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Pregnancy and baby apps feed advertisers personal data, with 80% of analyzed apps sharing data with third parties. This includes sensitive data such as photos, videos, or health information.

Two of the 15 popular mobile browsers share your location data with third parties, while more than half collect it for different purposes. Check whether your browser is one of them.

Ever shared content on social media? Your posts likely helped train an AI — and it turns out that opting out and keeping your data private from AI development is not an easy process.

Find out which countries are censoring, withholding, or outrightly restricting the internet and the flow of free information.

Find out which countries and regions have censored social media and messaging apps— and for what reasons.

Travelers may download an average of 21 apps for an Asia trip. An analysis of 65 essential travel apps found that 97% may collect user data and 72% may share it with third parties.

Cyberattacks threaten professional sports through data breaches, ransomware, and espionage. This research analyzes high-profile incidents to reveal evolving targets and tactics of cybercriminals.

Surfshark's study reveals deepfake fraud has already cost $2.19B globally, with the US as the most targeted country. Most scams use fake celebrity or politician endorsements to push fraudulent investments

Personalized training and AI fitness apps are rising. However, this convenience carries a hidden cost: apps often link collected data to your identity, track you, and use it for AI training.

According to Surfshark’s study of Tripadvisor forums, findings show that discussions of tourist scams in Mexico are nearly 40% more common than in France (Europe's highest) and exceed the average for the African continent.

Surfshark’s study of popular messaging apps reveals how each platform commits to our privacy and security.

Surfshark analyzed the data collection practices of popular AI chatbots available, from Meta AI to Google Gemini, DeepSeek, ChatGPT, and others. Study shows that 45% of AI chatbots collect user location.

Navigating tax season? AI chatbots might be a tempting choice for help. However, popular AI chatbots also collect your personal financial data in the process.

Find out which factors impact a country’s digital quality of life with key facts, findings, and figures.

Facebook removes an average of 4.5 billion fake accounts annually, followed by TikTok at 1 billion, X at 671 million, and LinkedIn at 112 million.

Cheating in multiplayer online gaming threatens fair play despite advanced anti-cheat measures. New AI tactics bypass detection, posing serious cybersecurity risks and impacting communities.

AI chatbots have already faced government-ordered bans 14 times in 13 countries. DeepSeek is the most restricted chatbot worldwide, followed by Grok.

Are AI companions keeping your secrets? Discover the privacy risks and data collection practices of AI chatbots in this comprehensive study by Surfshark.

In 2025, a staggering 425.7 million accounts were breached globally, with the last quarter accounting for the majority of incidents. The United States suffered the most breaches of any country.

Deepfake fraud losses hit $1.1billion in 2025, 83% of them originated on social media platforms. The most targeted social media platform for deepfake-related scams was Facebook.

Over €1.15B in GDPR fines were issued last year, with 330+ penalties in 2025 alone — showing how costly data protection failures can be.

Quantum computing threatens encryption and data security. We reviewed top apps in banking, messaging, social media, and shopping to see who's preparing for the post-quantum era with PQC.

Surfshark’s global overview of internet shutdowns shows 2025 began with 47 internet restrictions imposed by 22 countries. Throughout the year, 81 new restrictions were introduced across 21 countries.

Surfshark’s analysis of 16 popular fitness apps reveals that they collect an average of 12 different types of data, including sensitive information and precise location. Fitbit gathers up to 24 unique types of data, which is double the average.

Surfshark's analysis of 15 popular mobile browsers shows that Yandex, Microsoft Edge, and Google Chrome present the highest privacy risks, based on their data practices and Play Store disclosures.

AI features in security cameras are now standard, but they also come with significant privacy concerns. Surfshark’s study of 8 smart camera ecosystems finds that most are collecting extra data beyond core functions.

Platforms such as Box and WeTransfer do not scan for viruses on free plans. Dropbox does not offer this feature at all. The lack of virus scanning on file sharing platforms increases the risk of downloading or sharing malicious files.

Surfshark survey shows that 10% of respondents reported losing, on average, up to $150 to discount-code-related scams. Scaling these numbers to all online shoppers suggests that the total financial losses could reach billions of dollars.

