Microsoft patent describes automatic transition to private browsing session

A recently published patent from Microsoft describes several techniques for automatically switching to a private or incognito mode while browsing. Such a mode does not save any browsing history, among other things.

In the description of the patent, discovered by MSPoweruser, Microsoft mentions the example where a user opens an “adult content” page and the browser automatically switches to private mode. This is to protect the user from ‘site-related data being collected by high-risk sites’. An automatic switch should also serve to protect sensitive data from storage or caching.

The document describes various ways in which a switch is possible. For example, the user can be warned that a site poses a high risk, after which he can choose to visit the site in private mode. In addition, according to the patent application, it is also conceivable that the user himself sets certain triggers that lead to a change in the browsing mode. For example, the attached drawings show a menu with different risk levels.

It’s unclear whether Microsoft plans to actually include such a feature in its Edge browser, but by obtaining the patent, it could at least prohibit others from doing the same.