Yes. This is easily do-able by the owner of the access point (or anyone who has physical access to it).

Also, anyone within range can "sniff" the packets being sent between your computer and an open access point. That makes it possible to view your activity, though, as mentioned above, many web sites are moving towards SSL (https) connections, so one can normally only see the hostname of the web site being used. There is a technique called "SSL split" which allows one to proxy the SSL connections to unencrypted connections and actually view the traffic being sent across the wire (air). This is easy-ish to do in areas where there are many users of open wireless networks (hotels, airports, etc.). Open access points are only really safe if you use a VPN service (or create your own).

Another interesting point is that many wireless devices save the names of SSIDs to which they have previously connected and actively try to connect to those SSIDs first. This can reveal a bit about the user (for example, a device that tries to connect to "LoganWiFi" has probably been to the Boston airport recently). This can be thwarted by regularly clearing "known networks." Also, it is a good idea to change your device's name from something that identifies you. Lots of people have things called "Bob's Iphone" and similar, and these names are broadcast across any network to which they are connected. I suggest obfuscating these device names.

(Source: I work in information security.)

If you own the router, you can turn on the logging functions and track everything, but at say a Starbucks it would be a huge file by the end of the day. Most people don't turn on logging and it is generally off by default.

If you want to track, you could install a Disney Circle that will track (and limit, if desired) what websites devices are accessing.

porno for pyros

Sort of. This is really more of a question for the tech section.

HTTPS sites would be the most difficult to track. You can only see the initial connection, i.e. name resolution. So that won't really tell you much other than the name of the site. (Yes, you can get around this by running an HTTPS proxy, but I don't think most home users are this sophisticated.)

With an HTTP site, you could potentially see every link someone visited on a website.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Yup, there is a general web history on wifi, not just confined to your device's web history. If it's something you'd rather keep private, wait til you're on your secure private network to do it.

How do you see this? I only see my device’s history, not the history of other devices on my home network.
However, I definitely do see ads on my device that indicate my DH’s search history. I get lots of ads for Home Depot.

There is an IP address you can use to log onto your router. It is usually secured with its own UN/PW.

Anonymous wrote:Yup, there is a general web history on wifi, not just confined to your device's web history. If it's something you'd rather keep private, wait til you're on your secure private network to do it.

How do you see this? I only see my device’s history, not the history of other devices on my home network.
However, I definitely do see ads on my device that indicate my DH’s search history. I get lots of ads for Home Depot.

Yup, there is a general web history on wifi, not just confined to your device's web history. If it's something you'd rather keep private, wait til you're on your secure private network to do it.

Anonymous wrote:You mean like using DCUM at work

Actually from my doctor's office waiting room Using 4G, but wondering about using wifi. And then thinking about when I visit my sister with the IT-guy husband, etc. etc.

You mean like using DCUM at work

I wouldn't know how to do this from my home, but once my kids age into smart devices I probably would. When I go to peoples' homes or work in a cafe or something, can they look up a list of what devices were on-line and what sites they went to?