Can my Host detect where my traffic is coming from?

By that I meant the host as in the person who owns or manages the webhost. If so, is there a way to stop him from seeing my traffic path?

 

That information is part of the access logs. I assume but do not know that all hosts have the right to review those since your account is on their server and they are responsible for SPAM abuse.

Why do you ask the question?

 

Yes the logs are available to the host so they would be able to see your usage if they were motivated to do this.

They could also follow current connections to your website by watching netstat or other methods.

More information would be good, is it a shared host? Managed Dedicated etc. Why do you not want them to see where your traffic is coming from?

 

It is a managed dedicated I think. I just don't want any info in terms of SEO, visitor paths to leak. Perhaps it's because I assume that the host does a lot of SEO and web publishing too, therefore he might be a competitor. I just want to keep some "secrets" to myself.

Other than having my own VPS, or my own server, is there any way I could stop those logs from leaking out? Can I mask IPs and destination paths of my visitors?

 

Unless you own the server and the data-center I don't think you can avoid this this. VPS and dedicated logs are available to to the data center.

This might be one of those times where you consider the quality of the hosting you are buying.

 

Hmm, thanks for the Colbyt, perhaps I just need to get hosting from really big groups who are too busy to examine my logs

 

Invest in a VPS or Dedicated server from a quality provider that will standby their privacy policy. No host should be digging through your logs if you are not violating their ToS, but to be safe one of the big guys would work nicely.

www.softlayer.com (dedicated servers)
www.1and1.com (reliable hosting that will follow their tos)

 

The only reason why a host would need to look at the access logs for your particular account, is if their were complaints of illegal activity or violation of the tos.. Most web hosts do not go into your actual account. But do review the logs for the entire server.

Most hosts do not have the time to do so, until they get a complaint from the data center, or there is unusual activity for your account..

Also every ip address that visits your site, is shown in the apache status in the root of the server. That is check very regularly by hosts and in now way violates any ones privacy. The host has to take every measure to secure the server and make sure that illegal activity is not taking place on his or hers server.

 

In some MODERN countries such as EU, a host may even have a legal responsibility and LIABILITY for content hosted in his server farm - hence he may be required to check - normally by automated scripts ( or snort with filter rules ).

you are the first on entire www with such fears - I recommend you buy your own machine and set up everything in your own home ( NOT rented as the home owner again may have to follow the law of his country to keep his houses clean.

own and control everything from www access to server machines
but you still never will find peace of mind
there are thousands of OTHER methods to spy on you for those who want to spy re SEO etc!!

excessive paranoia easily may destroy your entire joy of life ....

 

Seriously if your scared of your host seeing what your running, you should have your own server.

As a sysadmin, I would be worried having you a customer on my server systems.

 

I fully agree with you on that point.
I would be most happy to have any host reading my content ....