How to Protect Your Online Privacy from Your Internet Service Provider (ISP) in 2025
Most people don’t realize just how much information their Internet Service Provider (ISP) can see—and use—when they’re online. From browsing habits to streaming behavior, your ISP can legally collect, store, and even sell your data to third parties, including advertisers.
Unlike free platforms like Google or Facebook, which offer services in exchange for your data, you’re paying your ISP for access to the internet. Yet, they still have visibility into nearly everything you do online unless you take steps to stop it.
What Your ISP Can See
Without privacy protections in place, your ISP can view:
- Websites you visit (even if you’re using HTTPS)
- Apps and services you use
- Streaming activity and connected devices
- Download/upload behavior and volume
- Your physical location while connected
This data can be sold to advertisers, used to throttle your speed based on activity (like streaming), or shared with government agencies without your direct consent. In 2025, online privacy is more important than ever.
How to Hide Your Internet Activity from Your ISP
If you’re concerned about ISP surveillance, there are several tools and techniques you can use to protect your internet privacy and prevent ISP tracking.
1. Use a Virtual Private Network (VPN)
A VPN encrypts your internet traffic and routes it through a secure server, masking your online activity from your ISP. Choose a reputable, no-logs VPN provider that offers strong encryption and doesn’t store user data.
2. Use DNS over HTTPS (DoH)
By default, DNS (the system that turns URLs into IP addresses) is unencrypted. ISPs can see which websites you request. DNS over HTTPS (DoH) encrypts these requests, adding another layer of privacy.
3. Use Encrypted Browsers and Extensions
Privacy-focused browsers like Brave or Firefox offer built-in features to block trackers and force HTTPS. Adding tools like HTTPS Everywhere and uBlock Origin can further prevent surveillance.
4. Review Router and Device-Level Privacy Settings
Disabling location sharing, auto-sync features, and telemetry reporting on your operating systems and devices reduces the amount of metadata your ISP might infer through traffic patterns.
Can ISPs Still See What You’re Doing If You Use HTTPS?
Even though HTTPS encrypts the contents of websites (like login data), your ISP can still see what domains you visit (e.g., amazon.com or netflix.com). Only a VPN can hide this level of traffic visibility. That’s why relying on HTTPS alone is not enough to ensure browsing privacy.
What About Incognito or Private Browsing?
Private browsing modes like Chrome’s Incognito don’t hide activity from your ISP—they only prevent it from being saved on your device. To hide browsing activity from your ISP, you need a VPN or other encrypted tools.
Final Thoughts: Your Privacy Is Your Responsibility
As ISPs continue to profit from user data, protecting your internet privacy has become essential. Thankfully, there are accessible tools to hide your activity, encrypt your traffic, and prevent ISP data collection.
Tobin Solutions helps businesses in Milwaukee and beyond implement cybersecurity solutions that protect privacy, improve compliance, and reduce digital risk. Whether you’re a small business owner or a concerned individual, you deserve control over your online presence.
Need help improving your internet privacy posture?
Contact Tobin Solutions at info@tobinsolutions.com or call 414-443-9999 for a personalized consultation.
