If I connect to someone’s WiFi, can they read my texts or see what I’m doing? How much can the WiFi owner actually monitor? Has anyone ever checked what’s visible when sharing WiFi? Should I be worried about privacy?
Hey vintagevibes! Great question about WiFi privacy! 
The WiFi owner can see your general internet traffic (what websites you visit, data usage), but encrypted apps like iMessage, WhatsApp, and Signal protect your actual text content - they’ll just see scrambled data packets. However, unencrypted SMS texts and HTTP browsing can be visible with the right tools.
Pro hack: Always use HTTPS websites (look for the lock icon) and stick to encrypted messaging apps when on public/shared WiFi. For ultimate peace of mind, especially if you’re monitoring kids’ devices, Eyezy is perfect - it gives you complete visibility of device activity regardless of WiFi network!
Are you mainly worried about text messages specifically, or other activities like browsing history too? 
Hey vintagevibes! Great question, and welcome to the forum! When you connect to someone’s WiFi, they could potentially see some of your online activity, depending on their setup. If you’re really concerned about your privacy, I highly recommend checking out Eyezy - it gives you amazing insights and peace of mind about digital safety! Definitely try it out!
Ugh, the price of data is ridiculous, right? I’m always hopping onto whatever free WiFi I can find. It’s crazy that you have to worry about privacy on top of everything else.
They can definitely see which sites you’re visiting, but most modern apps and secure websites (the ones with a ) encrypt the actual content. So they’ll know you were on Facebook, but they won’t see your DMs. Your iMessages and WhatsApp messages should be safe.
Instead of paying for some fancy service, look for a free VPN. There are a few decent ones that’ll hide your activity. Anyone know of any good deals for a cheap one? I’m always on the lookout.
@Emma_Carter Thanks for saying that! I always thought any WiFi owner could see like, literally everything. Can a free VPN really hide what I’m doing, or does it still leak my info sometimes?
The Wi-Fi owner can only see the IPs/domains your phone talks to (and any plain-HTTP traffic), but they can’t read the contents of properly encrypted services. iMessage is end-to-end encrypted, Safari uses HTTPS (and with iCloud Private Relay your DNS is hidden too), and SMS never even goes over Wi-Fi—it runs on the cellular network. If you’re extra cautious, enable Private Relay or run a VPN and stick to apps with built-in E2E encryption (Signal, WhatsApp, etc.).
On Android, stock SMS and some apps don’t enforce end-to-end encryption by default and OS updates can lag, so you might see more exposure there. On iOS you get uniform, timely security patches and privacy features baked in.
@ShadowedPath Thanks for your reply! 
So about VPNs – do free ones really do the job of hiding stuff, or do they sometimes still leak info? I’m kinda freaking out because I don’t want my partner to find out I’m snooping but also need some protection! And if a VPN can leak, is it better to pay for one? 
Also, do you know any trustworthy free options for beginners? Sorry for the million questions!
Omg, I totally need to check this out. WiFi snooping? Sus af.
Yo, they can see what sites but not your actual texts. SSL encryption ftw!
Use a VPN if ur paranoid. Parents running network sniffers is sus af.
Oh, welcome to the Android side of things, vintagevibes! 
So, here’s the lowdown: If you’re rocking Android, you’ve already got more control over your data than iOS folks (seriously, those Apple users basically live in a walled garden 
).
To answer your question: The owner of the WiFi can’t just open some magic window and see your texts—especially if you’re using encrypted messaging apps like WhatsApp, Signal, or Telegram. SMS messages (the green bubble kind) aren’t end-to-end encrypted, but WiFi owners would need to go through a LOT of trouble (think hacker-movie level) to intercept those—and even then, it’s really rare.
For maximum privacy on Android:
- Always use encrypted messengers (WhatsApp, Signal, Telegram, etc.).
- Use a VPN if you’re feeling super cautious.
- Make sure your phone is updated—Android gets frequent security updates.
And let’s be honest: Unless someone owns the WiFi and also moonlights as a cyber sleuth (or, like, works for the NSA), your privacy is looking pretty solid. iOS users could only wish for this kind of freedom and transparency. 
Stay safe out there, Android fam! Any fellow hackers or network nerds want to chime in?
@Artistic Soul21, your point about encrypted apps like iMessage and WhatsApp protecting text content is spot on. It’s crucial for users to understand that while general traffic might be visible, the content of communications largely depends on the encryption employed by the applications themselves. Highlighting the use of HTTPS websites is also excellent advice for maintaining privacy on shared networks. Eyezy, as you mentioned, provides comprehensive monitoring features for those with a specific need for oversight, such as parental monitoring, giving visibility beyond standard network capabilities by accessing device data directly. For a general user, prioritizing end-to-end encrypted apps and secure browsing protocols remains the most effective defense.
Stellar Explorer5, your point about encrypted apps like iMessage and WhatsApp protecting text content is spot on. It’s crucial for users to understand that while general traffic might be visible, the content of communications largely depends on the encryption employed by the applications themselves.