Over 4.5 billion user records were compromised in 2018. This shows how you are more virtually vulnerable than you think. While data breaches and cyberattacks affect various data points, most start with one vital piece: a user’s browsing history.
Yourbrowsing history holds a wealth of personal data. It is an extensive collection of your online habits, searches, preferred content, and products. As a result, it has become a target for online criminals seeking potential victims.
Numerous parties can access records of your online activities. Continue reading this article to discover who can see your browsing history.
Eyes on Your Browsing History: Who Are They?
Many parties can see what you do online, which means you don’t have privacy on the internet. Here is a list of those who can see and collect your online data, including your browsing history:
1. Internet Service Provider (ISP)
Since ISPs offer the connection for you, they can see your web history. They receive a lot of data about your online activities using their service. Your ISP can see everything if you don’t encrypt any of your online activity.
Besides your browsing history, they can see the following:
- Your geographic location
- The device you use when browsing
- The duration and time of your visit
- Every file you download
- All the sites, web pages, and apps you visit and use
- Every piece of content you hear, read, or watch
With all this data, ISPs can create a profile for a user and relate it to their IP address. Some of the ISPs can hold on to it for months or years.
The primary use of this data gathering is policing and surveillance. However, ISPs also use it for marketing and advertising.
| 💡 Did You Know? Internet Service Providers can still see what you’re doing, even while browsing incognito. This mode only works by hiding your browser’s identity from the site you are trying to access. However, it’s still visible to your ISP. |
2. WiFi Network Admins
WiFi network administrators can see your browsing history. Whoever manages the network you’re using to browse can see your online activity. It can be a family member, your boss, or a teacher. If you’re using your office or school’s WiFi, the network manager can see what you do.
A WiFi network administrator can see the following data from you:
- Browsing history
- Your accessed files
- Time spent on an app, page, or website
- Users who talk to you online
One of the primary precautions you can take is to visit only secure sites. You can tell they’re safe when they use HTTPS instead of HTTP. With these sites, anything you fill into an HTTPS site’s fields is invisible to the network admins.
| ✅ Pro Tip You should also check your WiFi’s security protocol. It protects all network users through encryption and authentication, so no outsiders can compromise any data exchanged through the WiFi. To ensure safety, only join networks that use WPA2 or WPA3. Avoid WiFi with only WEP or WPA. |
3. Operating System (OS)
Besides the provider and networks, your device can also see your browsing history. An operating system can store data on your device—whether it is Windows, MacOS, Android, iOS, or others. This data gathering helps users with backups and data recovery.
Besides your web history, your OS can also see the following:
- Every viewed video
- Used apps and platforms
- Geographical location
Unlike your ISP and WiFi network admin, you can control and see what data your OS holds about you. All operating systems offer a full report on the collected data.
You can also change your privacy details to protect your data. Operating systems like Windows and MacOS have settings for this concern.
| 📝 Note Even though you can adjust your privacy settings, your OS will still see your browsing history if you use your system’s native browser, like Windows Edge or Apple Safari. |
4. Websites
There are over 1.11 billion websites on the Internet. Most of them collect data about their visitors, so they likely have yours.
Websites collect data by using cookies. With these cookies, a site can help you remember the pages you visited. This allows you to return to whatever you’re searching for.
Some of the data that websites see includes:
- Your visited pages
- The content or data you see
- The products you like
- Your location, browser, and device when checking their site
- Your interaction with other sites
Most websites also use the collected data to improve services, as you can see from most disclaimers. They can also make targeted product marketing based on the products you check out.
You’ll usually notice it when you’re eyeing a particular product. If you checked an item out even once, you’d see ads popping up as you scroll through other sites or platforms.
5. Social Media and Apps
Regardless of the device, your apps and social media can see and collect your online data. This includes your browsing history.
The amount and type of data collected vary depending on the app you use. Most apps and social media platforms can see your shopping or dating activities, as well as your location. On the other hand, some apps need your email to collect information.
