Can My Employer See What Websites I Visit

How to Hide Your Browsing History From Your Employer?

Written by Bram Jansen
Updated on February viii, 2022

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Allow'due south proceed it directly: employers do tend to keep an eye on the browsing history of their employees. Simply you have got ways to deal with this.

In this commodity, I will explain how to hide your browsing history from your employer like a pro.

Although there are various ways to hibernate your browsing history from your employer (I will detail each of those ways in this article), the easiest mode is to use a VPN like NordVPN and incognito window. While a VPN will keep your online identity hidden, an incognito window will immediately delete all the cookies and browsing history files once closed.

Why Do Employers Monitor Their Employees' Online Activity?

Whether you like it or non, information technology can be necessary for employers to rail the online action of their workers. According to a survey, virtually fourscore% of major companies monitor the use of phones, the net, and email by their employees.

Compliance and Security Regulations

The master reason employers monitor the online action of employees is to enforce workplace discipline and compliance, ensuring that employees use the office devices and network only for work-related purposes and not for their personal works or leisure activities.

Workflow Maintenance

More and more companies are besides shifting to remote hiring, which ways they can't supervise the employees on their premises.

To maintain the workflow and daily operation of remote workers, it becomes a must to runway their online activity during work hours.

Lack of Trust

Y'all might not accept seen this coming, but many companies proceed an heart on the browsing history of their employees due to a lack of trust.

Various companies rails the productivity of their employees by monitoring their internet usage and active and idle times.

And then from the employer's perspective, it seems that employee monitoring is non just a beneficial choice but a necessary mensurate for the welfare of the company.

Nevertheless, some rules govern how employers tin monitor their employees.

What Are the Rules For Employee Monitoring?

Different companies may have different rules, terms, and conditions to monitor employees. Based on where the company is located, the country or state laws tin also affect this framework. Only in general, in that location are three mutual rules that most organizations follow:

Only the office network and devices are monitored. Employers cannot track your personal device or network, similar browsing on your phone's cellular network.
Employees are monitored only during office hours.
All terms and conditions must be fully disclosed to the employees, and their consent must be taken.

How Practice Employers Track Their Workers' Online Activity?

Employee monitoring works a bit differently for an office setting and remote piece of work setting, and then let'southward expect at both cases.

Monitoring Employees in an Part Setting/On-Site

At your workplace, employers mainly monitor the activeness on part devices and networks.

Tracking Through the Hour Team or IT Team

Employers might get an HR or Information technology squad to practice the dirty work for them. In other words, employers might ask HR managers or members of the Information technology team to go through your browsing history later on you have clocked off for the day.

They might fifty-fifty check your downloads to run into if you have any unauthorized apps or software installed on your device.

Tracking Through the Device

Virtually companies usually install some tracking software on office devices, which keeps track of all online activeness on the particular device.

Going incognito won't work because that just hides your history from the browser and not the entire device, so the software tin still track it.

Tracking Through the Network

Companies besides install a layer of tracking programs directly on their unabridged network. That manner, whatever device that connects to the company's network tin can exist monitored.

In such cases, even if you're browsing from your personal phone, as long as information technology's continued to the company's network, your employer can see the browsing history.

Basically, they tin can run into every traffic that goes in and out of their network.

This usually happens with private office networks, which can only exist accessed by the part staff.

Tracking Through Your Computer'southward Hard Drive

Employers might get the It team to remove the hard drive from your computer and make a re-create of information technology before you begin working.

With the re-create, they will exist able to notice any suspicious action later on you accept clocked off by simply checking your reckoner's hard deejay against the re-create that they created for any notable differences.

Anything suspiciously different, and you will exist subsequently called out.

Tracking Through Upstanding Hacking Tools

There are hacking tools that companies can use in an entirely upstanding manner on company devices and networks. Some of these tools include keyloggers and spyware that keep rails of employee activities.

In that location also exists software that takes random screenshots during arbitrary intervals of fourth dimension to help companies grab unproductive or 'distracted' workers.

Monitoring Remote Employees

The ongoing global pandemic has forced companies to embrace remote work, making it necessary for employers to track their remote teams. If your company has provided a device (laptop or phone) for work, the monitoring software will be installed on it.

If you're using your ain device for piece of work, you'll be asked to install the software on the device so that information technology can exist monitored during working hours.

You may have concerns that you'll be monitored even after work hours, simply the monitoring software has a check-in, cheque-out system.

