Yes, the Wi-Fi owner can often see which websites you visit, even if you delete your browser history, because deleting history only clears your device, not the router's logs. While encryption (HTTPS) hides the specific search terms on most sites, the owner can still see the domain names (like google.com, youtube.com) and traffic data if they have enabled logging on the router, especially with technical tools like DPI. A VPN encrypts your traffic, hiding even the site names from the owner.
In most cases, parents can see deleted history on wifi. Here's how it works. After your child has deleted their internet history, it still remains on the router until it's cleared. So if you're worried about what your kids are looking at online; you can easily check the router's history to see for yourself.
How to delete your Wi-Fi router history
A VPN does exactly that by encrypting your traffic before it ever reaches the router. Even if someone's trying to snoop on your router, all they'll see is unreadable data, not your browsing history.
Your ISP bill shows your internet connection details but does not include a breakdown of your browsing history or the websites you visit. Your bill includes information such as how much data you used during the billing period, but it will not show the specific sites you visited or what you searched for online.
Deleting your browsing history only removes that information from the device you're using. It doesn't erase your online activity from the Wi-Fi router's logs or your ISP's records. As soon as your device sends a request to access a website, that information is recorded by the router.
What a Wi-Fi owner can see (assuming router logging)
On your computer, open Chrome. Delete browsing data. Select how much history you want to delete. To delete everything, select All time.
Your router keeps a history of the websites you visit and the Wi-Fi networks you connect to. How long does it retain this data? It can vary depending on your router's brand and model, but it's typically around a week to a few months.
If the Wi-Fi owner is logging their network activity, they could see which domains you visit, especially if you're not using encrypted DNS. While they typically can't see the exact pages or content on secure (HTTPS) websites, the site names (e.g., whatever.com) can still be visible through DNS queries or metadata.
Generally, someone cannot see your text messages when you connect to their Wi-Fi. However, threat actors can use other methods that don't rely on Wi-Fi to get your texts.
Risks of Using Public Wi-Fi
No. Your ISP bill may include information about the amount of data used. But the sheer number of websites and content people access means it's not practical for your ISP to monitor everyone's search history. Moreover, ISPs prioritize user privacy and adhere to data protection regulations.
🚨 The Dangers of Public WiFi
What If I Delete My Browsing History On My Device? Deleting your browsing history is like deleting your email's “Sent” folder. On your end, it's gone, but the information has already been sent. Your information is on the WiFi owners' router logs, even if you have cleared it on your end.
Think deleting your old social media accounts, emails, or online subscriptions means your data is gone forever? Think again. Even when you delete an account, companies rarely erase your data completely. Instead, it lingers on their servers—accessible to advertisers, data brokers, and even hackers.
' Yes, using a Virtual Private Network (VPN) is one of the most effective ways to hide your data from your ISP. When you connect to a VPN server, your internet traffic is encrypted, making it difficult for your ISP to see what you are doing online.
Once you delete your search history from your device, it's typically no longer accessible to the police. However, if they obtain a warrant, they may be able to access records of your search engine and browser history from your internet provider or another third-party source.
To permanently delete files from a Windows computer and make them unrecoverable:
Under the most ideal conditions, the following are all accessible to the WiFi owner:
Access the router's admin interface: Enter the router's IP address in a web browser. Log in: Enter the router's username and password. Navigate to logs or history section: Look for a section related to “Logs,” “History” or “Activity.” View search history: Check for a log of visited websites in this section.
The encryption takes place before the data leaves your device, and only the VPN server has the decryption key. Neither your router, ISP, or employers will see what you're doing online.