If you’re interested in online privacy, you likely already know that public wifi hotspots are popular targets for hackers. At the best of times, open networks are often poorly secured. With that in mind, you may be tempted to use mobile data when out and about to avoid wi-fi. But how much more privacy does this really give you, and who can see what you do online when connected to mobile data? We’ve done the research so that you don’t have to.
Looking for a quick way to enhance your online privacy? We’d recommend using a Virtual Private Network (VPN) to encrypt your web traffic and hide your browsing history, regardless of whether you’re using mobile data or wifi.
Can my phone provider see what I do when using mobile data?
This depends on which country you’re in. Some places (including Australia, France, and Italy) have laws that require your cell service provider to keep logs of your activities for a fixed period of time. Even in countries without mandatory logging requirements, most mobile ISPs have a policy of storing browsing data, generally for between six months and two years. Some providers don’t, but these are the exception rather than the rule.
So what exactly can your mobile provider see when you browse the internet using data? We’ve taken a close look at the privacy policy of one of America’s biggest carriers, Verizon, to find out. Verizon can see (and keeps records of) all of the following; the information in bold is specifically relevant to mobile data users:
- Your name, address, email address, phone numbers, date of birth, payment information, and any other info provided during signup (including biometric identifiers and SSN)
- Any information provided in polls, surveys, or promotions
- Call records, including which numbers you call or receive calls from
- Which websites you visit (domain only if the site uses HTTPS)
- Screen recordings, cursor movement, screen interactions, click data
- Browser and operating system information
- Nearby wifi access points
- Your IP address, mobile number, DNS information, and device identifiers
- Location data including which GPS data and cell towers you connected to
- Text messaging records
Verizon mentions that it installs software on some wireless devices that may “collect information about network and device conditions, including location, battery life, and apps on the device.” It then goes on to say that these apps may not actually appear like all of your others (with an icon, etc in the menu), though they can be deleted using the Application Manager in the device’s settings.
Can anyone else see what I do on mobile data?
Unfortunately, your cell phone provider isn’t the only one that can monitor your activities. The sites and apps you use also keep records for various reasons including to track engagement, maintain ban lists, and comply with law enforcement requests. In other words, even if your ISP is completely logless, you can still be tracked across the web using tracking cookies and your IP address.
How to improve your privacy when using mobile data
If you’re concerned about privacy, it’s best to assume that your cell phone provider logs everything, as most traditional internet providers do. With that in mind, there are a couple of steps you can take to limit or reduce the amount of information your carrier can collect.
First off, look at the list of apps installed on your device and uninstall or disable anything that your cell carrier put on there before you bought it. This will prevent any preinstalled apps from collecting usage data, which is a strong start.
Next, consider a VPN (We’ve listed the best VPNs for mobile data here). These services encrypt your web traffic, meaning your service provider can no longer see which sites you visit or what you do there. These often use their own DNS servers too, which is a little bit more information we can deprive our ISP of. Some VPNs, like Surfshark, can even block online trackers and override your device’s GPS info to match the location of the server to which you’re connected.
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Unfortunately, there isn’t much that can be done to stop your ISP from collecting device identifiers such as your MAC address or browser and operating system info, short of having a burner phone or using an entirely separate browser for personal and private use. There’s no way to prevent your carrier from recording which cell towers you’ve connected to, short of removing the SIM card, which would prevent you from using mobile data at all.
Mobile data FAQs
What are the benefits of using mobile data over wifi?
The main benefit of mobile data is that you can use it to get online anywhere that has cell service. It may not be as quick, but it’ll work in a pinch. Additionally, you may have noticed that you can access certain websites via mobile data that you can’t visit on public wifi hotspots (since public networks tend to have fairly expansive blocklists).
Mobile data isn’t without its shortcomings, though. For instance, it can often be unreliable if you’re in a busy location (such as at a protest or music festival), and there are usually steep roaming charges if you try to use it abroad.
Can mobile data be tracked?
Yes, absolutely. Most cell phone carriers collect large amounts of information about how you use your phone, and this almost certainly means keeping logs of your online activity. If you’re concerned about digital privacy, your best bet is to install a Virtual Private Network on your phone – this will encrypt your web traffic, rendering it unreadable, no matter whether you’re using mobile data or wifi. We’d also suggest brushing up on cybersecurity basics and making sure you don’t post any personally identifiable information online. Digital security doesn’t have a simple, one and done solution; it’s a process that requires patience, persistence, and a willingness to learn.
Is mobile data safer than wifi?
This is a tricky question. In theory, mobile data is more difficult to compromise since it’s encrypted by default and handled by a cell tower, rather than a router (which can be easily spoofed or monitored). However, there’s no guarantee that your cell service provider has properly secured its infrastructure, and even if it has, it likely keeps the same kind of logs as a traditional ISP. Your best bet is to assume that both types of networks are equally unsecure and take steps to enhance your privacy in other ways (such as by using a VPN while away from home).
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