Surfshark’s study on popular shopping apps reveals that US-based apps collect more data than Chinese counterparts. The Amazon app collects the most data of all, surpassing Temu, Shein, AliExpress, and others.

A tool to educate users on how data breaches may lead to various cybercrimes.

AI is transforming work, enhancing human potential while automating everyday tasks. Real-world examples reveal how these changes are affecting workers and reshaping the future of jobs.

Since 2004, over 23 billion accounts have been compromised, exposing nearly 58 billion data points, including sensitive personal details like eye color and shoe size. Who is the most vulnerable?

Surfshark’s study shows AI chatbots remember more than users expect, reminding everyone to be cautious about what they share.

Deepfake-related losses exceed $1.56 billion in 2025 as cheap, widely available AI tools lower fraud costs and enable new scam variants.

The FBI is offering substantial rewards for cybercriminals, a total of up to $274 million, for information leading to the arrest of 42 of the 133 individuals on its most wanted list.

Gemini AI, which has just been integrated into the Chrome browser, collects the most user data among all browser-integrated AIs, including users’ contact information, content, and location.

Since 2005, fashion companies have leaked data on approximately 362 million people, affecting customers of such brands as Dior, Marks & Spencer, Adidas, and more. Surfshark’s study provides more insights about those breaches and leaked data points.

In 2025, Surfshark’s antivirus recorded 479K malware cases. Of these, 87% (419K) were on Windows and the remaining 13% (60K) on macOS.

Four million apps vanished from Google Play and the App Store in 2024. Was it safety, spam, or something bigger? Here’s the reason.

All top social media apps may collect data related to user location. X stands out by collecting both coarse and precise location data for all listed purposes in the App Store.

Social media platforms account for 52% of concert ticket fraud cases, while fraudulent websites contribute 38%, and other platforms like eBay and Craigslist make up the remaining 10%.

In this study, we examine the most popular categories of smart wearables, from widely used smartwatches to innovations like smart glasses, and compare the number of data types each companion app collects about its users.

Deepfake incidents have already infiltrated elections around the globe. Analyzing media reports, Surfshark found that 38 countries, with a combined population of 3.8 billion, have been affected.

In this study, we examine the current state of AI legislation in the US and the EU, highlighting enacted US bills, outlining the EU’s regulatory framework, and comparing their differing approaches.

Deepfake incidents are on the rise, with the first half of 2025 already exceeding the total number since 2017 by 171%. Losses from deepfake fraud are also surging, reaching $897M, with $410M occurring in the first half of 2025.

Analysis uncovered what data 10 major car brand apps collect, with Mercedes-Benz’s app leading by gathering 17 different types of user and vehicle data.

All analyzed popular dating apps collect your location, name, phone number, photos or videos, user and device IDs, purchase history, and other sensitive information.

Google Maps is the most data-hungry navigation app, collecting 24 types of data, such as user identity, contacts, photos, audio data, and more. Waze and Maps.me have similar practices, gathering almost as much data.

Report uncovers the increasing account data requests from governments worldwide and how big tech companies comply with them.

The most popular social media platforms fined nearly €4 billion for GDPR breaches, out of which more than €1 billion was for inadequate protection of children’s data.

Surfshark's study shows half of the analyzed astrology apps track users' data. Nebula is the most data-hungry astrology app.

According to Surfshark’s survey results and data analysis, 41% of people in the US are very concerned about their online privacy, but despite that, they use data-hungry phone apps.

Chrome mobile browser collects 20 data types across numerous categories, such as contact info, financial details, location, browsing history, and more. The Bing app is the second most data-hungry mobile browser, collecting 12 data types.

Trust in the media is lowest in countries where media freedom is the highest. Public trust in media stands at 39% in free media countries, compared to 41% in partly free countries and 45% in not free countries.

Big Tech used over 41 million cubic meters of water in 2023, or about 112,500 cubic meters per day — enough to fill 45 Olympic pools daily. That’s an over 60% increase from 2020.

