Can You Be Tracked When Using a VPN? If So, Who’s Trying?

Almost everything you do online leaves behind some digital footprint. Your Internet Service Provider (ISP) can typically see the websites you visit. Advertisers may track your activity across sites to serve targeted ads. Even some apps quietly collect usage data in the background.

A VPN makes tracking you much harder. It hides your IP address and encrypts your traffic, so it’s more difficult to trace your activity back to you. However, no VPN can make you 100% anonymous, as it’s impossible to block every kind of tracker. Cookies, fingerprinting, and careless account use can still expose personal details.

This guide breaks down how tracking works, who does it, and exactly how much protection a VPN adds. Use it to take back control of your privacy, step by step.

Who May Be Tracking You Online?

Companies, services, and authorities may track what you do online and collect your data. Here’s a list of who could be watching you and why:

• • ISPs: May be able to see all the sites you visit, even if you delete your browser history. In some countries, they can then sell this data to advertisers or share it with the authorities.
  • Governments: Can monitor online activity for surveillance purposes or legally require ISPs to collect your data.
  • Cybercriminals: Try to find new ways to intercept your traffic and steal personal information to sell it or use it in identity theft and fraud.
  • Websites: Use browsing analytics and cookies to collect data about your device and browsing habits. Some third-party cookies may even track you after you close the site. Websites use this data to optimize their service and target you with ads.
  • Third-party trackers: Help advertisers and data brokers monitor your activity across multiple websites and build a digital profile of your habits and preferences.
  • Browsers: Certain browsers, like Google Chrome, collect details like your search history, device information, and location by default. Some browsers may sync this data across devices or share it with third parties.
  • Browser extensions: Request permission to read your traffic. While most browser extensions are safe to use, some can be overly invasive in how they collect data. A small number (particularly those from untrusted sources) can even be malicious and attempt to steal sensitive information, like passwords or financial details.
  • Apps: Often have access to various parts of your device depending on the permissions you grant—such as location, camera, microphone, or storage. While most apps use these permissions appropriately to fulfill their purpose, some may collect more data than necessary or include third-party code that tracks user behavior. It’s important to review app permissions and understand what data is being accessed and why.

How Does Online Tracking Work?

You’ve likely heard of website cookies before, but websites, apps, and third parties can use many other ways to track you online. Here are some of the most common methods:

• • IP address tracking: The IP address is a unique identifier others can use to try and track you. It shows your approximate location (down to the country or city you’re in) and your ISP, and allows websites to keep track of your visits. Whether you’re logged in or browsing incognito, your IP can link activity back to you.
  • Browser fingerprinting: Websites can look at your browser settings and device characteristics to identify you. They collect data like your screen size, fonts, operating system, and extensions to build a unique fingerprint that helps track you across other sites.
  • Local storage tracking: Sites can store data in your browser’s local storage using JavaScript. This data doesn’t expire automatically, so websites can use it to track you even if you regularly delete cookies or reject tracking prompts.
  • Cookies: Tracking cookies are small files a website stores on your device to keep track of various things, like your logins, what you put in your shopping cart, and so on. Advertisers can also use cookies to follow you across sites and build a detailed user profile.
  • Web beacons: Elements on a web page that collect data about you, usually through an embedded pixel image. When you load a page with a beacon, your browser tries to download the image from a host server. That server then gets your information, such as the exact time you accessed the page, your IP address, and the browser you use.
  • Spyware: A type of malicious software that can secretly monitor your activity, like browsing habits, keystrokes, or saved passwords. It can end up on your device if you click on malicious ads, install unknown software, or are specifically targeted by cybercriminals.
  • DNS leaks: A VPN is designed to route your internet traffic through an encrypted tunnel, hiding your activity from third parties. However, if your DNS requests aren’t also routed through the VPN, your ISP (or another DNS provider) may still see which websites you’re visiting. This is called a DNS leak.
  • Doxxing: Someone could intentionally expose your private information online, including your name, home address, workplace, and daily routes. A VPN can’t stop doxxing if you share information yourself, so it’s important to stay mindful of what you post online.
  • VPN logs: A VPN hides your online activity, but some shady providers—like some free VPNs—can keep logs of your browsing history and sell them to advertisers or even malicious actors. CyberGhost is a no-logs VPN, meaning we do not track, store, or share what you do online.

