can wifi owner see .pdf file i've opened through browser?
up vote
1
down vote
favorite
i know that they could see websites, traffic usage, etc using certain application. but what i wanted to ask is, if i opened a .pdf file using browser, will they be able to see it too? it appears on my browsing history so does that means it appears on theirs too?? if i remove it from my history, that doesn't mean it will be removed from theirs right?
the security type of their network is WPA2-Personal and i'm using chrome if thats relevant.
the .pdf i opened is a document on my pc which i opened through browser so the link is something like file:///D:/New%20folder/as/New%20folder%20(8)/asdsd.pdf. so does this still means they know it?
networking wireless-networking
edited Dec 4 at 14:38
JakeGould
30.9k1093137
asked Dec 4 at 13:41
roundtable
112
add a comment |
up vote
1
down vote
favorite
i know that they could see websites, traffic usage, etc using certain application. but what i wanted to ask is, if i opened a .pdf file using browser, will they be able to see it too? it appears on my browsing history so does that means it appears on theirs too?? if i remove it from my history, that doesn't mean it will be removed from theirs right?
the security type of their network is WPA2-Personal and i'm using chrome if thats relevant.
the .pdf i opened is a document on my pc which i opened through browser so the link is something like file:///D:/New%20folder/as/New%20folder%20(8)/asdsd.pdf. so does this still means they know it?
networking wireless-networking
edited Dec 4 at 14:38
JakeGould
30.9k1093137
asked Dec 4 at 13:41
roundtable
112
add a comment |
up vote
1
down vote
favorite
up vote
1
down vote
favorite
i know that they could see websites, traffic usage, etc using certain application. but what i wanted to ask is, if i opened a .pdf file using browser, will they be able to see it too? it appears on my browsing history so does that means it appears on theirs too?? if i remove it from my history, that doesn't mean it will be removed from theirs right?
the security type of their network is WPA2-Personal and i'm using chrome if thats relevant.
the .pdf i opened is a document on my pc which i opened through browser so the link is something like file:///D:/New%20folder/as/New%20folder%20(8)/asdsd.pdf. so does this still means they know it?
networking wireless-networking
edited Dec 4 at 14:38
JakeGould
30.9k1093137
asked Dec 4 at 13:41
roundtable
112
i know that they could see websites, traffic usage, etc using certain application. but what i wanted to ask is, if i opened a .pdf file using browser, will they be able to see it too? it appears on my browsing history so does that means it appears on theirs too?? if i remove it from my history, that doesn't mean it will be removed from theirs right?
the security type of their network is WPA2-Personal and i'm using chrome if thats relevant.
the .pdf i opened is a document on my pc which i opened through browser so the link is something like file:///D:/New%20folder/as/New%20folder%20(8)/asdsd.pdf. so does this still means they know it?
networking wireless-networking
networking wireless-networking
edited Dec 4 at 14:38
JakeGould
30.9k1093137
asked Dec 4 at 13:41
roundtable
112
edited Dec 4 at 14:38
JakeGould
30.9k1093137
asked Dec 4 at 13:41
roundtable
112
edited Dec 4 at 14:38
JakeGould
30.9k1093137
edited Dec 4 at 14:38
JakeGould
30.9k1093137
edited Dec 4 at 14:38
JakeGould
30.9k1093137
30.9k1093137
asked Dec 4 at 13:41
roundtable
112
asked Dec 4 at 13:41
roundtable
112
asked Dec 4 at 13:41
roundtable
112
112
add a comment |
add a comment |
3 Answers
3
active
oldest
votes
up vote
0
down vote
It depends on there do you get it. If it is .pdf, saved locally, nobody can see it (unless they have access to your pc). If you are viewing it directly from a website, it depends on type of connection: HTTP is totally unsafe, so your file can be seen by WiFi owner, but HTTPS (mostly) makes it safe.
answered Dec 4 at 14:26
biryulin04
416
add a comment |
up vote
0
down vote
No, the WiFi provider cannot see the file. The file:// protocol accesses a file system available to your operating system. If the PDF is stored locally on your computer, the file never gets transferred over the network. Additionally, they will not see a DNS request, as the file is stored locally. They have no access to your browsing history, so you are safe in that regard.