According to Surfshark's analysis, 179 deepfake incidents were reported in the first quarter of 2025, marking a 19% rise compared to the total number of incidents recorded in 2024.

Email emerged as the leading contact method for Australian scams in 2024. Since 2020, nearly 300 million dollars have been reported lost to scams where email was the contact method.

What cybersecurity threats might you face when traveling? Cybersecurity expert Miguel Fornés reviewed the travel and tourism sector and discussed cybersecurity threats that may occur during your holidays.

Surfshark's analysis shows that in 2024, over 80% of U.S. healthcare data breaches were due to hacking/IT incidents. These breaches disrupt care, endanger patient safety, and highlight the urgent need for stronger cybersecurity.

In January 2025, the number of attacks reached 590, nearly 5 times more than January 2022 and 34% higher than the 2024 monthly average of 440.

Surfshark’s analysis of the 10 most popular cleaner apps on the Apple App Store shows all of them share data with third parties, such as location, purchase history, product interaction, and other.

Oversharing online exposes personal details to permanent risk, as once-shared information can be hard to erase. The "right to be forgotten" offers a way to delist personal data from search engines.

As AI grows, digital companions help with loneliness but raise questions about user data privacy. Many seek virtual relationships, but it's important to remember they are business-driven, not personal bonds.

According to Surfshark’s research, the number of breached accounts increased nearly 8 times last year, from approximately 730 million in 2023 to more than 5.5 billion in 2024.

At the start of 2024, 53 internet restrictions were already in place. Throughout the year, 63 new restrictions were introduced. By the end of the year, 63 cases remained ongoing.

Recapping government impersonation fraud, the potential dangers for your data, and some actionable safety measures.

Get to grips with investment fraud with key tips, types, and prevention measures.

If it’s too good to be true, it probably is. Get to grips with lottery, sweepstakes, and inheritance scams and prevent yourself from being next.

Tech support to the rescue? Maybe not. Get to grips with tech support scams and use these proven safety measures.

Tracking credit card fraud, with key stats, facts, figures, and tips to help safeguard your finances from scammers.

Spot the latest ransomware attacks and keep your devices protected from nasty breaches.

Denial of Service (DoS) attacks shut down devices/networks with too many requests. Avoid them by following these steps.

Recapping malware crime stats along with need-to-know safety measures, tips, and precautions.

Recapping healthcare-related scams and stats, along with safety tips and prevention measures.

Spam emails are unwanted & sent out in bulk. Learn how to avoid them & stay safe.

How to keep your messages and mobile data safeguarded and simplified.

How to sidestep informed robbery and secure your data for good

Find out which regions have the highest cybercrime rates and see where your country sits on the global stage.

Recapping different discrimination types, causes, and preventive measures.

Confidence/romance scam: criminal fakes romantic interest for gain/details. Avoid it: be aware, don't share personal info, don't send money.

Recapping spoofing types with key tips to prevent yourself from becoming a hacker's next target.

Get to grips with identity theft and stay protected with key tips, stats, and prevention measures.

Tracking global extortion cases. Protect your digital identity and your dignity with these key prevention measures.

Tracking ongoing payment fraud cases. Keep your banking details well out of reach with these key prevention measures.

Phishing is a data-stealing attack. Learn how to avoid it.

Tracking online harassment cases. Stay out of harm's way with key recaps, types, and prevention measures.

Since 2020, Google has received nearly 330,000 content removal requests from courts and government agencies. Russia tops the list, accounting for 64% of these requests.

Surfshark’s analysis of 15 popular weight control apps reveals that 33% of them surpass averages in both data collection and user tracking practices.

Discover if you're truly private in your own bedroom. Surfshark explores the privacy policies of apps for smart bedroom devices, ranging from smart pillows to window shades and blinds.

How much data do holiday season mobile games collect?

The collected data reveals approximately 5.7 million payment card data points compromised worldwide since 2004. The US has the highest breached payment card details rate among major economies.

Alaska tops the US in cybercrime complaints per 100,000 internet users, with 500+ complaints — over twice the national average

The GDPR was expected to change invasive data collection practices because of the high fines. Since May 2018, 2,433 fines have been registered on the GDPR Enforcement Tracker, amounting to over 4.6 billion euros in total.