It starts tracking your activity only after you sign in to the program and stops tracking once you sign out.

Here is a brief rundown of everything that your employer can see:

Using a company reckoner over their network	Annihilation that comes over its network – emails, instant messaging, files, keystrokes, browsing history
Using a visitor calculator over personal network	Nothing unless they have a special software installed on your computer
Using a company mobile over their network	Anything that comes over its network – emails, instant messaging, files, keystrokes, browsing history
Using a company mobile over personal network	Google/Android allows employers to monitor their employees
Using a visitor computer/mobile over VPN	Nothing except that you are connected to a VPN
Using a company computer/mobile in incognito mode	Browser history is visible

That said, let's explore various ways to hide browsing history from employers.

How to Hide Browsing History From Employers?

Now that you have a better understanding of how employers track your online activeness, nosotros'll tell you lot nearly the different ways that you lot can hibernate your browsing history.

Use Personal Device/Network for Private Browsing

The simplest way to hide your browsing history during piece of work hours is to browse from your personal device. Use the office computer strictly for work-related browsing, and just utilise your phone for personal browsing, like checking your individual mails.

Also, don't connect your personal device to the office network but utilise your own cellular data. As long as yous browse from your ain device and network, your employers cannot monitor it.

Tin an Employer See My Browsing History or Websites I Visit on My Private Wifi?

Technically, your employee cannot see your browsing history or websites when yous are continued with your private Wi-Fi. However, the chances are high that they have a software installed on your work computer, thus tracking your activities.

Browse in Incognito

If your employer doesn't implement any monitoring software and the browser's history is the simply thing yous're worried about, then just scan in incognito way.

Information technology doesn't store any cookies, enshroud, and browsing history on the browser.

But it won't exist of utilize if avant-garde employee monitoring tools are also used, and your employer tin can nonetheless check the browsing history by contacting their Internet access provider.

Use a VPN (Virtual Private Network)

If yous have to apply the visitor'due south internet connexion but notwithstanding want to muffle your online activity, and then a VPN can come to your rescue.

A VPN is a network that tin can route all the online traffic from a device to its ain proxy servers. It hides your bodily IP, assigns a different IP address to yous, and encrypts all your online activity and browsing history.

You patently tin't install a VPN on the office device for your personal use, and then you'll have to do it on your own device. If you have activated the VPN on your telephone, and then you can nevertheless connect to the company's network, but your browsing activity volition be encrypted, and your employer cannot runway it.

Simply there is one of import thing – when you're using the company's network, but through a VPN server, your employer tin still meet that a new device has connected.

And they may non run across the activity of that device, but that as well lets them know that it's using a VPN. Basically, when you're using a VPN when connected to your office Wi-Fi, your boss tin't see what y'all are doing, but they will know you are browsing through a VPN. And that much information is plenty to put you into trouble.

So, only use a VPN on your office internet as long as yous are not breaking any company rules.

Essentially, when yous are browsing the web without a VPN, your employer can act as a man-in-the-middle. Your employer can gear up up the cyberspace such that all the traffic that comes through your estimator goes through their proxy outset.

This way, they tin intercept your connection, and track the websites you visit.

This is exactly when a VPN comes to your rescue and diverts your traffic through a hugger-mugger tunnel such that it cannot be tracked by any third-political party.

Best VPNs That Would Proceed Things Private

Think of reliable names similar NordVPN, ExpressVPN, and Surfshark.

Equipped with the best encryption protocols and prophylactic standards, these VPNs will proceed your spider web activity individual.

Does a Work VPN Expose My Home Network When Working Remotely?

When you are continued via VPN, your employee can't see what is on your home network. They can't run into whatsoever devices connected to your network, any files you share, and whatever websites you scan.

How to Bypass Administrator Rights Requirement When Installing a VPN?

The best way to install a VPN without admin rights is by using VPN extensions for Chrome and Firefox. For instance, you tin use Hotspot Shield VPN browser extension and have your VPN protect your identity and hide your browser history on the go.

Use Split Tunneling

Even though split tunneling is a characteristic yous'll observe in most premium VPNs, we'd similar to discuss information technology separately. For those who don't know, split tunneling is a unique VPN feature that lets you divide your traffic betwixt the VPN's encrypted connexion and the normal unencrypted network.

So, for example, y'all can access piece of work-related sites using the office network while besides browsing other non-work-related sites through the VPN network at the same time with a split tunneling characteristic.

