Stop Your ISP From Seeing Your Browser History

In 2023, everything is for sale, even your browsing activities. In fact, ISPs have a reputation for selling it to the highest bidder. These things happen. However, we must learn to swim in the deep waters to tame the situation. Have a quick read to find out how to stop your ISP from seeing your browser history to do so. 

What is an ISP?

ISP stands for Internet Service Provider, a company that provides internet access to individuals and businesses. ISPs connect their customers to the internet via various technologies, such as broadband, DSL, cable, or fiber-optic connections.

ISPs typically charge a fee for their services, which can vary depending on the type of connection, speed, and data usage. Some ISPs offer additional services like email accounts, web hosting, and virtual private networks (VPNs).

ISPs are responsible for maintaining the network infrastructure necessary for providing internet access, as well as managing the distribution of internet traffic to their customers. The raging debacle is, however, circling around one question: “Is my ISP watching me?” Let’s talk about it. 

Can My ISP See My Browsing History?

Your ISP can, indeed, see your browsing history.

Using the internet, your web traffic travels through your ISP’s servers before reaching the intended destination. This means your ISP has access to all the websites you visit, the apps you use, and any online services you access.

However, the extent to which your ISP can see your browsing history depends on whether you use a secure connection. If you’re using an unencrypted connection (HTTP), your ISP can easily see the websites you visit and the content you access.

On the other hand, if you’re using an encrypted connection (HTTPS), your ISP can still see the websites you visit, but they won’t be able to see the specific content you access.

It’s worth noting that while ISPs can see your browsing history, they are subject to data protection laws and privacy regulations. In some countries, ISPs must obtain your consent before collecting and using your personal data, including your browsing history.

Can My ISP See Activities in Incognito Mode?

Your ISP can still see your online activities even if you are using incognito mode or private browsing mode.

While incognito mode may prevent your browsing history from being stored on your device, it does not encrypt your internet traffic or hide your IP address from your ISP. This means that your ISP can still see the websites you visit and any data transmitted between your device and the website.

How to Prevent Your ISP from Seeing Your Browsing History?

The following guidelines can help you prevent your online activities from being subjected to. ISP surveillance:

Use a VPN

To protect your privacy online, you can use a virtual private network (VPN), which encrypts your internet traffic and hides your IP address from your ISP. This will prevent your ISP from seeing your online activities, including the websites you visit, the content you access, and the data you use.

It’s important to note that using a VPN can protect your online privacy. However, that does not mean you should not take additional precautions.

Use Tor Browser

Wanna know how to stop isp tracking without vpn? Well, you can try using privacy-focused browsers to prevent your ISP from peeking into your browsing history. A free browser designed to protect your anonymity online is one called Tor Browser. 

The Tor browser makes it near impossible for anyone to follow your activities by routing your connection through several servers before it reaches its final destination. Thus, preventing your ISP from following your online trail.

You must download the Tor browser to get a truly secure browsing experience. Visit The Tor Project’s website to learn more about using Tor and what security features it offers for the smart netizen.

Use a Proxy Server

To keep your browser history secret from your ISP, you can also use a proxy server as an intermediary between you and the websites you access. The server will obfuscate your IP address and obscure your online activities. 

Proxy servers also provide the added benefit of speeding up your browsing.

There are many various proxy servers available. Thus it’s crucial to do your homework before selecting one. Make sure you choose a dependable and trustworthy person.

Can My Browsing History Be Seen By Someone When I Use Their Wifi?

Your browsing history can be seen by someone when you use their WiFi, particularly the owner of the WiFi network or anyone who has access to the router’s administrative settings.

When you connect to a WiFi network, your device sends and receives data through the router, which can log all the internet traffic, including your browsing history. Additionally, the network owner may be able to see the device names and IP addresses of connected devices, which can be used to identify your device.

Furthermore, suppose the network owner has installed monitoring software or enabled monitoring features on their router. In that case, they may be able to see the websites you visit, the content you access, and any data transmitted over the network.

It is best to use your cellular data network or create a mobile hotspot using your smartphone to access the internet instead of using someone else’s WiFi network.

What is the Best Way to Stop Your Browsing History from Being Seen by Others?

There are several ways to stop your browsing history from being seen by others:

1. Use a VPN: A VPN encrypts your internet traffic and hides your IP address, preventing anyone, including your internet service provider (ISP), from seeing your online activities.
   
2. Use a privacy-focused browser: Some web browsers, such as Tor, are designed to protect your privacy online. These browsers use advanced encryption and routing techniques to keep your online activities anonymous.
   
3. Use incognito or private browsing mode: This mode prevents your browsing history from being saved on your device, but it does not encrypt your internet traffic or hide your IP address.
   
4. Clear your browsing history regularly: You can manually clear your browsing history from your web browser’s settings or use a privacy tool that automatically clears your history at regular intervals. If you want to know how to automatically let Google delete your browsing history, read our guide on how to delete your Google search history.
   
5. Use a separate browser profile: You can create a separate browser profile for sensitive activities, such as online banking or shopping, and use it only for those activities. This will prevent your regular browsing history from mixing with your sensitive activities.

Across the board, the best way to stop your browsing history from being seen by others is to use a combination of these methods and be mindful of the information you share online.

Conclusion

And that’s how you successfully manage to keep your online activities far out of reach of anyone you may or may not trust. Do you know how long do internet providers keep history? Up to two years! This includes every website you visited and every video you watched. Scary, right?

Best believe naivety and ignorance will only be a cause of detriment. So, stay safe and protected with the above-outlined safety methods.