However, the above could be rendered false in unlikely scenarios, but that would involve some strange network configurations on your end. Other issues that could affect this are browser plugins, as well as third party programs you installed on your PC. Simply put, do not install software on your computer you do not trust implicitly.
answered Dec 4 at 15:26
Keltari
50k18115167
1
Why the downvote here? It's a valid answer.
– Fanatique
Dec 4 at 16:52
add a comment |
up vote
-1
down vote
If the site did not use https, the owner of the wifi will see every byte you transmit, including the pdf file.
If the whole site uses https, the owner will see the domain you visited, as it can see the dns requests (like www.thesite.com, api.thesite.com). Also the owner might see some more details about what you were surfing on the site, for example if you browse a car related subreddit and the site loads ads from car manufacturers, or porn sites.
If the download was through https, the owner will know domain and mostly also the size of the file.
WPA2 will only make it harder for other users of the wifi to see your traffic, and people not knowing the wpa key (password). But all your internet traffic will go through the wifi router of the owner.
answered Dec 4 at 14:06
davidbaumann
1,834722
i see. sorry if i didn't make this clearer up there but the .pdf i opened is a document on my pc which i opened through browser so the link is something like file:///D:/New%20folder/as/New%20folder%20(8)/asdsd.pdf. so does this still means they know it? thank you in advance!
– roundtable
Dec 4 at 14:10
So edit your question.
– davidbaumann
Dec 4 at 14:11
add a comment |
Your Answer
StackExchange.ready(function() {
var channelOptions = {
tags: "".split(" "),
id: "3"
};
initTagRenderer("".split(" "), "".split(" "), channelOptions);
StackExchange.using("externalEditor", function() {
// Have to fire editor after snippets, if snippets enabled
if (StackExchange.settings.snippets.snippetsEnabled) {
StackExchange.using("snippets", function() {
createEditor();
});
}
else {
createEditor();
}
});
function createEditor() {
StackExchange.prepareEditor({
heartbeatType: 'answer',
convertImagesToLinks: true,
noModals: true,
showLowRepImageUploadWarning: true,
reputationToPostImages: 10,
bindNavPrevention: true,
postfix: "",
imageUploader: {
brandingHtml: "Powered by u003ca class="icon-imgur-white" href="https://imgur.com/"u003eu003c/au003e",
contentPolicyHtml: "User contributions licensed under u003ca href="https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/"u003ecc by-sa 3.0 with attribution requiredu003c/au003e u003ca href="https://stackoverflow.com/legal/content-policy"u003e(content policy)u003c/au003e",
allowUrls: true
},
onDemand: true,
discardSelector: ".discard-answer"
,immediatelyShowMarkdownHelp:true
});
}
});
Sign up or log in
StackExchange.ready(function () {
StackExchange.helpers.onClickDraftSave('#login-link');
});
Sign up using Google
Sign up using Facebook
Sign up using Email and Password
Post as a guest
Required, but never shown
StackExchange.ready(
function () {
StackExchange.openid.initPostLogin('.new-post-login', 'https%3a%2f%2fsuperuser.com%2fquestions%2f1380702%2fcan-wifi-owner-see-pdf-file-ive-opened-through-browser%23new-answer', 'question_page');
}
);
Post as a guest
Required, but never shown
3 Answers
3
active
oldest
votes
3 Answers
3
active
oldest
votes
active
oldest
votes
active
oldest
votes
up vote
0
down vote
It depends on there do you get it. If it is .pdf, saved locally, nobody can see it (unless they have access to your pc). If you are viewing it directly from a website, it depends on type of connection: HTTP is totally unsafe, so your file can be seen by WiFi owner, but HTTPS (mostly) makes it safe.
