Can my school see my browsing history?

[Anonymous]

If I wasn’t on the school network (therefore meaning there is no server logs of my history) & if I wasn’t on a school controlled device, but signed into my school Gsuite account/signed into chrome, how does the admins see the browsing history? After a little research apparently gsuite admins would need your login to see the history as they don’t have an option on the admin panel. However I am confused because some friends (who happen to be great at IT) said that they still can see because it is owned by my schools domain.
Anybody got any idea whos right? Should I listen to google or my friends...

[princess]

This is a question that we get a lot, and the answer may surprise you. While we can't speak for every school out there, the vast majority of schools do not have the ability to see your browsing history. In fact, most schools don't even have the resources to monitor your internet usage at all.

So how can they tell if you're looking at something that you shouldn't be? Well, there are a few ways. One is if you're using a school-issued computer or device, they can usually track your usage through that. Another way is if you're using a shared computer in a library or computer lab, they can often see what websites you're visiting.

However, if you're using your own personal device, they likely won't be able to see what you're up to. So if you're worried about your school seeing what you're browsing, the best bet is to use your own device and make sure you're not using a shared computer.

[LogicBomber]

Even with a personal device, most schools have content filters and do monitor traffic accessed while connected to the network.

Although they don’t see the browsing history of anything on the computer, it will keep tabs on what the system is accessing while connected.

It is not uncommon, it is literally 99% of organizations. I do this for a paycheck.

[lilaqua]

Depends on what the system is. I looked up porn constantly through school at home no one at the school board really cared. Hell, my friend somehow got on the pirate bay on the school wifi (without Torr) the school did nothing, to be honest i'm surprised the police weren't notified. Again I wouldn't try anything, but I wouldn't worry about it too much.

[Asker]

Haha, damn.
I’m actually been paranoid for 12 weeks now. its getting ridiculous

[Asker]

I’ve* smh, excuse my grammar...

[lilaqua]

nah you'll be alright. What have you been doing out of interest?

[Asker]

I searched up pornhub. Lmao...

[lilaqua]

eh. Done it 100 times. No one ever cared. Plus as a teen it's pretty normal. As long as it wasn't at school and in your personal time it's kind of expected. Talk to the boys, they'll tell you nothing's ever happened. Even if the admin found out, they'd probably say "aww she's exploring" there's nothing to be worried about.

[Asker]

Thanks. I always think of the negative scenarios that could happen.. but I just gotta be more realistic.

[chrisbigman]

Yes. Any school-owned connection to the schools systems can and likely does log browser histories. As for whether your school actually does depends on your school's policies. Your IT friends are correct, to an extent. As long as it's on the school's domain, they can track and trace your history. As for if they actually do, we wouldn't know for certain. I work in computers as well. I recommend that you NOT visit bad sites. Only do that at home. Even at a hot-spot, it's not a good idea - unless you are taking the necessary security precautions for your connection.

[Asker]

Thats confusing af

[chrisbigman]

Then I definitely would not recommend you visiting any sites that are deemed inappropriate.

[Asker]

I visited IT support today and they told me that they can't see what I browse unless i'm on my chromebook (school controlled device) or if i'm on the schools wifi. They said they can't see if I was logged into chrome with my school Gsuit account on my own device.

[chrisbigman]

They said they can't see if you was logged into Chrome with your SCHOOL Gsuit account, but they can see you on your school-controlled Chromebook or on the school's wifi? Either they are fibbing (lying) to you or they are not as competent as they have all of us to believe. Like I said, any school-owned connection (wifi or wired) is likely monitored - at least if they are competent. Even if it was your own laptop, they would likely block certain sites, like porn sites. If they didn't and it was found out, not only would the student be in trouble but so would the IT staff. That's usually not accepted in school.

[Asker]

But how is it monitored if the schools system is Gsuite and according to my research, Gsuite administrators don't have an option on the admin panel to see a users browsing history? Otherwise how else will they see if they haven't installed a watchdog software on a device (e. g chromebooks) or if you weren't on their wifi (because that shows server logs). How else are they supposed to see? From what I can tell only Google has access to this stuff.

[Asker]

Can watchdog programmes be installed in Google for education accounts?