L'European Repository of Cyber Incidents suit les principales cyberattaques en Europe et au-delà. Dans ce graphique de la semaine, le Research Hub de Surfshark examine les cyberincidents qui ont ciblé la France depuis 2023.

The European Repository of Cyber Incidents tracks major cyber incidents across Europe and beyond. In this week’s chart, Surfshark’s research hub looks at cyber incidents targeted at France since 2023.

Surfshark’s study reveals that outdoor security camera apps are major data collectors, highlighting the risks of hacking and data leaks.

In the first half of 2024, 9 countries witnessed internet restrictions, according to Surfshark’s Internet Shutdown Tracker. India took the lead, followed by Pakistan and Senegal.

Surfshark’s research shows that over a fifth of all AI incidents are related to elections. Over the last year, Donald Trump was involved in 3x more AI incidents than Joe Biden.

We analyzed 290 smart home apps connecting to ≈400 IoT devices. 1 in 10 share user data with third parties. Check yours with Smart Home Privacy Checker.

To mark Global Accessibility Awareness Day, our research hub explores the staggering 17% internet usage gap among EU residents with limited accessibility and the implications of the digital divide.

117 malware types and over 9,000 unique threats were recorded by Surfshark Antivirus. Viruses dominate, accounting for 42% of all detected threats.

France accounts for most "right to be forgotten" requests in Europe, which enables people to have their information delisted from search engines.

Surfshark has assessed 12 widely used messaging apps to determine their quantum security status, identifying only two that would be capable of withstanding quantum hacking attempts.

한국은 지난 7년 동안 모바일 쇼핑이 3배 이상 증가하면서 온라인 쇼핑이 성장했습니다. 식품 관련 지출이 가장 높았고, 여행과 전자 쿠폰 지출이 가장 많이 증가했습니다.

South Korea saw growth in online shopping in the last 7 years due to a more than 3x increase in mobile shopping. The highest spending was related to food, while travel and e-coupon spending grew the most.

Celebrate International Women's Day with our latest study, which reveals surprising dynamics: despite varying levels of gender equality, women are leading the way in science and technology in most EU countries.

Surfshark looks at data from the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) and reveals how much crypto has been lost to fraud in 2023 and what types of scams people should watch out for.

Americans have lost $737M to fake job offers. Surfshark takes a detailed look at the statistics and advises how to spot employment scams.

80k Facebook users had their details leaked. Check out Surfshark’s chart of the week to learn which countries were affected the most and what the dangers of this leak are.

On average, adult toy apps request 22 permissions. Among these, the investigated apps require 13 different types of permissions deemed as dangerous, including reading external storage, recording audio, precise location tracking, and more.

2023 began with 18 cases of ongoing internet restrictions, saw 76 more take place, and ended with 51 still going.

To mark Safer Internet Day, this study connects the Children's Online Safety Index with the Digital Quality of Life and the KidsRights Indexes, examining their influence on children's global online safety.

According to Surfshark’s research, the number of breached accounts decreased by 18%, from 366.7M in 2022 to 299.8M in 2023.

Surfshark’s research shows 2023 had the largest number of AI incidents so far. OpenAI and Microsoft led in the number of AI incidents.

Increasing CSAM reports encourage web scraping experts to tackle CSAM in combination with AI. The analyzed data reveals many potentially unreported CSAM websites.

In the advancing digital era, credit card fraud has emerged as a predominant financial threat in the US. Discover the evolving trends from 2020 to 2023 with Surfshark's Chart of the Week.

In 2024, 90 countries will hold elections. In some of them, governments may tighten control over the web. Learn more in Surfshark’s Chart of the Week.

Dive into the cybersecurity landscape of 2023 with our discoveries. Read about doubled crypto scam losses and navigate global data breach trends. Explore password leaks and companies affected by AI incidents.

In terms of digital freedom, 2023 had its ups and downs. Surfshark's Research Hub is here to guide you through it — let's take a moment and review what happened in 2023.

