’ve also published a more in-depth explainer on private browsing here(new window). In summary, Incognito Mode prevents your local device from remembering anything about your browsing session. But it doesn’t stop remote servers from watching what you do.
Alternatives to private mode browsing
To block trackers from other websites, you’ll need to install a browser extension that blocks third-party cookies or use a VPN that blocks trackers and malware. Proton VPN(new window) does this. A VPN also prevents your ISP and network administrator from seeing your activity (apart from the fact that you connected to a VPN).
To prevent Google from having a monopoly on your personal data, the only way to do this is to leave Google. Because even if you turn off personal ads(new window) and block ad tracking, Google will still have access to all your data in Gmail, Google Calendar, Google Maps, Google Drive, Google Photos, and more.
Considering the amount of data Google still collects from you, even in Incognito Mode, it’s fair to question what Google thinks the word privacy means. As courts and regulators have suggested, privacy for Google does not mean what it means for us at Proton. With Proton, your data is encrypted and private by default. With Google, your data is Google’s by default.
Google is still the dominant tech company, but its business model is on borrowed time, and they seem to know it. Just as oil companies burnish their eco-conscious initiatives while extracting carbon from the earth, Big Tech is offering morsels of privacy while extracting data from your every move.
In all likelihood, Google will settle this latest lawsuit. But you don’t have to settle for Google. Switch to privacy and build a better internet.
Обеспечьте конфиденциальность своих данных с Proton
Data breaches are increasingly common. Whenever you sign up for an online
service, you provide it with personal information that’s valuable to hackers,
such as email addresses, passwords, phone numbers, and more. Unfortunately, many
online services f
Secure, seamless communication is the foundation of every business. As more
organizations secure their data with Proton, we’ve dramatically expanded our
ecosystem with new products and services, from our password manager to Dark Web
Monitoring for cr
On the subject of cybersecurity, one term that often comes up is brute force
attack. A brute force attack is any attack that doesn’t rely on finesse, but
instead uses raw computing power to crack security or even the underlying
encryption.
In this a
Section 702 of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act has become notorious as
the legal justification allowing federal agencies like the NSA, CIA, and FBI to
perform warrantless wiretaps, which sweep up the data of hundreds of thousands
of US citi
In response to the growing number of data breaches, Proton Mail offers a feature
to paid subscribers called Dark Web Monitoring. Our system checks if your
credentials or other data have been leaked to illegal marketplaces and alerts
you if so. Often
Your email address is your online identity, and you share it whenever you create
a new account for an online service. While this offers convenience, it also
leaves your identity exposed if hackers manage to breach the services you use.
Data breaches