One Request, Five Observers: What Websites, Providers, DNS and VPNs Learn When Loading a Page
The article breaks down exactly what each participant in a typical web request can observe when a user visits a page over HTTPS. It examines the roles of the browser, DNS resolver, ISP, VPN service and the destination site itself, showing that each sees different pieces of metadata or content. HTTPS protects the page body and parameters from network observers, while Encrypted Client Hello and secure DNS further limit visibility of domain names. VPNs replace the user's home IP address with the VPN exit node but introduce a new trusted party that sees all traffic metadata. Browser fingerprinting, cookies and account logins often allow sites to re-identify users even after an IP change. The piece stresses that privacy tools must be chosen according to the specific threat model rather than relying on any single mechanism.
HabrAug 7, 2026Translated from Russian