Finding usage history on Chrome and YouTube

Hebrews12

Hi all.  My son is spending a lot of time on the laptop but when I look at the history on YouTube, Chrome and Edge it doesn't show much usage at all.  I've disabled incognito mode on Chrome in case he was using that but I'm pretty sure he's worked out how to clear the history after he's used it. I can't believe he's doing that much homework!!!  Anyway, does anyone know of any apps for the laptop that might be able to have a quick look to see if he is deleting the history? Thanks.

Neil_Jones

Probably not, because in profile based browsers (like Chrome and Firefox) things like the history are not kept as a series of files, they actually live in a bespoke "database" (SQLite in the case of Chrome), and all you're doing when Chrome shows you these is what's in that database.  If the database has been emptied or partly emptied, there won't be anything to see so there's nothing to recover.  Entirely plausible Edge is being used in inPrivate mode.

https://www.nirsoft.net/utils/browsing_history_view.html might be of interest, but won't do what you want.

If you have another computer some remote control/viewing software may be of use but I'd suggest being honest and upfront that you may be using it when he is.  If this is a teenager we're talking about they'll know all about track covering so you're already on a hiding to nothing...

MattMattMattUK

Hebrews12 said:

Hi all.  My son is spending a lot of time on the laptop but when I look at the history on YouTube, Chrome and Edge it doesn't show much usage at all.  I've disabled incognito mode on Chrome in case he was using that but I'm pretty sure he's worked out how to clear the history after he's used it. I can't believe he's doing that much homework!!!  Anyway, does anyone know of any apps for the laptop that might be able to have a quick look to see if he is deleting the history? Thanks.

How old is your son, how IT literate is he and what are you expecting to find? If he is a teenager he is almost certainly capable of covering his tracks and whatever you think you can try and stop him viewing you will not be able to. 

googler

If he has a login on YouTube that you're not using, you won't see his history there. The history is tied to the user ID/login.

Olinda99

You need to log onto his Google account. 

Under 'data and privacy' you can see his browsing history and youtube activity, provided he has not turned it off with the slider switch of course.

Be aware that - depending on his age -  this could be illegal.

If he is 6 it won't be; if he is 24 it will be.

IvanOpinion

Your ISP may provide a service to block sites based on settings. These work to varying degrees of success and it will affect all users. Just make sure you are the only one that has access to the password.

Your router may also be able to provide similar services but, at worst, you can manually block some sites.  It is a bit more technical and you would need to ensure that you are the only one with access to your router password.

You might also be able to put a daily download limit on his surfing

What is it you think he may be accessing that concerns you?