By Leonardo S. & Micaela A. Verified by Mary P.
Last updated: October 2, 2023
Technically, all VPN companies can see your traffic and history. However, most of them choose to discard that information by directing it to a null file or folder – by doing so, they’re adhering to so-called strict no-logs policies.
What Are the Different Types of VPN Logs?
There are three types of VPN logs: usage logs, connection logs, and no-logs. When searching for a VPN, it’s important to understand the difference between the types of logs providers can keep a record of.
- Usage logs refer to information about specific activities performed by users, meaning that the data can be used to monitor an individual’s online activities.
- Connection logs, also known as metadata logs, contain information about the connections established by users. This type of log does not record actual content or specific actions, as it mostly monitors IP addresses or amounts of data usage.
- No-logs policy is a commitment made by a provider not to collect, store, or retain any personally identifiable information or user activity records.
Reading a VPN provider’s privacy policy and understanding its logs policy is a vital step when choosing which service to use since it can vary a lot.
Do VPNs Keep Logs?
No, every reputable VPN provider doesn’t keep any logs of your online activities for themselves or third parties. Still, there are exceptions to the rule, such as information stored about purchases and subscriptions. That’s why researching a company's privacy policies before committing to a subscription is crucial.
This step becomes even more important when it comes to free VPN providers. Unfortunately, it’s usually the case that when you’re not paying for the product, you are the product. Free VPNs are known for frequently selling their customer data to third parties, contradicting the entire purpose of having a VPN in the first place.
In addition, free VPNs don’t always offer robust encryption protocols and may even inject ads and malware into your browsing sessions. While there are legitimate free VPN options available, it’s essential to conduct careful research and evaluate the reputation and privacy practices of the provider before using it.
When taking all this into consideration, remember that even no-logs providers can have a tiny catch: legislation. Countries can have laws that require companies (not only VPNs but ISPs as well) to store data for a determined amount of time. In places with headquarters under the Five Eyes Alliance, for example, a court order is enough to obligate the company to hand over any recorded logs.
What Data Can VPN Providers See?
It all depends on the privacy policy of the provider. Even so, regardless of the security and anonymity features offered, a VPN can still have visibility into certain aspects of your internet usage. Here are some examples of what the company can potentially see:
- Metadata: VPN providers can see metadata associated with your VPN connection. This data includes information such as the time of connection and disconnection, duration of sessions, and amount of data transmitted during the session.
- IP address: When you connect to a VPN server, the VPN provider can see the IP address assigned to you by its server and your true IP address issued by the ISP.
- Bandwidth usage: VPN providers can monitor the amount of data transmitted to help the management of its network capacity and optimize its service.
- DNS requests: In some cases, a VPN provider may handle your DNS requests, even though it wouldn’t be able to view specific pages or content accessed.
- Internal customer ID in the system: The provider has access to your assigned customer identification number.
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More FAQs
Have all your VPN related questions answered by checking our VPN experts' answers to frequently asked questions:
- Can a VPN Be Hacked?
- Can a VPN Company See My Passwords and Data?
- Can a VPN Provider See My Traffic and History?
- Can I Use a VPN Service on My Mobile Device?
- Can I Use Multiple VPNs at Once?
- Can The Use of a VPN Be Detected?
- Does a VPN Hide Torrenting from ISPs?
- Does a VPN Protect Against Viruses?
- Does a VPN Service Bypass ISP Throttling?
- Does a VPN Work on Mobile Data?
- How Do I Get Rid of a VPN?
- How Does a VPN Work?
- How Does VPN Encryption Work?
- How Secure is Using a VPN?
- Is a VPN for Wi-Fi Connections Only?
- Is It Legal to Use a VPN?
- Is My VPN Active and Working?
- Is Using a VPN Service Easy?
- Should I Pay for a VPN?
- Should I Use a VPN All the Time?
- Should I Use a VPN at Home?
- Should I Use a VPN on My iPhone, Android Phone?
- What Does VPN Traffic Look Like to My ISP?
- What Happens if My VPN Disconnects?
- What is a VPN?
- What Is VPN Cascading?
- What’s the Difference Between a VPN and a Proxy?
- Why Is My VPN so Slow?
- Why Should I Hide My IP Address?
- Why Should I Use a VPN Service?
- Will a VPN Lower My Ping?
- Will a VPN Speed up My Connection?
- Will a VPN Work in China?
- Will VPNs Be Banned?
- Won’t a VPN Slow my Internet Connection Down?