Besides browsing history, here are some of the data that apps can get from you:
- Data you exchange within the app
- Geographical location
- Phone and Social media contacts
Social media platforms and apps can see and collect your data because they use it to give you a better experience and for advertising purposes. Every platform and app has its own privacy policy, so it is best to understand each policy before agreeing.
6. Search Engines
Search engines like Google only gather a little data from you. However, they are among the few who can see your search history.
Here are some of the information visible to search engines like Google:
- Your searches
- The links you click
- Your web history (especially with your accounts logged in)
- Your geographical location, IP address, device, and browser
Capable of processing over 105,000 searches per second, Google is the most used search engine. This means you are also likely to use it. However, besides your searches, Google can collect more data about you through other means.
Typically, you use Gmail as your email, Maps for navigation, and YouTube for watching content. You can use all these apps with one Google account, allowing the search engine company to learn more about you.
Of course, not all search engines collect data. There are search engines like DuckDuckGo that promote anonymous searching.
DuckDuckGo uses Tor, which offers powerful encryption features. It does not collect any data from its users. Searching with DuckDuckGo offers better privacy, but the results will be less relevant.
7. Government
Internet access differs per country, but one thing is certain. Globally, governments can monitor your activities while you browse.
Governments can view your browsing history, but it is usually for security purposes. In most cases, they won’t track or store your browsing data. They will simply ask your ISP for it or collect it from your devices if an investigation is necessary.
Also, they can ask for the decrypted data from third-party companies by issuing a warrant or a subpoena. Even though governments don’t see and track your data, they can access anything.
Some of the data governments can get are:
- Your visited websites
- The time you spend on such websites
- Videos you watched
- Links you click
- Files you downloaded
- Device and browser you use
- Your physical location
- Your messages from different platforms
The primary reason why governments ask for this data is to ensure protection against cyberattacks. Governments can keep the compiled data for years.
| 💡Did You Know? North Korea’s internet restrictions are so strict that they require permission for citizens who want to browse online. The officials don’t need to check browsing history because they watch users when they browse. |
8. Hackers
While the bodies mentioned above see your browsing history with legal methods, hackers do the opposite. Worse, they can use several techniques to get your data.
Below are some of the information that hackers can get:
- Your login information to your accounts
- Browsing and search history
- Sent and received emails and messages
- Your downloaded files
- Your location, home address, and other Personally Identifiable Information (PII)
Hackers use many techniques that can expose your data. These hacking activities sometimes lead to cyberattacks like identity theft, doxxing, and more.
Protect Your Browsing History
Your browsing history tells so much about you. It is one of the pieces of information that online trackers and cyber attackers acquire to get more data about you. This is why protecting your web history is a must.
Here are some ways to do so:
1. Hide your IP address
Your IP address is one of the most sensitive pieces of information you have online. It shows your geographical location, ISP, and more. A hacker can use different methods to extract more data through your IP address.
If you mask your IP, you can be anonymous online and lessen the risks of cyberattacks and identity theft. There are many ways to hide your IP address. The three standard tools are proxy servers, VPNs, and Tor.
2. Use a Proxy Server
Proxy servers work well at hiding your IP address. It works by using another server with a different IP. Setting up your own proxy lets you send requests as if they come from another user.
It is a standard tool for bypassing geo-blocking restrictions. At the same time, it also protects your browsing history from the websites you visit.
| 👍 Helpful Article One of the best things about proxies is the price. There are a lot of free proxies all over the Internet, and paid proxies that offer more protection are also affordable. Check out this TechJury list of the top proxy providers to know which one is right for you. |
The only downside to using a proxy server is that it does not encrypt the data exchanged by users. Somehow, it can still leave you vulnerable to external parties who try to collect your data.
3. Get a VPN
VPNs work like a proxy server, but with more features. If you’re looking for a more secure alternative to proxy servers, getting a VPN is best.
