Wi-Fi has become the most common way of staying connected. The connectivity mode can now be found everywhere and is not limited to offices or home facilities. From a basic bus station to the luxurious first-class lounge at the airport, people first consider whether they have free Wi-Fi access. While it has surely made connectivity accessible to everyone, it has also made people vulnerable to identity theft and data logging. Wi-Fi logging is one of the core reasons for this.
Several users believe they are safe only when using a VPN or incognito mode on their PCs. However, none of these measures are helpful when it comes to Wi-Fi router logging. Some users are unaware that the router is creating a log of every activity they do.
Read Also: Why You Should Go For a No Logs VPN Service
In this post, we will examine Wi-Fi router logging in more detail to understand what it is, how it affects you, and, most importantly, how to avoid it!
What is Wi-Fi Router Logging? Why is it a Threat
WiFi router Logging poses a closer threat to your security and privacy, considering everything you browse while staying connected to the Wi-Fi can be tracked. How? Well, your router keeps a log of all the addresses you visit. And if anyone can access your router, they can peek into your history.
You should be aware that Wi-Fi router logging is common for some routers. It varies from brand to brand. However, someone might have a router that logs activity. In that case, the administrator of the Wi-Fi router can directly access your device information, IP address, visited web addresses, etc.
While it emerged as a feature that helps your ISP troubleshoot internet errors when required, it is a significant threat to privacy. Even your internet service provider has access to websites you visit. More importantly, they can track your IP address, unlocking user information.
Here are some of the cases where Wi-Fi routers can be termed as a threat –
Case 1—When using a network to make Wi-Fi calls and messages on an app that does not use encryption, the router administrator can access the logs of each call made and message sent.
Case 2—The Wi-Fi router logs every movement you make while connected to it. This means it will be noted if you reboot the router, update it, or change a setting.
Case 3—Your ISP has access to all your browsing sessions thanks to the logs created by your Wi-Fi router. These logs are created regardless of whether you are using incognito mode.
Case 4—When using public networks, you may not know if your history will be tracked. Using passwords and private information online on a private network may be high risk, as the router you are connected to can log your information. Also, if the number of users is low, these logs can easily lead to the real user.
If you take a closer look at all the cases mentioned above, you may find that while these appear to be simple logging issues, they are actually a complete violation of your privacy. Several companies have acknowledged this and discontinued their router models that came with logging.
Steps to Access Wi-Fi Logs
To access or check if your Wi-Fi router is logging your activities, simply navigate to the internal IP address of your router (usually 192.168.X.X). This IP is used as the security gateway to manage your Wi-Fi functionalities. Once you have logged in, simply look for settings or options where you can find the logs listed under – Logs, System Logs, Security Logs, Session, etc., depending on the network and router providers.
In easy steps –
Step 1 – Open your browser and enter the router IP address in the URL bar.
Step 2 – Sign in using your credentials. 
Step 3 – Look for the settings or find any of these: Logs, System Logs, Security Logs, or Sessions in your router configuration.
With the help of these three steps, you can easily access the logs created and identify the threat on your own. This is definitely a lifesaver, considering you can easily check if someone has changed your configuration or used it in a way that you do not intend. However, external access to the logs can be a real threat to privacy.
How to Avoid These Risks of Wi-Fi Router Logging
Since some users may not like it if someone else knew their web history, the real question arises of how to minimize or avoid these risks. The easiest way to manage these risks is by deleting these logs regularly. However, that is just a manual method that you can follow. On the other hand, if you are worried about getting identified on a public network and leaving a traceable footprint, you can switch to a VPN. While it may not stop the logs, it can manipulate the IP address used and leave the tracker with a dead end.
Steps to Delete Wi-Fi Router Logs:-
Step 1 – Open your browser and enter the router IP address in the URL bar.
Step 2 – Sign in to the admin panel using your credentials.
Step 3 – Look for the settings or find any of these: Logs, System Logs, Security Logs, or Sessions in your router configuration.
Step 4 – Look for the “Clear History” or “Clear Logs” option.
Step 5 – Delete the logs and logout from the admin panel.
If you are using an advanced admin panel or the latest router, you may also find an auto-clear log option that allows you to automatically clear logs at a particular interval. You can set this and forget about the worry.
To delete Wi-Fi router logs, you first need to access them, so you must have the credentials. If you are worried about your home logs, you can delete and manage them regularly. However, if you are in a public place with no access to the router credentials, you can use an IP address that does not directly lead back to you. You can do the same by using a VPN.
Regarding VPN, you need not look far away as Systweak VPN is the best choice. With 256-bit AES encryption and fresh high-speed servers worldwide, Systweak VPN offers the best and most secure experience.
Router logging is definitely a point of concern, especially if you work from home or exchange confidential information on Wi-Fi. Needless to say, staying vigilant is always the best thing you can do to protect yourself from online theft and scams. I hope this post allows you to identify the gap that Wi-Fi router logging creates and helps you minimize the risks that arise with it.
That will be all for this post. Thanks for reading, and good luck!
