Private Browsing Click to see a larger image

Safari keeps track of the websites that you visit so that you can get back to them from the History menu or the Address Bar. Additionally, web sites often store information about your visits so that they can customize your pages when you return. For example, if you have an account on Basics4Mac.com, the site will remember you so that you are still logged in the next time you come to the site.

Most of the time these are good things because they enhance your browsing experience and save you time. However, if you are using a Mac in a lab, you might not want to leave a trail of your browsing history.

You can keep Safari from recording your browsing by using Private Browsing.

To turn on Private Browsing, go to the Safari menu and choose Private Browsing.

Here's another use for Private Browsing: If you share your Mac with someone and you are shopping for a gift for them, turn on Private Browsing while you are doing your shopping. That way the other person won't know what online stores you have been shopping in.

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