The internet is full of content. Looking at some of that content could land you in hot water, and your browser history could potentially be used to help prosecutors convince a judge to find you guilty of a crime.
You might think we are only talking about content such as if you Google “How to make a bomb” or look at inappropriate images of minors. But browser history has played a role in the prosecution of many people who do no such things. For instance, those accused of fraud might have something incriminating in their browser history. Or those accused of scheming a burglary might be tracked down because someone else’s browser records them having connected regularly online.
What if I only use private mode when browsing?
There is a major misconception that you can use private browsing mode to hide details of what you are doing. There will still be a record of your activity somewhere on the internet for those who know how to find it.
All private really means is someone cannot easily grab your laptop, and search the history tab to see what you were looking at. It might prevent your boss from discovering that you spend your time at work planning to start up in opposition. It might prevent your spouse from finding out that you have booked a trip away for their birthday. But it won’t stop federal investigators if they want to access something.
You still have rights even if there is something incriminating on your computer. For example, if investigating agents failed to respect your rights, by taking your laptop without the appropriate authority, you may be able to use that fact to seek to suppress any evidence they gained. Learning more about your options will be crucial if you face charges.