Is your home becoming too smart? Your smart devices could be eavesdropping on more than your favorite playlists! Put your smart home to the test with our Smart Home Privacy Checker and learn about the data collection practices of smart home device apps.
@chadloder
We weren't aware about this 😱
@chadloder
thanks for pointing out. We've just stopped working with them. Media freedom is one of our core values, and this is just... speechless
Discover the alarming truth: since 2019, job scams in the US have drained $737 million, with victims losing an average of $8,700. Learn more about it in our Chart of the Week and protect yourself:
Not all VPNs are real. Some are a trap 🐟 and may contain hidden malware. How do hackers get those apps downloaded? They use 8️⃣ different methods, and in our blog post, we’ll cover them in detail. If you have spare 11 minutes, then let’s dive in:
Ready to unwrap Surfshark’s Wrap-up ‘23? Discover Surfshark's 2023 achievements and learn more about our tech, educational, and social responsibility accomplishments.
New year, new
#DataPrivacy
trends. What can we expect in 2024 besides stricter enforcement of regulations like
#GDPR
? Our CEO and Forbes Technology Council Member, Vytautas Kaziukonis, introduces five key data privacy trends for 2024 🙌
Having trust issues with
#apps
that store your login details? Chill 😎 We’ve answered all questions (even the technical ones) about
#password
manager security. Plain and simple 😉 So, grab a coffee and enjoy the read 👇
Concerned about your privacy on public
#WiFi
? Dive into our latest blog post to uncover how
#VPN
encryption can safeguard your data from cyberthreats like man-in-the-middle attacks and cookie theft. Read more:
We know that 64M accounts were
#breached
in Q2. But how many were there in Q3? 😱 108.9M leaked accounts – that’s 69.2% higher or 44.5M accounts more than Q2! 📈 With such a rise in global
#databreaches
, maybe you have noticed one in your country? Comment below.
Experience the power of online freedom with a
#VPN
! From enhanced security to seamless access, discover how VPNs safeguard your data, elevate your browsing, and even save you cash. Explore the full benefits:
The fight against
#online
child exploitation is urgent and ongoing. Between 2020 and 2022, a staggering 83 million cases of Child Sexual Abuse Material (CSAM) were reported worldwide. Check our study to find out more 👇
*Whispers* You and your ISP aren't the only ones who know your browsing history. 🌐 Even if you use the Incognito mode. 🫠 That’s right. There are at least 5 entities that can see your online activity 👇
Could 2024 be the year you finally tidy up your digital life? Set app permissions, clear your email inbox, organize your old hard drives — you name it.
Sign up for our newsletter with cybersec tips to get a freebie that will help you finally do it!
⚔️ Social media platforms and lawmakers are looking for ways to deal with criminals abusing
#privacy
. But how are authorities fighting the problem? Here’s what we think. Watch our YouTube here 👇
Are you worried about your boss stalking you remotely? 🔍 Some employers can see your browsing activity and, in some cases, even more. Not cool 🤨 Find out more in our blog post and learn how to stop it 👇
Should you use a VPN on your iPhone? Well, yes, of course! It protects your iPhone from
#hackers
🛡️ It also hides your browsing history and other activities from your internet service provider 😎 Learn more on our blog post 👇
Linux users - stay alert! 🚨 A new
#malware
has been observed deploying a cryptocurrency miner on compromised systems. It's recommended that users keep up with password hygiene and keep their systems up-to-date 🗓
Europeans can use their "right to be forgotten," which allows them to request organizations delete their
#data
🇪🇺 Among all European countries, Estonia had the most requests per 10,000 people, which was more than 2.5 times higher than the average.