Can You Be Tracked If You Use a VPN?

A VPN makes it much harder for others to track you. When you connect, it replaces your IP address with the VPN server’s IP, so websites and apps can’t easily tie activity back to you. All they see is the server address, not your real location or ISP. 

VPNs also encrypt your traffic. This means that everything you do travels through a secure, private tunnel that keeps your data hidden from outsiders. As a result, your ISP, network administrators, or cybercriminals snooping on you can’t check what you’re doing online.

While a VPN protects your traffic, it doesn’t control what’s already running on your device or what your browser stores. Tools like browser fingerprinting use your screen size, fonts, and system settings to identify you, rather than your traffic. Cookies and local storage also save tracking data directly in your browser, so they continue working whether you’re using a VPN or not.

Even so, hiding your real IP and encrypting your data makes it more difficult for trackers to connect your online actions to your identity. They can sometimes see that someone used a VPN server, but not who that person is or where they’re located.

A VPN hides you from:	A VPN can’t hide you from:
✅ Your ISP: In most cases, your ISP can’t tell what you’re doing or confirm you’re using a VPN, especially if obfuscation is used.	❌ Google: Tracks what you do if you’re logged into your account or using Chrome.
✅ Public Wi-Fi snoops: Encrypts your data on unsecured networks to keep it concealed.	❌ Social media: Platforms like Facebook or Instagram can track your activity across the web if you’re logged in, even outside their apps or sites.
✅ Network admins: Some VPNs can bypass traffic monitoring on shared networks.	❌ Monitoring software on your device: Records your activity using keyloggers, mouse trackers, or screen capture.
✅ Cybercriminals: Makes it harder to intercept your traffic or steal data.	❌ Spyware: Gathers data directly from your device, regardless of VPN protection.
✅ Websites: Masks your real IP address, so they can’t link visits to your location or identity.	❌ Cookie or local storage tracking: Store tracking data in your browser that a VPN can’t block.
✅ Apps: Hides your IP-based location (but not GPS or data from app permissions).	❌ Browser fingerprinting: Identifies you based on your browser’s unique setup.
✅ Ad trackers: Makes IP-based ad targeting less accurate.	❌ Consent-based trackers: Collects data when you accept cookie banners or give tracking permissions.

Can a VPN Be Tracked by Your Employer?

If you’re using your employer’s VPN, they may monitor your online activity. But if you’re using a personal VPN on a work network, it’s much harder for your employer to track you. Anyone monitoring the network can only see that you’re using another VPN, not what you’re doing while connected.

However, a VPN can’t protect you from device-level monitoring. If your employer installs tracking software, like keyloggers, screen capture tools, or usage trackers, it can still record what you’re doing and send that data back to your boss. Even if your traffic is encrypted, your activity could still be exposed.

Can a VPN Be Tracked by Wi-Fi Owners?

No, Wi-Fi owners can’t see your traffic if you’re using a VPN. They might notice you’re connected to an encrypted IP, but if your VPN uses obfuscation, it may not be clear it’s a VPN connection. They also can’t read your encrypted data or see which sites you visit. 

It’s a good idea to use a VPN whenever you’re connected to public Wi-Fi networks, because they’re prime targets for cybercriminals who want your data. They may have weak security, making it possible for someone to hijack the network and gain access to its traffic.

Can a VPN Be Tracked by Websites?

Websites can often tell if you’re using a VPN by checking your IP address against a list of known VPN servers. Most sites don’t restrict VPN use, but some, like streaming and gaming platforms, try to block VPNs so you can’t access them while you’re connected to one.

While a VPN helps limit location-based tracking, it doesn’t stop websites from using more tools like browser fingerprinting or tracking cookies to identify you. For better protection, combine your VPN with a private browser, like Firefox, which offers features like fingerprinting protection and cross-site cookie blocking.

Can a VPN Be Tracked by ISPs?

Your ISP can’t see your browsing activity, app use, or online behavior when you use a VPN. This is because the VPN encrypts your internet traffic, hiding it from your ISP.

Because it supplies your internet connection, it might see that you’re using a VPN, depending on the VPN setup. Your ISP may be able to see the VPN server’s IP address, the protocol used, and how long you stay connected. 