[chrisbigman]

Let me put it this way - your school's IT staff is in charge of any and all technology related to your school district. Whether a person (a kid OR a teacher) accidentally or intentionally downloads a virus or Trojan or anything of that sort, they are responsible for fighting it and keeping it off the network. They are paid to keep crap away so that kids like you can learn and to keep kids' grades from going public (whether good or bad). School is NOT for entertainment. You are there to LEARN. Now, that's not to say they control everything. But they definitely would monitor (just about) everything. Technology changes all the time because people either accidentally or intentionally mess with their computers and cause havoc by allowing themselves to get hacked or become hackers themselves. So, yes - your school's IT staff likely at least monitors all traffic in and out of the network.

[chrisbigman]

Students and/or parents are required to sign an agreement before the start of the school year that they are not allowed to basically do any crap on the school's devices or on the network. If you want to look at porn sites or anything else that's not appropriate, then do it at home. Leave the school district out of it.

[chrisbigman]

Thanks very much for MHGO.

[Shane_B]

Yes, school admin probably can see your history, and monitor what you access, and block sites they don't allow.

When I was in school, if you was on a site you shouldn't be on and caught you. The school IT team will block it perminantly.

My school blocked youtube, soundcloud, and gaming sites etc if it wasn't for educational reasons.

The computers was only for work only purposes and research only.

[Asker]

But I wasn’t on the school network or a school computer. I was just signed into my school account (on my own laptop) at home but i didn’t realise until after i searched up some stuff...

[Shane_B]

Well if your not on the school network or computer, then no if your on your own laptop.

But if its educational learning thats linked with your school work that you do at school, they can see if you are doing your online homework if they know your account for those educational sites.

[Asker]

I may of searched porn.. on the school account

[Shane_B]

They may of seen it, my school blocked it after a guy in my class put in on the teachers computer full volume on the interative white board on full screen mode 😂

[Adaeva]

Even if yours and other students browsing history are stored on a network, every student is going to have hundreds of sites on his or her browsing history. If it is a large school there could be million sites. No one wants to take the time to look at all that. The cost would be prohibitive. If they think you were looking at something during certain class for a time period of an hour or less, they might look. However, they will not invest the time to search sites that may have occurred days or weeks ago.

If it is just stored on your computer, just delete your browsing history. In fact, you could do a system reset which deletes everything. Although the old system may be saved under a slightly different name. If so, delete it. Then copy a few gigabits of nothing of value to overwrite whatever was deleted; than delete that.

Regardless, unless you are a very important person, searching for what you may have looked is not worth their time.

[AviatorTom]

This is a very good question, and most people do not understand exactly how the Internet and browsers work.

Your question is about your browsing history, which is saved in files on your local computer. If someone gets access to your computer, they can see your complete browsing history. When you are connected to your school, it's possible that the school's computers can connect to your computer and see your browsing history, even for when you browsed sites when not connected to your school.

I said it's "possible" because not every school has the software and technical expertise to do that, but you'll never know if they do or not.

The best advice is to never connect to any questionable sites on a computer that you're going to occasionally connect to your school.

[D4nielv]

Google Workspace claims to not share any of your browser history with the administrator of the organisation. Although they can, of course, see almost anything else.
I'm not 100% whether your search history gets shared with the administrator however, as that definitely does get saved to your Google Workspace account.

[Anonymous]

Your “IT” friends don’t know what they are talking about and are typical idiots who only know enough to be paranoid.

If you are on the school network... they can monitor traffic and see what you are doing while connected. It will show what pages you went to while using the network.

If you connect to google account that is owned by the school and then search stuff... that search stuff gets logged by google which a moderator of the account could see. But only that stuff searched in google while you are logged in to that account.

Your personal device can not be scanned or searched for that data by the school. Nothing outside of what I told you will show up on their systems. Also that would be illegal.

[owens97]

I don't know what ur doing on there but if its just social media then u can justify urself if u did get in trouble but i wouldn't go doing anything illegal although they dont have a live feed so as long as u go incognito or clear all ur history u should be fine

[Asker]

Well my friends are saying that they can see... im so confused

[owens97]

i have a google admin page for my business u can't c what sites people go on and since ur not connected to the school in anyother way and not on a school laptop where they can download spy software ur fine

[Asker]

Couldn’t of my history been synced across devices though?

[owens97]

can i ask what did u do?

