Can my isp track me when i am using firefox browser with the privacy option on
I have been told that my internet service provider keeps a record of all websites i visit
i) Is this possible if i am connecting to the web via wifi and there are other people in my house connecting to the web from their computer
ii) Does firefox privacy feature stop the internet service provider collecting this information
iii) Are there any add ons which will stop or prevent this information going to my internet service provider ?
All Replies (1)
i) Any time you use the internet, a series of people can become aware of your requests. Your service provider is first in line, and then usually your request passes through some connecting points on the way to its final destination.
What can they see and record? At a minimum they see your public IP address -- which might be shared by everyone using the same wireless router -- and the site you're accessing. If it's a regular HTTP connection, they can also see the URL of the pages/images you load, and decipher the actual content. If it's an HTTPS connection (padlock in the address bar), then they don't have easy access to that additional information because your connection is encrypted.
ii) Firefox's private browsing mode manages what history is saved onto your computer, but it doesn't change what those in the connection path can see.
iii) If you don't trust your ISP, you can change how your requests are routed by using a private VPN service. That is a secure connection to a different service provider so they are first in line instead of your ISP.
You have to trust somebody...