answered Dec 4 at 14:26
biryulin04
416
add a comment |
up vote
0
down vote
It depends on there do you get it. If it is .pdf, saved locally, nobody can see it (unless they have access to your pc). If you are viewing it directly from a website, it depends on type of connection: HTTP is totally unsafe, so your file can be seen by WiFi owner, but HTTPS (mostly) makes it safe.
answered Dec 4 at 14:26
biryulin04
416
add a comment |
up vote
0
down vote
up vote
0
down vote
It depends on there do you get it. If it is .pdf, saved locally, nobody can see it (unless they have access to your pc). If you are viewing it directly from a website, it depends on type of connection: HTTP is totally unsafe, so your file can be seen by WiFi owner, but HTTPS (mostly) makes it safe.
answered Dec 4 at 14:26
biryulin04
416
It depends on there do you get it. If it is .pdf, saved locally, nobody can see it (unless they have access to your pc). If you are viewing it directly from a website, it depends on type of connection: HTTP is totally unsafe, so your file can be seen by WiFi owner, but HTTPS (mostly) makes it safe.
answered Dec 4 at 14:26
biryulin04
416
answered Dec 4 at 14:26
biryulin04
416
answered Dec 4 at 14:26
biryulin04
416
answered Dec 4 at 14:26
biryulin04
416
416
add a comment |
add a comment |
up vote
0
down vote
No, the WiFi provider cannot see the file. The file:// protocol accesses a file system available to your operating system. If the PDF is stored locally on your computer, the file never gets transferred over the network. Additionally, they will not see a DNS request, as the file is stored locally. They have no access to your browsing history, so you are safe in that regard.
However, the above could be rendered false in unlikely scenarios, but that would involve some strange network configurations on your end. Other issues that could affect this are browser plugins, as well as third party programs you installed on your PC. Simply put, do not install software on your computer you do not trust implicitly.
answered Dec 4 at 15:26
Keltari
50k18115167
1
Why the downvote here? It's a valid answer.
– Fanatique
Dec 4 at 16:52
add a comment |
up vote
0
down vote
No, the WiFi provider cannot see the file. The file:// protocol accesses a file system available to your operating system. If the PDF is stored locally on your computer, the file never gets transferred over the network. Additionally, they will not see a DNS request, as the file is stored locally. They have no access to your browsing history, so you are safe in that regard.
However, the above could be rendered false in unlikely scenarios, but that would involve some strange network configurations on your end. Other issues that could affect this are browser plugins, as well as third party programs you installed on your PC. Simply put, do not install software on your computer you do not trust implicitly.
answered Dec 4 at 15:26
Keltari
50k18115167
1
Why the downvote here? It's a valid answer.
– Fanatique
Dec 4 at 16:52
add a comment |
up vote
0
down vote
up vote
0
down vote
No, the WiFi provider cannot see the file. The file:// protocol accesses a file system available to your operating system. If the PDF is stored locally on your computer, the file never gets transferred over the network. Additionally, they will not see a DNS request, as the file is stored locally. They have no access to your browsing history, so you are safe in that regard.
However, the above could be rendered false in unlikely scenarios, but that would involve some strange network configurations on your end. Other issues that could affect this are browser plugins, as well as third party programs you installed on your PC. Simply put, do not install software on your computer you do not trust implicitly.
answered Dec 4 at 15:26
Keltari
50k18115167
No, the WiFi provider cannot see the file. The file:// protocol accesses a file system available to your operating system. If the PDF is stored locally on your computer, the file never gets transferred over the network. Additionally, they will not see a DNS request, as the file is stored locally. They have no access to your browsing history, so you are safe in that regard.
