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Forum Discussion

MissKM's avatar
MissKM
Follower
Jul 26, 2021

Checking Browsing History

I saw in a video that you can see the browsing history through your router. So I looked up how to do it on the Netgear site, but the directions it gave don't seem to be helping me to do it. It says t...
antinode's avatar
antinode
Guru
Jul 27, 2021

> I saw in a video that you can see the browsing history through your
> router. [...]

 

   Thanks for the helpful link.

 

> [...] So I looked up how to do it on the Netgear site, [...]

 

   Thanks for the helpful link.

 

> Model: EX7700|AC2200 Nighthawk X6 Tri-Band WiFi Mesh Extender

 

   Not a router.  Look for "Model" on the product label.

 

> [...] I cannot find anything that allows me to see what sites are
> being viewed through my router or a way to set it up to allow me to see
> them in the future.


   That might be because it is, in general, not possible.  When using
HTTPS ("https://<whatever>"), which is almost universal these days, the
traffic between the web browser and the web server is encrypted, making
it impossible for the router to record any useful data regarding that
transaction.

 

      https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/HTTPS

  • slackrl's avatar
    slackrl
    Luminary
    Jul 27, 2021

    Hi antinode

     

    I have a Netgear Router WND4500v3 

    I had a Netrear RAX-50

    I don't recall seeing that feature in either of those routers.

    I don't know if NetGear Routers support that feature.

     

    I have an ASUS router, where you can turn a feature that lets you see what web site any device or client  or all clients visit, a really handy feature to have. 

     

    Waiting to see if MissKM will send links to look at.

     

    slackrl

    • slackrl's avatar
      slackrl
      Luminary
      Jul 28, 2021

      Correction

      I have a Netgear Router WND4500v3 

      I had a Netgear RAX-50

       

      :smileyembarrassed:

      slackrl

      • antinode's avatar
        antinode
        Guru
        Jul 28, 2021

        > I have an ASUS router, where you can turn a feature that lets you see
        > what web site any device or client or all clients visit, a really handy
        > feature to have.


           Thanks for the detailed info.  That's impressive, especially as it's
        not possible with HTTPS.  Apparently, at least one of us is confused.

         

        >       https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/HTTPS

         

              HTTPS is now used more often by web users than the original
              non-secure HTTP, primarily to protect page authenticity on all
              types of websites; secure accounts; and to keep user
              communications, identity, and web browsing private.

         

           Nowadays, many web browsers also offer DNS-over-HTTPS, which hides
        even the DNS name of the site(s) being visted.  See, for example:

         

              https://support.mozilla.org/en-US/kb/firefox-dns-over-https

         

              Some individuals and organizations rely on DNS to block malware,
              enable parental controls, or filter your browser's access to
              websites. When enabled, DoH bypasses your local DNS resolver and
              defeats these special policies.