RE: Your internet privacy is now for sale to the highest bidder in Trumpistan
March 29, 2017 at 10:33 am
It seems it might be a good idea to explain what information your ISP knows about your browsing habits and what using HTTPS / a VPN does to that.
No VPN
Your IP Address
Suffice to say, your ISP will know your IP address if you are just connecting to the ISP supplied router (i.e. via WiFi) and browsing the Internet. Your ISP gives you your IP address and they have a record of it.
HTTP
If you visit a website that uses HTTP rather than HTTPS, your ISP will know what site you are visiting (e.g. search-engine.com), what URL you are visiting (e.g. search-engine.com/?q=porn), and any data you send to that site (e.g. username, password, comments, etc.)
HTTPS
If you visit websites that use HTTPS (like this one), then your ISP may know the site you are visiting (e.g. secure-search-engine.com) from the initial HTTPS setup (this is more likely that not these days). However they will not know what URL you are visiting (e.g. secure-search-engine.com/?q=porn) or any data that you send to that site (e.g. username, password, comments, etc.). This only applies if your connection remains over HTTPS for the duration of your visit. If any parts of the site use HTTP, your ISP will know where you are.
Using a VPN
Your IP Address
If you use a VPN, your ISP will not know the IP address you are using, because you are effectively connecting through your VPN provider's network and using one of their IPs. If you are using separate devices and one of them is not using the VPN, then your ISP will still know your IP address on that device because again, they gave it to you.
HTTP
If you use a VPN and visit a website that uses HTTP, then your ISP will not know what site you are visiting, what URL you are visiting, or what data you send to that site. However your VPN provider will know all these things.
HTTPS
If you use a VPN and visit a website that uses HTTPS, then like with HTTP over a VPN, your ISP will not know what site you are visiting, what URL you are visiting, or what data you send to that site. Your VPN provider will also not know what URL you are visiting, or what data you send to that site. However your VPN provider may know what site you are visiting.
No VPN
Your IP Address
Suffice to say, your ISP will know your IP address if you are just connecting to the ISP supplied router (i.e. via WiFi) and browsing the Internet. Your ISP gives you your IP address and they have a record of it.
HTTP
If you visit a website that uses HTTP rather than HTTPS, your ISP will know what site you are visiting (e.g. search-engine.com), what URL you are visiting (e.g. search-engine.com/?q=porn), and any data you send to that site (e.g. username, password, comments, etc.)
HTTPS
If you visit websites that use HTTPS (like this one), then your ISP may know the site you are visiting (e.g. secure-search-engine.com) from the initial HTTPS setup (this is more likely that not these days). However they will not know what URL you are visiting (e.g. secure-search-engine.com/?q=porn) or any data that you send to that site (e.g. username, password, comments, etc.). This only applies if your connection remains over HTTPS for the duration of your visit. If any parts of the site use HTTP, your ISP will know where you are.
Using a VPN
Your IP Address
If you use a VPN, your ISP will not know the IP address you are using, because you are effectively connecting through your VPN provider's network and using one of their IPs. If you are using separate devices and one of them is not using the VPN, then your ISP will still know your IP address on that device because again, they gave it to you.
HTTP
If you use a VPN and visit a website that uses HTTP, then your ISP will not know what site you are visiting, what URL you are visiting, or what data you send to that site. However your VPN provider will know all these things.
HTTPS
If you use a VPN and visit a website that uses HTTPS, then like with HTTP over a VPN, your ISP will not know what site you are visiting, what URL you are visiting, or what data you send to that site. Your VPN provider will also not know what URL you are visiting, or what data you send to that site. However your VPN provider may know what site you are visiting.