[Asker]

I searched up porn. Which is illegal in my country as i’m underage. It’s been 12 weeks and nothing’s happened... yet.

[owens97]

what country do u live in? and ull be fine cause even if someone did find out ur parents r gonna be on ur side cause thats completely normally and its been 12 weeks u should of asked 12 weeks ago u just have to sit back and wait now

[Asker]

I should of asked what? Also, I live in the UK.

[owens97]

if u asked the day it happened maybe someone could of helped u but its to late now and i live Australia

[exitseven]

Yes, I used to review the logs from out firewall to see what websites the kids (and faculty) were accessing. Wit ha little detective work I could easily find out what computer accessed a particular site.

[Moose304]

When I am not at home I NEVER go online without my VPN on. This encrypts all my internet traffic. The hotel etc can see anything. I am not going to spam a product, but I use a fantastic VPN that costs me $59.00 for 24 months.

[Moose304]

That should have been the hotel etc CAN'T see anything!

[AviatorTom]

@moose304 Be careful. Despite what VPN ads tell you, a VPN does not hide everything. Your browsing history, for example, is kept in files on your local computer, and someone can hack into your computer and see that. Check out this YouTube video:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8x1BJCKwqpI

[Moose304]

@AviatorTom That video is 100% true. It also does not dispute what I wrote. In fact, it actually backs me up. I don't use a VPN at home. I ONLY use a VPN when I am in a hotel or an internet cafe to keep possible intruders from being able to see me. All they can see is gibberish. Also, VPNs are not 100% safe. You also have to use some common sense. However, as an answer to the question asked, outside of bad guys if you use one your internet traffic can't be seen. Because I have jobs all over the world I would be handicapped without my VPN.

[Moose304]

@AviatorTom I also have to add a further item. Most of the time when I am away from home I am using my iPad with my own data. I have some custom privacy apps I don't use my laptop that much outside of some things like excel etc. When I boot it up my VPN engages automatically. My laptop is NEVER just open. Without getting too deep on the subject. Because I design and supervise power distribution systems all over the world I have to keep my data secure. In fact, if I don't it could cost me millions. I also use an I. T guy that knows what he is doing.

[jshm2]

Gsuite is mostly in the Cloud. Meaning everything you do on it syncs with the Cloud.

Yes your school/workplace can track and trace you and your browsing history.

[Whatever2929292]

Likely yes. It depends though. Your best bet if you have to question it. Then don’t do it

[chromeplatedpeepee]

What the others said, but you have to remember that a human has to read the logs in the first place. Just don't attract attention to yourself in real life and you should be fine.

[skyeee_]

welcome to another episode of old posts suddenly blowing up for who knows why

[Mahmoud_Madyan]

They can see your history if you using one of their computers or you are connected to their network... but if you using your own computer and connected to your home network they can't see it!!

[Farmer27]

Probably can somehow but in all honesty no one cares and won't look trough your history unless you do something illegal and get caught.

[Dinosaursandanime65]

[scooogy]

Maybe you can go browse the same question you asked on here 4 times already.

[Asker]

I’m really paranoid though...

[scooogy]

ahh, this is why you ask this so often?

[Asker]

Yes :(

[Stevenscotte]

If it's a Google chrome account, it knows how many times your heart beats per sec

[Asker]

What’s that supposed to mean...😂

[Stevenscotte]

Dude so my chick was on some dumb shyt... well Google tatted out her every move done to pics told me location all because I turn a few things on in settings... and check it I learned all this in two hrs and where dude live lol

[Asker]

Damn... I’m scared now

[Stevenscotte]

... lol I was scared of my phone for awhile I killed all permissions damn thing was stuck on stone age till I said fuck it, she did me like this

[1amcurious]

If they have any of their software on yours, then there is probability.

[Anonymous]

Yes the router logs all traffic through it. However, if you use a VPN or a TOR browser you can mask your activity.

[Anonymous]

Have you been looking at porn again

[Asker]

Not ‘again’. But 12 weeks ago I searched it up and thats why im so paranoid

[Opinion Owner]

Oh don't worry about it, we all see it eventually. You can always say it's a pop-up or they probably won't ever know. Don't stress seriously, probably watch it themselves and have seen far worse on other students lol.

[Anonymous]

They can still see it trust me.