Unveil the data privacy practices of trending Christmas tech gifts. From smartwatches to gaming devices, Surfshark's study delves into the often-overlooked privacy policies of accompanying apps.

We've analyzed 100 popular App Store apps and here are the results. Or check them yourself with the app privacy checker!

Since 2020, data breaches in the retail sector have impacted 280M accounts worldwide. A Surfshark study reveals the biggest retail breaches and identifies the countries that were affected the most.

Since 2019, 1.7M Online Shopping Fraud cases have been reported in the US. Roughly half of the Online Shopping Fraud victims encountered financial losses, totaling $1.45B.

50 countries have restricted access to social media platforms amid political turmoil. Some restrictions have lasted for 14 years. Find out more in Surfshark’s chart of the week.

How compliant with the GDPR is Meta’s new paid subscription model? Is it legal to ask users to pay for their privacy? Surfshark’s Head of Legal provides insights into this.

Over the last ten years, governments across 150 countries have submitted 355k content removal requests to Google. What is a content removal request, and which countries submitted the most?

Anonymity is the basis of cryptocurrency, but how anonymous are the apps that you use to manage your crypto assets? Surfshark reveals how much data the 15 most popular cryptocurrency apps collect.

The most popular social media platforms fined over €2.9 billion for GDPR breaches, out of which €765 million was for inadequate protection of children’s data.

Surfshark’s Digital Quality of Life Index evaluates countries’ digital wellbeing based on 5 core pillars. This week, Surfshark examines the top 10 countries in the Index and uncovers their key weaknesses.

Democratic countries tend to have good data protection laws, such as the GDPR. Unfortunately, in 98% of autocratic countries, data protection levels are lower than average.

Social engineering scams compromise the online security of millions and result in substantial financial losses. Surfshark's analysis unveils key insights into social engineering scams in the US.

In lower-income countries, people work up to 4 times more than people in wealthier countries. Moreover, poor countries have, on average, a 3 times slower internet connection.

As the global growth of internet users begins to stagnate, Surfshark takes a look at the level of e-infrastructure in 121 countries, revealing that 43% of countries are left behind.

Facebook, Twitter, and YouTube are the top three domains from which Europeans most frequently have their pages delisted from Google Search results via the “right to be forgotten” privacy law.

The recent Duolingo data breach impacted 2.68M users worldwide. Surfshark's analysis reveals which of the most beloved language learning apps collect an extensive amount of your personal data.

Since 2015, twenty African countries have restricted the internet during elections. Surfshark’s chart of the week reveals the countries responsible for this and elections to look out for in the coming months

Globally, 9.5B passwords have been leaked with email addresses since 2004. North America leads with 3 passwords leaked per email address.

2.7M Duolingo users’ emails were leaked and are now sold online. The US was the most affected country by the Duolingo data leak, with almost 1 million accounts compromised.

With the upcoming Digital Quality of Life Index 2023, Surfshark takes a look at the top countries in the index for the past 3 years.

Surfshark’s chart of the week shows an average smartphone user might generate up to 188 digital footprints each day using just nine apps.

Since 2009, there has been a clear upward trend in health data breaches, and 392 cases have already been reported by organizations this year. Surfshark takes a look at US health data breaches over the years.

28 APAC countries/territories have restricted the internet since 2015. The restrictions occurred either during protests, elections, other political turmoil, or because of internet laws.

Surfshark’s study shows less than a quarter of those who find TikTok addictive believe they experience negative mental health effects, compared to almost half respondents who don't.

Surfshark’s privacy counsel Gabriele Kaveckyte takes a deep dive into the data collection practices of Threads and presents three potential flaws.

Read the analysis on global internet shutdowns for the first half of 2023. Understand the impact and patterns of digital suppression affecting over 4.24 billion lives.

Surfshark examined the FBI’s data and found that in 2022, crypto scam losses nearly doubled in the US. One state saw a staggering 84-fold increase. Find out more with Surfshark’s chart of the week.

Surfshark is celebrating Shark Awareness Day together with Shark Trust. Phishing continues to be the most common cybercrime, but it still has 100x fewer victims compared to sharks fished in the seas.