Don’t let “free” fool you when it comes to VPNs! Dive into our blog post, revealing the hidden cost behind free services 💸 From malware threats to data exposure, discover why paid VPNs are a wiser choice. Learn more in our blog post ⬇️
Top 5 countries with the highest e-security, according to the
#DQL
2022: 🥇 Greece 🇬🇷 (0.2000) 🥈 Belgium 🇧🇪 (0.1973) 🥉 Lithuania 🇱🇹 (0.1973) 4️⃣ The Czech Republic 🇨🇿 (0.1960) 5️⃣ Germany 🇩🇪 (0.1946). How does your country rank? See here 👇
Lady Alert knows how to fight
#identitytheft
. She checks every corner of the
#digital
world for your stolen
#data
, finds it, and reports it to you. With Surfshark Alert 24/7 data monitoring tool, your data will be safe ✨ Try now:
A new way to let go of your
#privacy
? Looks like
@instagram
is taking a leaf out of
@Snapchat
's book by developing the Friend Map, which would allow you to track your friends' whereabouts🕵️
Who runs the world? Girls! Well, at least the EU 👯 With the help of
@eige_eu
, we’ve found out that of the 76 million people employed in the science & tech sectors, women represent over half in 21 of 27 countries. Check our Chart of the Week!
🌐 Our study shows that 14 accounts were leaked each second compared to 8 accounts per second in Q2. Overall, Q3 had a 70% higher breach rate than Q2. While you read this caption, around 214 accounts were leaked 😮 Learn more 👇
💸 Around 3 out of 4 rural
#US
states overpay for internet services, according to our latest study. 🗺️ Explore the situation across the US using our interactive
#internet
value map. Discover more insights here 👇
🦈 Sharks are big cute ocean creatures that wouldn't even hurt a fly 🥺 Fancy watching them up close? Grab a bowl of popcorn, snuggle on the couch, and check out some of our fin-picked blockbuster movie list 🫱
VPNs are essential to staying safe on the
#web
💻 But how do they work? 🤔 What is encryption, and which
#protocol
to choose? 😫 Let us help you out! 💁check out this blog and read everything you need to know about VPNs 👇
7 European countries with the highest DQL ratings secured their spots on our top 10 list this year. Israel 🇮🇱 moved up by three places and became the No.1 country with the highest DQL rating of 0.76. Also, it has the most affordable internet. The second place goes to… 1/3 🧵
Surfshark is on the
@Microsoft
Store! 🎉This means more access to everyone who wants to download our app. Also, an official app on the Microsoft Store minimizes the risks of malicious impersonator apps. Have you downloaded Surfshark yet?🤳
Ready for a year of thrilling journeys? ✨ Let Surfshark VPN be your travel sidekick! Snag unbeatable deals on hotels and flights — the adventure begins with Surfshark 🚀
Top 5 countries with the highest internet quality, according to the
#DQL2022
: 🥇 Chile 🇨🇱 (0.1202) 🥈 Denmark 🇩🇰 (0.1186) 🥉 The UAE 🇦🇪 (0.1148) 4️⃣ South Korea 🇰🇷 (0.1139) 5️⃣ Singapore 🇸🇬 (0.1134). How does your country rank? See here 👇
Our new Chart of the Week provides valuable insights into the 90 countries preparing for 2024 elections worldwide. 12 countries already have a history of limiting internet access, affecting the fairness of elections. Take a look 👇
EU digital ID wallet is in the works! 🇪🇺 ✅ With it, EU citizens could digitally store their IDs, health cards, and other documents on a smartphone application. However, there are some worries about privacy safeguards and possible over-identification. What are your thoughts?
Leaving your country or leaking your data? 👀 Cybernews says the Polish Erasmus Student Network exposed over 350,000 European students’
#data
. The breach lasted almost two years, allowing hackers to intercept official communications and facilitate housing scams.
🥸 Incognito mode is not as sophisticated as you’d think. In our latest YouTube video, you’ll learn how incognito mode works, what it does and doesn’t hide when you should use it, and how to hide your browsing activity 👉 Learn more 👇
Is the
#internet
a utility or a luxury? 🤔 How come some people need a few minutes while others need weeks of work to afford the same internet? 😮 Find all answers in our Youtube video!
