I am an absolute scrub when its comes to computers but i figured I’d ask here. My friend is setting up the internet in my house and as he is very technologically proficient i know he will be able to look at my browser history (like who wants that right?) he has joked about it and I don’t think he would invade my privacy but I’d sleep much better at night knowing he couldn’t see all my quality content. I realise i look like a jackass asking this but who cares its the internet right.
Get a VPN like NordVPN or Private Internet Access. And go full Incognito mode.
I assume the way he would be able to access the history is either through the router or your computer/ phone. If you make sure he doesn’t know the password to either of these (or use a private browser) then you should be alright. If you know how to I would make sure that you are the only one with administrator privelegs for the computer and router.
The easiest thing to do would probably be to use a free VPN if your searching something you don’t want him to see and use a private browser (The VPN will make it difficult for him to see what your searching but they’re not impenetrable if your friend is very tech savy)
I am in a similar situation but on the opposite side. I control the internet with my equipment. I’m Network+ certified and I can easily monitor all the traffic in the house.
It’s easy to see what websites you are accessing but it is difficult to figure out what content you are viewing, especially if using HTTPS. You can easily hide your traffic from your rommate using TOR browser.
It takes a lot of work to find out what people are looking at and what their browsing habits are. I have the power to spy on many users but I simply don’t have the time, energy, or will too. I doubt your roommate will spend much time if any checking your browser habits.
TOR - Tor Project | Download
HTTPS extension - HTTPS Everywhere | Electronic Frontier Foundation
Back when I had roomates, I owned/managed the router (one of them had access to it, but never used it). The one that had access used to joke around about how I was spying on them.
Realistically speaking: Though someone is “technology proficient”, it takes a special kind of skill to be able to monitor and intercept router traffic. I would even suggest that 1%, or less than 1%, of people labeled as technology proficient can do this.
I do think that a decent number of tech savvy people know how to break into an unencrypted PC though. For instance, if i wanted to view someone’s files on a Windows PC that is unencrypted, I’d just boot from a Linux USB drive and then access their files.
The best way you can possibly secure yourself is to:
1) Password protect your PC.
2) Browse with the browser in Private mode, so it doesn’t save history.
3) Encrypt your hard drive.
Opera internet browser has a free vpn and a private browsing option.
If he controls the router the only thing thats going to protect your anonymity entirely is a VPN. I whole heartedly reccomend VyprVPN.
Agree with the above answers. Using a VPN solution will keep all of your network traffic private and encrypted.
If he has access to your computer as well, then definitely use a browser in Private/Incognito mode or remove his access/account from your computer.
Friends don’t monitor or sniff other friend’s network traffic. If you ever have evidence he is doing that (except to sniff traffic to diagnose a technical problem in which case he should inform you before he starts) move out.
As for a technical workaround, you can use some sort of VPN to encrypt your traffic when it passes over his router, use something like DNScrypt or DNS over HTTPS for slightly more protection.
Use a VPN. I use Ultrasurf because it is the best free VPN for computers imo. Also, using Incognito mode or Private Browsing Mode will prevent him from seeing your history because no history is logged.
Do you have reason to believe he would do that?..
I use Windscribe VPN, you get 10 gigs free per month when you register your e-mail address.
As far as preventing him from viewing your browser data (this should only be a problem if he has your computer password), I personally use firefox and set it to “never remember history.” I also don’t use my e-mail to sign in to firefox.
I do, however, use chrome’s sign-in, and I let it remember passwords. But this is for convenience over security, and obviously I can choose what passwords chrome does and doesn’t know about, simply by using firefox. (Mostly I only care about money-sensitive services, such as PayPal or local bank login info.)
Use tor. It doesn’t save your history. Also it is illegal to watch someone’s web usage without their permission.
Use a VPN. Betternet is free, but paid VPNs are faster
Hey buddy, so many people are recommending you to use VPN. Well that is a good way to protect your privacy, but most people here are suggesting you easily penetrable VPNs. Some of these vpns will use up your original Internet IP for malicious things because they provide free service. I don’t know why people are recommending these to you!
If you ever decide to use one, go for the best in the market, and that is “PIA” (Private Internet Access). Highly authentic, impenetrable, maximum encryption, no leakage.
Tell your friend to go fuck themselves to be honest. What you need to do is learn the IP address of the router, username / password, make this your missing and don’t be a scrub as you say. learn, it’s not hard and fuck them with that shit my friend.
This link made me think about this post. Great article on privacy
I think the suggestions about a VPN is a bit extreme, I think if somebody was intercepting the information, OP would see them doing it, they would need another laptop/pc, be on when the OP is on his laptop/pc etc… I mean you’d have to be a bit blind to not see your room mate actively hacking your shit…
My advisories:
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Like another person said, just use incognito to be completely unrisked of somebody trying to snoop on your account when you’re not about.
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Make sure the pc/laptop has seperate accounts, one for yourself and one for your room mate.
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Put a good password on your account and make sure your forgotten password information isn’t easy to guess by other people.
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Don’t leave any ‘interesting’ downloads or personal files lying about, simply move them on to a usb stick or your phone if you have space and keep no files on the laptop.
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Don’t leave yourself logged in on things, don’t click the “Remember me” box, don’t click remember passwords, if you get any pop up asking to accept cookies, don’t accept them where possible.
Last one: Don’t make them think you’re a doormat or anything you’re not, if they start taking the piss with you, simply remind them that using a computer like a jerk won’t stop somebody from flooring them.
Take care bud!
Delete your history, or even setup a new user account that he has to sign into instead of going on your account
Yeah problem is the router is his and he controls all the aspects of it. He said he would cover all internet costs for the house if he could get the master bedroom, so we all agreed. He will probably never check i just don’t want him to be able to use it against me which he is more than capable of doing.