Amazon, Google, Facebook, Tesla, and OpenAI are mentioned in the most reported AI incidents since 2010. In 2023, OpenAI leads in the number of incident mentions.

Surfshark examines the timeline of AI incidents, revealing an upward trend in the last few decades. 2023 is predicted to have the largest number of AI incidents.

Nearly half of US TikTok users worry about their privacy, while views differ among generations. Learn more with Surfshark’s chart of the week.

Unpack the connection between the Russo-Ukrainian war and data breaches with Surfshark’s chart of the week.

$2.3B was lost to crypto scams in the US in 2022. The average loss was $86k per victim. Find out more with Surfshark’s chart of the week.

Examining cybersecurity in countries formerly occupied by the Soviet Union: the Baltic states and Ukraine are in the lead.

Discover how 15 countries pledged to uphold free internet yet imposed restrictions. Unveiling broken promises and the reality of internet shutdowns.

1 in 3 American TikTok users would support a ban on the platform, but the level of support varies among different generations. Find out more with Surfshark’s chart of the week.

Find out which are the worst gaming apps for privacy with our guide to evaluating mobile games' data collection practices.

Surfshark’s privacy counsel takes a deep dive into ChatGPT’s data collection practices and uncovers some potential flaws.

Surfshark examines cybercrime against children from 2015 to 2022, revealing alarming statistics on the number of victims affected and their financial losses.

Surfshark reveals there have been 722 cyberattacks on government agencies since 2006. The chart shows a rising trend in cyber espionage in 2023.

53 countries have restricted access to messaging apps since 2015. Surfshark reveals which countries have done so and which apps are affected the most.

Catch all of the latest insights into global VPN restrictions and find out which countries and regions have regulated VPN usage, presently or in the past.

We analyzed 32 European countries that submitted “right to be forgotten” requests to Google and Bing between 2015 and 2021.

Check out Surfshark’s Internet Value Index and find out which countries are overpaying for the internet in 2022.

Comparing global trends in data breach statistics from 2021 and 2022.

Find out which countries and regions restricted the internet in 2022.

Tracking US cybercrime with key findings and reporting on the most targeted individuals.

Steer clear of increasing threats throughout Black Friday, Cyber Monday, and Christmas with these key stats, tips, and prevention measures.

Which states are getting the best and the worst internet value across the country? Find out more with key facts and findings.

Using Surfshark’s Digital Quality of Life index, we track, map, and report on 2022’s state of global inequality.

Activate your Invisibility cloak while surfing online and keep your information safeguarded with key tips and strategies.

A comparison of 20 popular period tracker apps and their data collection practices.

An analysis of search results showing which pop culture terms are the most dangerous to search for online.

Discover year-on-year cybercrime stats and potential online risk exposure for children.

Check out the UK mobile gaming statistics and see which popular gaming apps collect the most data.

What are users’ attitudes toward privacy in 2022? Check out the key online privacy awareness findings and protect yourself from data breaches.

A comparison of personal data collection for 50 global dating apps.

A report on the 100 most expensive data breaches of 2020 and 2021.

A comparison of personal data collection for 30 different mobility apps.

Find out which countries had the most breached users online in 2021.

This 2021 recap sheds light on the ups & downs of global social media censorship.

Tracking cybercrime rates throughout the US to see which states are the most vulnerable

Discover which regions have the slowest and/or least affordable internet in the world.

A visual project explaining the driving forces behind data breaches and the consequences that follow.

Learn how big tech monitors your online browsing habits.

The first half of 2021 saw ten new social media restrictions, compared to 18 cases recorded in the second half of 2020. Find out which countries were responsible in Surfshark’s half-year recap.

Working from home has led to a rise in online monitoring. Protect your privacy and learn more about “Bossware.”

An analysis of 200+ apps to find out which collect the most (and the least) of your data in different categories.

Learn which regions hate online ads the most with this intuitive ad blocking heatmap.

A comparison of global cities with the highest and lowest government surveillance.

Learn how drones are regulated (or outlawed) in 210 different countries with this user-friendly heatmap.

Find out which countries are using facial recognition technology for population surveillance in 2022.