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FAQs
Technically, all VPN companies can see your traffic and history. However, most of them choose to discard that information by directing it to a null file or folder – by doing so, they're adhering to so-called strict no-logs policies.
Can a VPN provider see your history? ›
Yes, VPN providers can see what you do online. However, many leading providers use no-log policies, meaning they won't record and save your information. Can a VPN provider see my passwords? A VPN provider cannot see your passwords as your data is encrypted.
Can a VPN see all your traffic? ›
Final thoughts. Any VPN service can monitor your browsing history, but reputable ones won't and will ensure they have no logs of your browsing history that could be handed over to third parties. That way, if they receive a court order to share information, it's impossible for them to comply.
Is VPN traffic monitored? ›
ISPs can see what you do online and even curb your traffic. However, a VPN hides your IP, encrypts your internet traffic, and protects your online privacy. Government agencies and other similar entities. They can approach ISPs or online service providers to obtain data about you or just use their own tracking methods.
Can my employer see my browsing history if I use a VPN? ›
It depends on how much monitoring and access they have on your device. If your employer only monitors your internet connection, a VPN connection will keep you safe. If they have access and can monitor the device itself, nothing will prevent them from looking at your browser history.
Are VPN searches traceable? ›
Can you be tracked with a VPN? You can't be tracked using a VPN because it encrypts your data. As a result, your ISP or bad actors can't get any information out of your traffic.
Can WiFi owners see browsing history with VPN? ›
VPNs establish a protected connection, meaning no one can see what you are doing. So, for example, a WiFi router or Internet service provider only sees jumbled data when you're browsing on a VPN. Not only that, but with a VPN server, you can use IP addresses from other countries.
What does a VPN not hide? ›
However, they can't protect against cookies, website-level tracking, malware or the information you voluntarily share online. Despite their limitations, VPNs remain an essential tool for enhancing online privacy.
Can a VPN see what websites I visit? ›
Your account activity
You may think that using a VPN hides your online activities on digital platforms. However, if you're logged in to an online account, your activity remains visible to the provider — even if you're using a VPN to send your data through a private tunnel.
Can VPN traffic be detected? ›
Can You Be Tracked Through a VPN? If you use a VPN, your IP address and web traffic can't be traced back to you directly, as any query will only find the VPN network, rather than your actual connection. However, there are tools available that enable businesses to detect whether you are using a VPN.
However, if your ISP decides to inspect your traffic, a VPN will only show gibberish. Most popular VPNs use advanced encryption standards designed to keep your data hidden from prying eyes. And your ISP cannot crack the encryption cipher used by VPNs.
Can the police track a VPN? ›
Whether police can track VPN traffic is a common concern among users seeking online privacy. The truth is: the police can't monitor encrypted VPN traffic. However, they can ask your Internet Service Provider (ISP) to provide connection or usage logs through a court order, which can lead them to your VPN provider.
Does all traffic go over VPN? ›
In a force tunnel configuration, all traffic will go over VPN. Force tunnel is the default configuration, and takes effect when no routes are specified.
Can a work VPN see my traffic? ›
Employers often have measures in place to track employee activity during work hours. Using a corporate VPN will not hide your internet history from your employer as it logs everything and retains data for future reference.
Who can see my browsing history? ›
If you've wondered “Can anyone see my search history?”, the answer is yes. The search engine itself, your web browser, your internet service provider (ISP), some advertisers, website owners, app owners, and, in some cases, authorities can see what you search for on Google.
Are VPNs really private? ›
No, a VPN does not make you anonymous. In fact, no internet privacy tool can completely hide your online presence. A VPN can encrypt your data, shield your IP address, and even protect you from online trackers, but full anonymity isn't possible.
How to stop wifi owner see your history? ›
You could try using private search engines and browsers, like DuckDuckGo or Tor, but they'll only take you so far. If you're serious about eliminating your digital footprint, invest in a VPN. It's the best way to hide all your online activity from Wi-Fi owners, businesses, and even authorities.
Can a VPN access your data? ›
No information logging: No-log VPNs do not collect, or log, data that users share on the network, such as login credentials, files they download, and their search history. This is key to ensuring users' online privacy and protecting their anonymity from other internet users.
Can your internet provider see your history? ›
Can your internet provider see your browsing history | How to protect your online privacy? The short answer is – yes, internet service providers (ISPs) can see and record everything you do online.
Technically, all VPN companies can see your traffic and history. However, most of them choose to discard that information by directing it to a null file or folder – by doing so, they’re adhering to so-called strict no-logs policies. 
