Your browsing is not as private as you think
Is someone watching you right now? You bet. While it’s improbable that someone is staring at you through your computer’s camera this very second, it’s entirely a fact that every move you make online is being tracked by multiple parties. People often joke about creating a secret pact to have their internet history deleted by a friend in the case of an untimely death. But truth be told, your surfing is already being monitored by lots of watchers.
Who can see your web activity?
Wi-Fi network administrators
If you’re using a public or private Wi-Fi network –this includes your workplace – its administrator can see which sites you visit, your social media activity, and which videos you watch. If it’s a secure site, (HTTPS) they won’t be able to see what information you fill in on secured forms.
Internet service providers (ISPs)
Even in incognito mode, your ISP can see the sites you visit, who you are emailing and your social media activity. They may even be able to see details about your health and finances. Depending on your local laws, ISPs can save your data for up to a year.
Operating systems
Your desktop and phone OS can see the sites you visit, who you are emailing and your social media activity. If your geolocation features are on, they can see where you are.
Search engines
Sites like Google, Yahoo!, etc. can see your search history, search results, and every time you use your Google account to log into a site, data about you is being collected. Your interests and behaviors are valuable to companies that want to show you ads.
Websites
Some websites can see what you’re doing on them. They use cookies to track your activity and traffic. Cookies are mostly used to speed up your navigation and personalize advertising for the sake of making it more relevant to you.
Apps
Phone and some desktop apps can see your location, account information and email address. Pay close attention to the privacy statement and privacy settings in each app.
Governments
Law enforcement and investigators can ask your Internet Service Provider to give them your browsing data. They track all types of online behavior to prevent or stop cyber crimes.
Hackers
A hacker can use attacks to see your browser history, login information, financial data, and more.
How can you protect your privacy?
The best way to browse without being seen is to hide your IP address with a Virtual Private Network, known as a VPN connection. A VPN encrypts your data and gives you a proxy IP address that can’t be traced back to you.
Avast Secure Browser is made by security experts and is easy to set up and simple to customize. In addition to built-in VPN integration, it can block tracking, (block ads for faster browsing) keep you safe from online threats like phishing sites, web tracking, and malware.
Your browsing behaviors and interests are valuable data that can be used to improve services and personalize ads, but it can also be used against you. It’s up to you to guard your privacy with the right knowledge and tools. While nothing is perfectly secure, you can make it difficult for people who are trying to get your private information.
FAQs
If you've wondered “Can anyone see my search history?”, the answer is yes. The search engine itself, your web browser, your internet service provider (ISP), some advertisers, website owners, app owners, and, in some cases, authorities can see what you search for on Google.
How do I stop my WiFi provider from seeing my history? ›
Use A VPN. If you truly want to hide your information from your Internet service provider, a Wi Fi owner, or anyone else, a virtual private network (VPN) is the solution. VPNs establish a protected connection, meaning no one can see what you are doing.
Can the Internet provider see your browsing history? ›
Your internet service provider can see the exact website pages you visit, along with the amount of time spent on each site. This allows your internet provider to monitor and record your browsing history to improve their network performance for you, comply with any legal requirements, or target advertisem*nts at you.
Can someone with my IP address see my search history? ›
Yes, they can.
Network administrators can use private networks for monitoring your browsing activity too. Be it your landlord, boss, or family member, if you can't delete your Wi-Fi history, they can see everything.
Who can see my search history on mobile data? ›
Phone providers can see your search history and the websites you visit, plus everything your ISP can see when you access the internet using their cellular network. When you browse the internet on your phone, your requests for websites and other online content are sent through your phone provider's network.
How do I stop a Wi-Fi owner from seeing my history? ›
You could try using private search engines and browsers, like DuckDuckGo or Tor, but they'll only take you so far. If you're serious about eliminating your digital footprint, invest in a VPN. It's the best way to hide all your online activity from Wi-Fi owners, businesses, and even authorities.
Can I hide my browsing history from my internet provider? ›
To hide your browsing history from your ISP, you can use Incognito Mode or Private Browsing. With Incognito Mode, your history won't be stored on your computer, and Private Browsing won't be stored on the ISP's server.
Can your internet provider see your history if you delete it? ›
Yes, your ISP can still see your browsing history even if you delete it from your device or use incognito mode. Deleting your browsing history only removes it from your device, not from your ISP's records. This applies to both traditional ISPs and mobile data providers.
How do I delete my WiFi history? ›
How to delete your Wi-Fi router history
- Locate your router's IP address. ...
- Enter the router's IP address in your browser's search bar.
- Sign in to your router. ...
- Find the admin panel in the settings to access your router logs. ...
- Click on the “Clear Logs” button to delete your Wi-Fi history.
The Wi-Fi owner can potentially see what websites you visit — even if you delete your history. This is because the internet traffic has passed through the router, and it's the router that's keeping the logs.
If you've wondered “Can anyone see my search history?”, the answer is yes. The search engine itself, your web browser, your internet service provider (ISP), some advertisers, website owners, app owners, and, in some cases, authorities can see what you search for on Google.
Can someone see my search history if I delete it? ›
However, it's important to point out that when you clear, delete, or hide browsing history on-screen, you do not remove your visits to those websites. In other words, even though the next person to use your computer won't be able to see where you've been if you clear your history, the sites you visit still can.
Who monitors internet activity? ›
Computer and network surveillance is the monitoring of computer activity and data stored locally on a computer or data being transferred over computer networks such as the Internet. This monitoring is often carried out covertly and may be completed by governments, corporations, criminal organizations, or individuals.
Can someone see what I do on my phone through data? ›
It is possible for someone to see what you do on your phone through data, depending on the specific circ*mstances. For example, if you are connected to a public Wi-Fi network, your internet activity may be visible to others on the same network.
Can a WiFi provider see your history incognito? ›
Yes, your WiFi provider – also called an Internet Service Provider (ISP) – can see what you search and what sites you visit, even when you're in incognito mode. The owner of the router will also be able to see what you search in the router logs.
Who can see my incognito history? ›
Incognito mode does not make you completely anonymous online. While it prevents your local device from storing browsing history, websites you visit, your internet service provider (ISP), and network administrators can still track your activities. It doesn't hide your IP address or encrypt your internet connection.
How can I hide my WiFi bill history? ›
You cannot delete the Wi-Fi history from public routers. That's why it's best to use a VPN to hide your browsing activity.
How do you hide your activity from WiFi? ›
Use a Virtual Private Network (VPN)
A VPN is one of the best tools to help you hide your internet activity. It's designed to encrypt data traffic over a network and hide your IP address, thus preventing anyone else from accessing your information—including your internet provider.
How do I delete incognito history on my WiFi provider? ›
How to delete incognito history
- Click the Start menu.
- Type cmd in the search bar to open Command Prompt.
- Click Run as administrator.
- Enter the command ipconfig/flushdns.
- Hit Enter.