However, the above could be rendered false in unlikely scenarios, but that would involve some strange network configurations on your end. Other issues that could affect this are browser plugins, as well as third party programs you installed on your PC. Simply put, do not install software on your computer you do not trust implicitly.
answered Dec 4 at 15:26
Keltari
50k18115167
answered Dec 4 at 15:26
Keltari
50k18115167
answered Dec 4 at 15:26
Keltari
50k18115167
answered Dec 4 at 15:26
Keltari
50k18115167
50k18115167
1
Why the downvote here? It's a valid answer.
– Fanatique
Dec 4 at 16:52
add a comment |
1
Why the downvote here? It's a valid answer.
– Fanatique
Dec 4 at 16:52
1
1
Why the downvote here? It's a valid answer.
– Fanatique
Dec 4 at 16:52
Why the downvote here? It's a valid answer.
– Fanatique
Dec 4 at 16:52
add a comment |
up vote
-1
down vote
If the site did not use https, the owner of the wifi will see every byte you transmit, including the pdf file.
If the whole site uses https, the owner will see the domain you visited, as it can see the dns requests (like www.thesite.com, api.thesite.com). Also the owner might see some more details about what you were surfing on the site, for example if you browse a car related subreddit and the site loads ads from car manufacturers, or porn sites.
If the download was through https, the owner will know domain and mostly also the size of the file.
WPA2 will only make it harder for other users of the wifi to see your traffic, and people not knowing the wpa key (password). But all your internet traffic will go through the wifi router of the owner.
answered Dec 4 at 14:06
davidbaumann
1,834722
i see. sorry if i didn't make this clearer up there but the .pdf i opened is a document on my pc which i opened through browser so the link is something like file:///D:/New%20folder/as/New%20folder%20(8)/asdsd.pdf. so does this still means they know it? thank you in advance!
– roundtable
Dec 4 at 14:10
So edit your question.
– davidbaumann
Dec 4 at 14:11
add a comment |
up vote
-1
down vote
If the site did not use https, the owner of the wifi will see every byte you transmit, including the pdf file.
If the whole site uses https, the owner will see the domain you visited, as it can see the dns requests (like www.thesite.com, api.thesite.com). Also the owner might see some more details about what you were surfing on the site, for example if you browse a car related subreddit and the site loads ads from car manufacturers, or porn sites.
If the download was through https, the owner will know domain and mostly also the size of the file.
WPA2 will only make it harder for other users of the wifi to see your traffic, and people not knowing the wpa key (password). But all your internet traffic will go through the wifi router of the owner.
answered Dec 4 at 14:06
davidbaumann
1,834722
i see. sorry if i didn't make this clearer up there but the .pdf i opened is a document on my pc which i opened through browser so the link is something like file:///D:/New%20folder/as/New%20folder%20(8)/asdsd.pdf. so does this still means they know it? thank you in advance!
– roundtable
Dec 4 at 14:10
So edit your question.
– davidbaumann
Dec 4 at 14:11
add a comment |
up vote
-1
down vote
up vote
-1
down vote
If the site did not use https, the owner of the wifi will see every byte you transmit, including the pdf file.
If the whole site uses https, the owner will see the domain you visited, as it can see the dns requests (like www.thesite.com, api.thesite.com). Also the owner might see some more details about what you were surfing on the site, for example if you browse a car related subreddit and the site loads ads from car manufacturers, or porn sites.
If the download was through https, the owner will know domain and mostly also the size of the file.
WPA2 will only make it harder for other users of the wifi to see your traffic, and people not knowing the wpa key (password). But all your internet traffic will go through the wifi router of the owner.
answered Dec 4 at 14:06
davidbaumann
1,834722
If the site did not use https, the owner of the wifi will see every byte you transmit, including the pdf file.
If the whole site uses https, the owner will see the domain you visited, as it can see the dns requests (like www.thesite.com, api.thesite.com). Also the owner might see some more details about what you were surfing on the site, for example if you browse a car related subreddit and the site loads ads from car manufacturers, or porn sites.
If the download was through https, the owner will know domain and mostly also the size of the file.