Blocking ads just got more fun! 🎉 Introducing CleanWeb 2.0, which comes with the Surfshark browser extension update v3.17. 👀 See these new features in action on our YouTube video:
EU fined Meta a record 1.2B fine under the GDPR. The company is under fire for transferring European users’ data to the US without appropriate protection. Many Europeans care about the safety of their data and submit requests to delete it — learn more here
Some dating apps are not great for your privacy 💔 25 out of 50 dating apps collect sensitive information: racial or ethnic data, sexual orientation, pregnancy information, disability, etc. Do you worry about your privacy when using dating apps? 🤔
What happens if you have more than one
#antivirus
program on your computer? 🤔 There are at least 4️⃣ reasons why using multiple antivirus programs is a bad idea. Read our blog post to learn more 👇
A huge
#dataleak
exposed 11 million business messages with secrets, passwords, and access details. Miracle Software Systems left their system unprotected for 3 days, creating major
#security
risks. This could be a jackpot for
#ransomware
attacks.
Chart of the Week is back! This week, we're asking an important question: is ChatGPT violating your privacy? 🤔 Our privacy counsel analyzed ChatGPT's data collection practices and uncovered 5 potential issues. Want to learn what they are? Check our study!
We used to be scared of monsters under our beds. Now, we’re scared of people hiding behind crazy
#hacker
names 🥷 What is your biggest fear concerning the
#digital
world?
Ever wondered what your apps are up to behind the screen? 📱🔍
Our research examined the data-collecting practices of the top 100 apps. Check out our study and play an app privacy checker game to discover which apps spill the most beans about you 🫘
Hotel bookings on a budget? Use
#VPN
for global rates and
@rate_punk
for OTA insights. Look for the deals in the UK and other European countries. Beware loyalty illusions. Make savvy choices and pocket smart savings:
Almost everyone in their life has used an
#antivirus
at least once: 👾 Got a scary warning 👾 Deleted infected files 👾 Scanned a system for threats 🤔 But have you ever thought about how it works?
Read our blog post 👇
Data breach headlines are all over the news lately. It seems like there’s no safe way to send a meme. Or a long-read emotional message. In your opinion, what is the safest way to communicate online? Or should we get back to writing paper letters?🤔
Hackers exploited TikTok’s Invisible Challenge to trick users into downloading WASP stealer
#malware
, according to researchers at Checkmarx 👾 Victims believed this trick would “un-filter” other TikToker’s filters that cover their naked bodies. Stay safe and follow for more news!
The recent DocuSign impersonation attack bypassed Microsoft Office 365 and Proofpoint email protection solutions. It got stopped by the company’s attack prevention software. But right after, malicious emails targeted 10k people. Once again, we repeat: don’t open suspicious links!
🤔 Did you ever notice that after browsing for a while, you get more and more relevant ads? It’s called targeted advertising, and it’s based on the collected personal data about you. 🎯 Learn how to avoid it in our blog 👉
When the COVID pandemic started, requests to use the "right to be forgotten" grew by nearly 30% 📈In total, 161.3K people applied for this right in 2020. Do you remember what this right is? 👀 If not, check our blog to find out!
After 5 days of October, Surfshark brings you 5 new
#updates
! ⭐ Grab a cup of tea or coffee ☕️ and see what we have prepared for you this month! Click here 👇 to watch our YouTube video 🎥
DuckDuckGo is one of the safest search engines you could use 🦆 But can you still be tracked using DuckDuckGo? Our blog answers that and much more! Check it out here 👇
The Hacker News reported a new
#malware
campaign. Sensitive
#data
was hijacked from a Columbian cooperative bank's database. The data was then used to send phishing emails with Excel attachments with access to trojan BitRAT 🐀 That’s why you shouldn’t open suspicious emails 😉
Ever felt like your devices were acting up or noticed strange occurrences? It might not be a glitch, but signs that you've been
#hacked
! Read our latest blog post and learn how to spot the red flags, minimize the damage, and prevent future attacks 👇
Never forget your right to be forgotten! It's your right to ask organizations to delete your information in Europe. The French 🇫🇷 certainly did not forget — their requests account for nearly a fourth of all requests, followed by Germany and the UK.