That style, y'all tin can hide your personal browsing history and only allow official online activities to be tracked and monitored.

Apply TeamViewer

If you lot can't afford a decent VPN that can mask all your internet activities, and so y'all might want to consider using TeamViewer.

TeamViewer is software that you can use to admission one computer from another remotely.

This ways that you would be able to admission your home computer through your work reckoner while sitting in your office. Please notation that you volition need to prepare upward the software on both devices for this software to work.

TeamViewer is not as secure as VPNs tend to be, but the connections that are established on this software are end-to-encrypted, which means that you will be able to effectively hide yourself online from your company.

However, it is important to remember that a network admin might still get suspicious when he/she notices that you accept established a connectedness that looks a lot like VPN.

And if they are aware of the IP address of your habitation computer, so it wouldn't be too difficult to put two and 2 together!

You must likewise keep in mind that if your employer uses keyloggers, information technology would be a piece of cake for them to go your TeamViewer login details.

This means that they would be able to access your home computer likewise.

And then, practice some caution when it comes to using TeamViewer, specially if your employer's monitoring skills are international spy-level!

Attempt To Disguise The Websites You Browse

Believe information technology or not, an entire industry has adult around helping employees shirk their duties and browse away on Facebook or Reddit during company hours.

This includes extensions and tools that employees can use to "disguise" their websites to wait more work-related.

Basically, these are extensions that you can toggle on while browsing not-work-related websites, which will switch upwards the layout of the website likewise as its appearance to make it look less conspicuous to onlookers.

One of the about common extensions that you lot can use to do this is chosen "Decreased Productivity," and we must say that the name seems to exist very apt for what it allows you lot to practise.

Decreased Productivity is available every bit extensions on both Google Chrome and Mozilla Firefox, and it allows you to command exactly what your browsing site looks like!

For instance, you can apply this to disguise your Facebook activities by switching up the iconic dark bluish color (which would otherwise exist a dead giveaway) to a uncomplicated dorsum and whitewash to avoid suspicion. Decreased Productivity also allows yous to cloak eye-communicable images, switch upward fonts and hide page favicons.

Another useful tool is MSOutlookKit, a handy portal that revamps your Reddit website to pass off as an email customer to everyone peeping into your computer.

Use Keyboard Shortcuts

More often than not, employees become caught browsing non-work-related websites in an old-fashioned way: when employers sneak up behind them and catch them unawares.

Suppose a supervisor has a addiction of snooping around the office. In that case, it might be beneficial for you to learn some handy keyboard shortcuts that tin allow yous to either immediately minimize a window or close a tab even earlier your supervisor has had a gamble to take a peek.

Some of the most important keyboard shortcuts that y'all need to memorize are:

	Windows	macOS
To close a tab	Ctrl + W	Cmd + Westward
To minimize a window	Win + D	Cmd + F3
To switch between unlike apps	Alt + Tab	Cmd + Tab

Use Your Mobile Telephone

The to a higher place tips are all well and good, but they come with certain risks.

This is because yous will yet employ the company network for nigh of your browsing activities or be exposed to advanced tracking tools.

To avoid any potential problems, y'all can plough towards one ingeniously simple solution: your mobile phone.

With your mobile phone, you will be able to browse your mobile data, thereby completely avoiding the company network altogether.

Avoid These Things On Your Work Computer

All of the in a higher place measures are definitely recommended if you wish to hide your browsing activities from your employer.

However, that being said, there are some general things that you demand to refrain from doing when using a work computer or a company network.

This includes things similar:

Saving personal passwords on the device
Keeping personal files on a company desktop
Writing personal emails
Sharing stiff and unfavorable opinions near the company on a visitor conversation, and most importantly,
Looking for other jobs

What to Do Next?

Well, in that location you have it!

Everything you need to know to discreetly surf the web with your employer being none the wiser!

Equally you must have figured out, the all-time style to hide your browsing history from your employer is by using a reliable VPN with s strong encryption.

It helps you hide your identity online, masks your browser history, and keeps you anonymous on the web.

help us to Spread the discussion

Please help us spread the word by sharing this article and telling your family members, friends and colleagues.

I'm Bram Jansen, a leading skilful in the realm of internet, ever since I was little, books like Neuromancer and The Foundation always fascinated me, this fiction of a world that isn't simply based inside the real globe. As I started growing upwards, I started gaining interest in how I could manipulate this cyberspace that'due south bachelor in the real world, so I picked a career that I knew was right for me.

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