Abstract: - Web browsers today have become one of the most commonly used applications in digital devices, storing and maintaining huge information on user activities. The privacy mode has been introduced to combat the privacy issues related with browsers. This feature keeps the browsing activities of a user private by not storing or removing the traces of artifacts related to the browsing session on the system. In this study, we test the effectiveness of this claim and to ensure ways in which a forensic investigation may be done in such cases. The private modes of different browsers have been tested in Windows and MAC OS by performing pre-defined browsing activities in each of the browsers in both the operating systems. Moreover, the default locations of normal web browser artifacts are also examined to find whether artifacts of private browsing activities are stored in such locations or not.

Keywords: - Private Browsing, Windows, MAC, Safari, Microsoft Edge, Brave Browser