In a single tectonic shift, the Covid-19 pandemic pushed schooling and education online to adjust to lockdowns and social-distancing measures. Zoom classes have become the norm, and schools have been trying to keep their students’ education on track.
Regardless of whether they’re starting school or heading off to university, it is almost certain that the time students are spending in classrooms, online or in real life, is being monitored. From Wi-Fi usage trackers to biometric scanners that log attendance, administrators can figure out who you are, where you are, and what you’re doing online.
[Want privacy tips? Sign up for the ExpressVPN blog newsletter.]
Your school can see what you do on your phone or laptop
Whenever you connect to Wi-Fi on campus with your phone or your laptop, your school knows which websites you’ve visited. And, if the sites are not secured with HTTPS, it can also see what you’ve looked at.
Your college or high school could also implement classroom management software on your school laptops, which monitors computer use and internet history, as was revealed in a study by privacy advocates Big Brother Watch in over 1,000 schools across the UK. Such software has also been implemented on students’ laptops since the start of the pandemic in 2020, with schools using proctoring apps to “watch” students when they do their schoolwork or take tests.
If your school hosts its email system, it’s also highly likely that all correspondence through it is monitored too, as is the case in several UK universities.
Read more: New semester, new surveillance: How schools plan to monitor students
Your school can see where you are
In addition to the sites you visit, your university can find out where you are from your Wi-Fi usage. In Australia, it was found that several universities track the movement of students around campus through their Wi-Fi-connected mobile phones, and can even tell the exact room the students are in.
While the universities currently only track the movements of students in general, it’s entirely possible that the technology used could expand to identify activity on an individual level—to check the amount of time you’re not on campus and reflect that time in your grades, for instance.
Combine that with the presence of CCTV camera surveillance on campus and the university can figure out your physical location at all times. That’s pretty invasive.
Can schools see what websites you’re visiting at home?
Your schools cannot track your online activity through Wi-Fi when you’re at home, but if your devices are installed with the aforementioned proctoring apps, your school might be able to watch you via the camera or monitor your keystrokes.
How to stop your university from tracking you
- Getting a good VPN will hide all your internet traffic from your school’s Wi-Fi admins.
- Separate your private and academic correspondence, and use an email provider that puts your personal privacy and security first. We recommend one of these four email providers.
- Make an anti-surveillance fashion statement, whether it’s a trippy scarf or a simple face mask to avoid identification by CCTV cameras on campus.
- Read up on your school’s privacy practices (if any) and find out how much data it gathers from your online activity.
$5,000 for your thoughts?
Are you a student concerned about privacy and security? Enter our annual essay contest, and you could win a $5,000 scholarship.
FAQ: About school Wi-Fi
Is school Wi-Fi safe?
School Wi-Fi is a form of public Wi-Fi, which carries greater risks. The security of your school’s network is dependent on whether the school adheres to cybersecurity best practices. If the Wi-Fi network has weak security, not only does that make it prone to cyberattacks, but Wi-Fi admins could even see what you’re doing online, such as which sites you’re visiting. Using a VPN would encrypt your traffic, preventing attackers from seeing your online activity.
How do you use apps that are blocked on school Wi-Fi?
School Wi-Fi networks often block popular apps like social media or streaming services. The easiest solution to access blocked apps is to use a VPN. A VPN gives you a different IP address and encrypts your connection so a school network can’t identify what sites or apps you’re using. This means it can’t block those sites from you. You could also switch to mobile data on your phone rather than using school Wi-Fi.
Can school Wi-Fi block VPN?
Yes, it is possible for a school’s Wi-Fi to set up a firewall to block the use of a VPN.
Can school Wi-Fi see your screen?
It is possible for an attacker to see someone’s screen using specialized software if the connection is unsecured. However, the greater risk is a school Wi-Fi admin seeing what sites you’re visiting and for how long. Using a VPN would help to prevent this kind of surveillance.
