Can Schools See Your Search History? – Protect Your Privacy Guide

As a cautious internet user, there are some searches I won’t even allow my colleagues or partner to see. This is probably the same for you. But the fact is that classmates, colleagues, and the college have a lot of power and you might be wondering whether they can see your search history.

So can colleges and schools see your search History? This brief answers this question clearly and precisely.

Since the early days of the internet, internet users have been using search engines to search for information and more.

The search engine is a program that will help you to find the information you are looking for. Search engines provide a method of retrieving information from their database and then displaying it in a way that is categorized and arranged according to your needs.

For example, if you are searching for the names of colleges in India then you can use Google as your search engine. Google is one of the most popular search engines on the web today as it easily provides all types of data.

You simply type in your query which is usually something like “college name” or “major” or “degree program” and then hit enter.

Most people today use these search engines to look for information but what they don’t realize is that some searches may be private or sensitive such as searches related to (STDs), addiction, life orientation, etc. So, you might be wondering if your college will see your searches.

Can colleges SEE your search history?

Yes, Colleges can see your search History if you are using software provided by them and when you are their student. However, if you are normally using the Google search Engines or Firefox, Brave, or Bing, the college will not be able to see your search history;

1. When using College software

When you are using your College software or any other tool provided by the college, they can easily see or track your searches. These software and tools include shared school Turnitin accounts, student portals, and computer labs.

2. When using Student Portal

The college can see your browser history when you are using the student portal. The student portal is a site that all the colleges use to provide students with information about their college, performance, units, GPA, etc. It also allows you to log in using your college id and password.

3. During the application process

The College can as well track all your activities during the application process. They usually track your progress so that you can easily be guided as needed with the application.

Why Do Schools Block Everything?

The college can block what they don’t want students to see. If you have used Computer labs in your school, you can agree with me that you cannot access all the websites, especially those containing sensitive content.

It is common for schools to block all websites that could be related to sensitive topics. The reason behind this is that they want to teach their students how to use the internet with care and caution.

School monitoring my Browser History: What to do?

If you are worried that the school is tracking you or monitoring your search history, there’s a lot you can do to be on the safer side. Here are some of them;

Use Brave Browser

Brave Browser is known as the most secure and safe way of accessing the internet. In this regard, it is the best alternative to Google Chrome, Firefox, and other browsers. It also blocks ads and trackers from being installed on your computer.

Use a VPN

A VPN is a Virtual Private Network that can be used in cases where you wish to protect your privacy or anonymity online. A VPN allows you to hide your real IP address and encrypts all the data passing through it.

This means that the school cannot see what you are up to. You can use a VPN on any device that you have access to including your computer, phone, tablet, and even TV sets, etc.

Our recommendations for a VPN

• NordVPN
• ExpressVPN
• Surf Shark

Use TOR browser

TOR browser is another great way of staying anonymous online. It’s much like using a VPN but it is more advanced as it works by encrypting data packets before they leave your computer/phone and re-routing them after they get past the network of TOR routers to conceal their source IP address.

The only downside of using the TOR browser is that it can slow down your internet speed.

Use an anonymous proxy

An anonymous proxy is a type of proxy server that allows you to surf the internet anonymously. It does so by copying the data being sent to your computer and sending it on to the internet through another server which means that no one can trace where the data is coming from.

FAQs

Can my school see my search History?

There are some instances when the school can see your search history. Talk about when using the school-provided sites or portal, and when using Computer Labs provided by the school.

Can your school see your browser history on your phone?

It is very hard for the school to monitor student browser history on their phones. In most instances, the school will not at any point be able to see what you are browsing.

Can my school see what I’m doing on my account?

No, your school cannot see what you are doing on your accounts. However, they might see what you are doing on the school portal and other provided websites.

Conclusion

Your school will not be able to see your search history unless you are using computer labs, the school portal, and a few other websites provided by the school. The school will not be able to see your browser history on your phone unless you are using the school-provided browser.

With that said, you can use the Brave browser, a VPN, or Tor Browser if you think you are being monitored.