Can your WiFi see your private browsing?

Can Your WiFi See Your Private Browsing?

Incognito mode, also known as private browsing, is a feature offered by most major web browsers that allows users to browse the internet without saving their browsing history, cookies, or other data to their computer. This can be useful for keeping your browsing history private from other users of your computer, but it is important to note that incognito mode does not make your browsing activity invisible to your WiFi provider or internet service provider (ISP).

Your WiFi provider and ISP have the ability to monitor all activity on their networks, including your browsing history, regardless of whether or not you are using incognito mode. This is because when you connect to the internet, your computer sends a request to your ISP’s servers, which then forwards your request to the website you are trying to visit. Your ISP can see all of the data that is sent between your computer and the website, including the IP address of the website you are visiting, the time and date of your visit, and the type of data that is being transferred.

In addition to your ISP, your WiFi provider may also be able to monitor your browsing activity. This is because when you connect to a WiFi network, your computer sends a request to the WiFi router, which then forwards your request to the ISP’s servers. The WiFi router can see all of the data that is sent between your computer and the ISP’s servers, including the IP address of the website you are visiting, the time and date of your visit, and the type of data that is being transferred.

If you are concerned about your privacy, there are a few things you can do to protect yourself. First, you can use a VPN (virtual private network). A VPN encrypts all of the data that is sent between your computer and the VPN server, making it impossible for your ISP or WiFi provider to see what you are browsing. Second, you can use a privacy-focused browser. Privacy-focused browsers block third-party trackers and cookies, and they do not save your browsing history. Finally, you can be mindful of the websites you visit. Avoid visiting websites that are known to collect user data, and be sure to log out of your accounts when you are finished using them.