FAQs
When connected to school Wi-Fi, the school may have the ability to see your online activities. This includes the websites you visit and the online services you use. However, they typically cannot view content within apps or specific details of your browsing unless they have installed monitoring software on your device.
How do I stop my school from tracking me? ›
How to stop your school from spying on you
- Only use your school-issued computer for schoolwork.
- Use a personal device for private communications and activities.
- Don't share personal information in school emails and messages.
- Don't log into personal accounts on school computers.
Your school can see what you do on your phone or laptop
Whenever you connect to Wi-Fi on campus with your phone or your laptop, your school knows which websites you've visited. And, if the sites are not secured with HTTPS, it can also see what you've looked at.
Can my school see what I do on my personal account at home? ›
They can only see the history of account in THEIR DOMAIN. That means that as long as you're using a gmail account or any other account, your teachers CANNOT see your history.
Can schools see your incognito history? ›
School or company networks: If you use a network run by your school or employer, they can see your browsing history even if you're in incognito mode. Websites you log into: When you're in incognito mode and log into a website like Twitter, you won't be anonymous. The site can also share your data with other websites.
Is GoGuardian legal? ›
All GoGuardian products are compliant with federal and state laws, including FERPA; GoGuardian is a proud signatory of the Student Privacy Pledge, coordinated by FutureofPrivacy.org. For more information on what data we collect and how it is used, please read our Privacy Policy.
Is tracking in Education illegal? ›
Title VI prohibits discrimination on the basis of race, color, or national origin in the assignment of students to schools or classes. It also prohibits discrimination in ability grouping or tracking students. Title IX protects against discrimination based on sex (including sexual harassment).
How do I block online tracking? ›
Set your devices to “do not track”
Most devices and browsers have a “do not track” setting which will block tracking cookies and tell websites that you don't want them to track your activity online. You can search online to find a guide on how to enable “do not track” on your preferred browser.
Do schools check Wi-Fi history? ›
It is no secret that schools closely monitor what students are doing online. From monitoring cyberbullying to simply making sure students stay where they are, many school WiFi networks track browsing history and centralise it in databases.
Can school monitor my computer at home? ›
However, it is important to note that your school may have monitoring software installed on the laptop that could potentially track your internet activity. Additionally, if you are using the school's network (even if you are at home), they may be able to see your internet activity.
Everyone has a right to their private information, so school administrators cannot view things like text messages, emails, photographs, or other private information that the public does not have access to on a student's phone without consent.
Can schools track your search history? ›
School administrators can see both deleted and un-deleted history, so you must keep your browser clear of any browsing history. You should also be careful not to store any sensitive information on the school computer or laptop. Better yet, get a VPN for school wifi.
What happens if you search something inappropriate on your school account? ›
Most schools only check student searches when their online filter system flags specific key words that may be inappropriate. You don't need to worry too much about being caught if you didn't use any inappropriate words in your search, but if you did, I suggest coming up with an excuse.
Can my school see deleted emails? ›
They can monitor anything that is not encrypted during transport over their network. School email? Yes they have full access to your emails, even if you delete them.
Can your school or work monitor your internet activity? ›
The critical thing to remember is that if you're on the Internet, chances are your school can see what you do with it whether they admit to monitoring or not. (Some schools have even been known to monitor students when off-campus). So don't worry about "overthinking" it — the best thing to do is be careful.
Can your school see your zoom history? ›
Depending on their policies, settings and how they use Zoom Products to provide educational services, the school or organization providing educational services may be able to see or to share the following personal data from students who join meetings or webinars on their account.
Can schools see your digital footprint? ›
In today's admissions landscape, your online presence is more than just a personal space—it's a part of your college application. According to Kaplan Test Prep, over 35% of college admissions officers admit to reviewing applicants' social media to gain insights beyond the application form.
Can the school see what I do on my Chromebook at home? ›
Keeping students safe: Chromebook monitoring can help schools protect their students from online dangers such as cyberbullying and inappropriate content. This technology can track online activities and alert school administrators when it detects inappropriate behavior.