WPA2 will only make it harder for other users of the wifi to see your traffic, and people not knowing the wpa key (password). But all your internet traffic will go through the wifi router of the owner.
answered Dec 4 at 14:06
davidbaumann
1,834722
answered Dec 4 at 14:06
davidbaumann
1,834722
answered Dec 4 at 14:06
davidbaumann
1,834722
answered Dec 4 at 14:06
davidbaumann
1,834722
1,834722
i see. sorry if i didn't make this clearer up there but the .pdf i opened is a document on my pc which i opened through browser so the link is something like file:///D:/New%20folder/as/New%20folder%20(8)/asdsd.pdf. so does this still means they know it? thank you in advance!
– roundtable
Dec 4 at 14:10
So edit your question.
– davidbaumann
Dec 4 at 14:11
add a comment |
i see. sorry if i didn't make this clearer up there but the .pdf i opened is a document on my pc which i opened through browser so the link is something like file:///D:/New%20folder/as/New%20folder%20(8)/asdsd.pdf. so does this still means they know it? thank you in advance!
– roundtable
Dec 4 at 14:10
So edit your question.
– davidbaumann
Dec 4 at 14:11
i see. sorry if i didn't make this clearer up there but the .pdf i opened is a document on my pc which i opened through browser so the link is something like file:///D:/New%20folder/as/New%20folder%20(8)/asdsd.pdf. so does this still means they know it? thank you in advance!
– roundtable
Dec 4 at 14:10
i see. sorry if i didn't make this clearer up there but the .pdf i opened is a document on my pc which i opened through browser so the link is something like file:///D:/New%20folder/as/New%20folder%20(8)/asdsd.pdf. so does this still means they know it? thank you in advance!
– roundtable
Dec 4 at 14:10
So edit your question.
– davidbaumann
Dec 4 at 14:11
So edit your question.
– davidbaumann
Dec 4 at 14:11
add a comment |
Thanks for contributing an answer to Super User!
- Please be sure to answer the question. Provide details and share your research!
But avoid …
- Asking for help, clarification, or responding to other answers.
- Making statements based on opinion; back them up with references or personal experience.
To learn more, see our tips on writing great answers.
Some of your past answers have not been well-received, and you're in danger of being blocked from answering.
Please pay close attention to the following guidance:
- Please be sure to answer the question. Provide details and share your research!
But avoid …
- Asking for help, clarification, or responding to other answers.
- Making statements based on opinion; back them up with references or personal experience.
To learn more, see our tips on writing great answers.
Sign up or log in
StackExchange.ready(function () {
StackExchange.helpers.onClickDraftSave('#login-link');
});
Sign up using Google
Sign up using Facebook
Sign up using Email and Password
Post as a guest
Required, but never shown
StackExchange.ready(
function () {
StackExchange.openid.initPostLogin('.new-post-login', 'https%3a%2f%2fsuperuser.com%2fquestions%2f1380702%2fcan-wifi-owner-see-pdf-file-ive-opened-through-browser%23new-answer', 'question_page');
}
);
Post as a guest
Required, but never shown
Sign up or log in
StackExchange.ready(function () {
StackExchange.helpers.onClickDraftSave('#login-link');
});
Sign up using Google
Sign up using Facebook
Sign up using Email and Password
Post as a guest
Required, but never shown
Sign up or log in
StackExchange.ready(function () {
StackExchange.helpers.onClickDraftSave('#login-link');
});
Sign up using Google
Sign up using Facebook
Sign up using Email and Password
Post as a guest
Required, but never shown
Sign up or log in
StackExchange.ready(function () {
StackExchange.helpers.onClickDraftSave('#login-link');
});
Sign up using Google
Sign up using Facebook
Sign up using Email and Password
Sign up using Google
Sign up using Facebook
Sign up using Email and Password
Post as a guest
Required, but never shown
Required, but never shown
Required, but never shown
Required, but never shown
Required, but never shown
Required, but never shown
Required, but never shown
Required, but never shown
Required, but never shown