Scam email checklist:
☑️ Grammatical errors
☑️ No clear thoughts
☑️ Don’t address people by their names
In high school, I would have been great at writing these 👀 What’s the funniest scam email you’ve ever received? Share it in the comments, and let’s roast it together! 🙌
Top 5 countries with the highest Digital Quality of Life index in 2022: 🥇 Israel 🇮🇱 (0.7610) 🥈 Denmark 🇩🇰 (0.7347) 🥉 Germany 🇩🇪 (0.7123) 4️⃣ France 🇫🇷 (0.7105) and 5️⃣ Sweden 🇸🇪 (0.6895). Check out the rest 112 country rankings here 👇
💰 Recently, the US authorities reported seizing 50k bitcoins stored in a popcorn tin after a 10-year hunt making it the second-largest
#crypto
catch ever. James Zhong was arrested for stealing bitcoin from the Silk Road dark web marketplace in 2012. Follow for more news 🦈
People show love in different ways. For some, words aren’t enough, so they created a computer
#virus
called ILOVEYOU. Isn’t it romantic? 💕 NOT. If you were to create a computer virus, what would you call it?
Pakistan restricts 3 social media platforms after the arrest of former PM Imran Khan. It is the 13th internet disruption Surfshark recorded in Pakistan since 2015 — the country is 3rd in Asia by disruption count. Check our research to learn more:
Still unsure if you need a
#VPN
? Maybe you simply don’t understand how it works or what perks it brings! But that’s ok - we have a beginner-friendly guide for you 👇
🍪 Beware of the cookie threat! Cybercriminals are after your
#cookies
, not just
#passwords
. Even with strong passwords and multi-factor authentication, accounts can be compromised. Stay proactive, update your
#antivirus
, and revoke access to unused devices.
Surfshark's Chart of the Week is back! ✨ This time, we are looking into the American users’ attitudes toward the potential TikTok ban. With Montana being the first state to ban the platform, the future of TikTok in the US remains uncertain. Learn more 👇
TikTok is testing its new “Nearby” feature in Southeast Asia📍 The company says the idea behind it is to make it possible for businesses and creators to sell products on
#TikTok
by reaching local audiences. What do you think about this idea? 🤔 Leave a comment 👇
Home is the place of safety 🏡 So, if you're using your own Wi-Fi router, do you still need a VPN? Yes, you do! A VPN helps you hide your IP address when you visit any website. Learn more about how a VPN enhances the safety of your home! 👇
Jammu and Kashmir led the world in internet shutdown cases in 2022. Was your country part of the rest of the list? Share your thoughts and find out more 👇
Did you know the government can ask companies to share your data?💁♂️ Companies comply with more requests every year. On average, each year had a 56K increase in requests. The number grew from 127K in 2013 to 592K in 2021🤯
How many people use their "right to be forgotten?" According to our research, Google and Microsoft Bing received over 1 million requests from 2015 to 2021 🤯 Half of the requests came from Western European countries.
Internet service disruption was recorded in Iran, almost a year since the last one. The country ranks 2nd in Asia for having the most
#internet
restriction cases according to the
#research
we prepared with our partners
@NetBlocks
. More information 👇
In the US, 30- and 40-year-olds are the most vulnerable groups for identity theft through credit card fraud. So, if you're having a financial blast in your fourth or fifth decade, learn when you should be most protective of your finances 👇
Have you heard about countries restricting messaging apps? 📷 Restrictions occur amid government repressions and military actions, targeting messaging apps like WhatsApp. Which countries currently restrict messaging apps? Check out our chart of the week!