If your VPN uses obfuscation, this traffic may appear as regular HTTPS or be indistinguishable from other encrypted traffic, making it harder or impossible for ISPs to confirm that you’re using a VPN.

Can Google Track You Through a VPN?

Yes, but not because the VPN fails. If you’re logged in to your Google account, Google can track your activity, even if your IP is hidden by a VPN. Google links your activity to your account and tracks you through its services, like YouTube, Gmail, or Maps. It also tracks you through unrelated websites, as many of them use Google’s search function or let you log in using Gmail.

Can You Be Tracked If Your VPN Connection Drops?

Yes. If your VPN connection drops, even just for a split second, it can expose your data. Your device may revert to using your regular internet connection, so anyone trying to track you can see which website you’re on and your real IP address.  

To prevent this, CyberGhost VPN comes with an advanced kill switch that automatically blocks internet traffic if your connection drops. Once it’s back up and running, the kill switch allows your internet traffic to start moving again. This stops your data from accidentally leaking.

Many VPNs offer kill switches, but not all protect against DNS leaks, which happen when your device sends a DNS request through your ISP instead of the VPN. This can reveal the sites you’re trying to access, even if your VPN is running. CyberGhost VPN has built-in DNS leak protection, so your DNS queries are handled by our private DNS servers, not your ISP’s.

Do Free VPNs Prevent Tracking?

Most free VPNs fall short when it comes to protecting your privacy. They often compromise on security, use weaker encryption standards, or lack leak protection. Some free VPNs also keep logs of your online activity and sell the data to advertisers or other third parties.

How to Choose the Best VPN to Prevent Tracking

A reliable VPN should include strong privacy features to help reduce tracking. Here are some key things to look for:

✅ Strong encryption	A VPN with strong encryption, like AES 256-bit encryption, scrambles your traffic so third parties can’t read or intercept it.
✅ Kill switch	A kill switch cuts off your internet if your VPN connection drops unexpectedly, so no traffic is exposed to online spies.
✅ No-logs policy	A no-logs policy means your VPN won’t monitor, record, or track your online activity. This means it can’t share your data with anyone, because it doesn’t have it in the first place.
✅ Leak protection	Built-in DNS leak protection stops your DNS queries from going through your ISP, so sites can’t see your real IP address or which domains you visit.

CyberGhost VPN covers all of these points to help you enhance your privacy online. We use AES 256-bit encryption to encrypt your traffic, DNS leak protection to ensure your real IP address isn’t visible, and an automatic kill switch to prevent you from being vulnerable. 

We also maintain a very strict no-logs policy, but don’t just take our word for it. Our no-logs policy has been independently audited by Deloitte.

Extra Tips to Increase Your Online Privacy

Digital surveillance is so advanced it’s practically impossible to stay 100% anonymous online. However, you can implement some new habits to make it significantly harder to track you:

• • Get a browser with strong privacy features, like Firefox or Brave.
  • Refuse cookies from websites and delete them regularly.
  • Use a privacy-oriented search engine, like DuckDuckGo.
  • Come up with unique, secure passwords for all your accounts.
  • Avoid using a single account (like Google or Apple) to log into multiple sites.
  • Consider switching to email providers that prioritize privacy and security, like Proton Mail.
  • Create a disposable email address for creating one-time accounts.
  • Be careful what information you reveal online.
  • Use messaging apps with end-to-end encryption, like Signal.
  • Clear your apps’ cache regularly.

Protect Your Data with a Trustworthy VPN

A VPN gives you solid protection against many types of online tracking. It stops third parties from seeing your activity and also makes location-based tracking much harder, because websites can’t trace activity to your real IP address. 

However, a VPN can’t stop every tracker. Websites can still track you through cookies, browser fingerprinting, or third-party tools like Google services, especially if you’re logged in. Spyware on your device can also monitor your activity, even if your VPN is switched on.  

CyberGhost VPN keeps your online activity private with features like AES 256-bit encryption and DNS leak protection. We also have a strict no-logs policy, so we don’t keep track of your activity. You can buy CyberGhost VPN risk-free with a 45-day money-back guarantee and start browsing without worrying about who’s monitoring you.

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