NordVPN is one of your top options. It offers the best VPN service, especially for public or unsecured WiFi. Unlike proxy servers, NordVPN provides data encryption for better security.
4. Use Tor Browser
Tor is another safe tool that offers anonymity and security when browsing. This browser sends your traffic through a global server network. It also adds encryption to your data in search history for better security.
The only downside to Tor is that the experience can be slow due to the encryption it adds. Using Tor simply means slower speed but better protection.
| ✅ Pro Tip Some Tor users say that hackers target the last server your traffic uses. However, you can counter this tactic by using Tor alongside a VPN. This technique will give you a better layer of protection with several encryptions. |
5. Update Your Browser’s Privacy Settings
Besides using tools to mask your IP, you can change some settings on your browser related to privacy. You can read each one and set them based on your preferences.
6. Clear Your Browsing History
Deleting your browsing history doesn’t delete the data collected by sites. However, it helps secure your data in case of a breach or attack. Make it a routine to delete old web history for more secure online activities.
7. Disable Cookies
Cookies hold sensitive user data, so some online criminals steal them. To secure your browsing history, make sure to disable web cookies. In most cases, the settings turn it on by default, so disable them.
| ✅ Pro Tip When a site you visit asks about cookies, only accept the necessary cookies. You should also turn off any optional cookies and delete them all once you close the site. |
8. Create an Email for Signing Up
Your browsing history often links to other data, including your name and email. To protect such data, create a separate email if you want to subscribe or sign up for something. It is also best to use an alias while using that email to avoid exposing your actual email to online threats.
Look Into The Privacy of Incognito Browsing
If you’re one of the many users who think incognito browsing keeps you safe, you’re wrong.
Incognito, or private browsing, is a feature most browsers offer. This mode allows you to visit a website without adding it to your browsing history to maintain privacy.
You have to note that Incognito’s privacy only applies to users who access your accounts and devices. With this feature, anyone who uses your device won’t see your online activity.
However, anonymous browsing won’t stop other entities from tracking you. Your ISP, network admin, and the site you visit still view search history—even in incognito.
If you want better privacy and anonymity, secure and private browsers like Tor are a better alternative. Another excellent alternative is a VPN. Since VPNs encrypt data, you can secure everything, including browsing history.
Conclusion
Many eyes access your online data, including your browsing history. What’s worse is that they can collect every data you have. While most parties collect data to serve you better, some can lead to severe issues.
Some users think using Incognito mode keeps them private, but that’s false. It only offers privacy from other users who access your browser and data, and it won’t be enough online.
You can do several things to protect your web history and other data online. One way is to set up your privacy settings and use anonymity tools like VPNs or private browsers.
FAQs
Can employers see your browsing history when you’re not on their network?
Your employer won’t see your browsing history as long as you don’t go online using their network. They can only see the websites you visit when you use your office network.
What browser never saves history?
Browsers like Tor never save history, so you can use it for anonymous searching. With Tor, you can use DuckDuckGo, its default search engine. You won’t get relevant results based on your activity, but you can search and browse with privacy.
Can someone see your search history if you delete it?
Deleting your search history does not remove it from others who have already seen it. Every online search is visible to your search engine, browser, network admin, and ISP. While deleted on your end, it remains on the receiving end.
Can incognito be tracked?
Browsing in incognito mode won’t stop someone from tracking your online activity. Your ISP, network, visited sites, search engine, and others can still see it. This mode only deletes your browsing history.
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By Raj Vardhman
Raj Vardhman is a tech expert and the Chief Tech Strategist at TechJury.net, where he leads the research-driven analysis and testing of various technology products and services. Raj has extensive tech industry experience and contributed to various software, cybersecurity, and artificial intelligence publications. With his insights and expertise in emerging technologies, Raj aims to help businesses and individuals make informed decisions regarding utilizing technology. When he's not working, he enjoys reading about the latest tech advancements and spending time with his family.