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ShinyHunters Claims Odido Breach: 21M Records Exposed
The ShinyHunters extortion gang has claimed responsibility for a data breach at Odido, a major Dutch telecommunications provider, asserting they stole nearly 21 million user records. Odido had previously disclosed the breach on February 12, stating that attackers gained access to its customer contact system on February 7 and downloaded personal data of many users, initially reporting 6.2 million affected customers. The exposed information may include full names, addresses, mobile numbers, email
China's Regional Internet Censorship Is Getting Worse
A study by Great Firewall Report found an alarming rise in regional internet censorship in China, particularly in the central province of Henan. Between November 2023 and March 2025, internet users in Henan were denied access to five times more websites than typical Chinese internet users, including millions of domains not blocked by the national firewall. This enhanced censorship regime subjects tens of millions of residents to even stricter controls on information access, potentially linked to
Should VPNs Be Banned? Why These New Laws Miss the Mark
Lawmakers in Wisconsin and Michigan are proposing legislation to ban or restrict VPN usage, primarily in response to people using VPNs to bypass age verification laws for online content. Critics argue that such bans are technically unfeasible, threaten privacy and security for legitimate uses (like remote work, accessing educational resources, and protecting vulnerable individuals), and could lead to mass surveillance.
UK Gov Spends Millions on VPNs While Planning to Ban Them for Kids
The UK government is considering new policies that could force consumer VPN providers to implement age verification measures to block children from using their services, despite various government departments and MPs themselves spending millions on VPN technology for secure communications and remote access. A survey is being conducted to understand young people's motivations for using VPNs and the implications of age restrictions on privacy and data for all users. The debate highlights a potenti
Philippines Ranks 109th in Internet Freedom: What It Means
The Philippines has been ranked 109th out of 171 countries in a global internet censorship index, indicating a mix of open access and limitations. The Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT) is facing criticism for its enforcement actions, including website takedowns and platform blocking, which have raised concerns among digital rights advocates regarding online freedom and the legality of VPNs.
Android 16 VPN Bug: What Every Android User Should Know
A critical and longstanding bug in Android 16 is reportedly affecting several VPN applications, including Proton VPN, potentially compromising user privacy. The bug, first reported to Google in September 2025, corrupts Android's network stack at the system level after a VPN update. This can lead to VPNs randomly disconnecting without warning, leaving users vulnerable online. The issue primarily occurs when VPNs are set to 'always-on' mode and the app is reinstalled or updated. Despite complaints
Aura Data Breach Exposes 900,000 Contact Records
Aura, an online safety service, confirmed that an unauthorized party accessed about 900,000 contact records through a targeted phone phishing attack on an employee. The exposed data includes names, email addresses, IP addresses, phone numbers, home addresses, and customer service comments. The hacking group ShinyHunters is believed to be behind the incident.
Why Governments Are Coming After VPNs: Italy's Piracy Shield
Cloudflare has appealed a €14 million fine from Italy's communications regulator, AGCOM, for refusing to register with 'Piracy Shield,' a controversial website blocking system. Cloudflare argues that Piracy Shield violates the EU's Digital Services Act by lacking proportionate content restrictions and procedural safeguards. A study in September 2025 showed the system routinely blocks legitimate websites, including government and NGO sites, and even Google Drive. AGCOM's response was to expand Pi
Iran's Internet Crackdown: What's Happening and Why It Matters
Iran has imposed new restrictions on internet access, further limiting VPN connections and reportedly targeting Starlink users, leading to a significant drop in connectivity. Users are finding it difficult to access global networks and even some domestic websites.
Congo's Election Blackout: Why Internet Shutdowns Matter
Internet access across the Republic of the Congo was abruptly disrupted on Sunday as citizens headed to polling stations for the presidential election. This internet blackout is described as a calculated instrument of political control, undermining the transparency of the electoral process by isolating the electorate from global and local social media platforms. International human rights organizations and democratic monitoring bodies have raised alarms, warning that such measures often precede
Australia's Age Laws Are Driving a VPN Surge
Australia's new online age-restriction laws, which came into effect on Monday, March 9, have led to a significant increase in Virtual Private Network (VPN) downloads and the blocking of major pornography websites for Australian users. The legislation requires websites distributing adult content to verify users are over 18 and mandates age checks for 18+ apps. This move follows Australia's earlier ban on social media for teenagers and includes fines for non-compliance. VPNs are being used by Aust
AI Can Now Unmask Anonymous Social Media Accounts
New research indicates that the technology behind AI platforms, like ChatGPT, is making it easier to conduct sophisticated privacy attacks. This development could enable hackers to identify anonymous social media accounts.
Facebook Stores Your Shared Links. Here's Why It Matters
Facebook is reportedly saving links shared on Messenger and Instagram, a practice that has come under scrutiny for potentially violating the EU's robust online privacy laws. The company's need to remove link previews in Europe to comply with these laws suggests that the data from shared links, which can include sensitive information like bills or medical records, was being downloaded and stored. This raises concerns about data breaches, consent, and the extent to which platforms handle private u
25M Americans Exposed: The Conduent Government Data Breach
A March 2026 breach report highlighted the growing impact of a data breach at government contractor Conduent, affecting over 25 million Americans. The breach, attributed to the SafePay ransomware group, exposed 8.5 terabytes of data including Social Security numbers, medical records, and health insurance details. States like Oregon (10.5 million) and Texas (15.4 million) account for a significant portion of the victims.
Russia's VPN Crackdown: What It Means for Digital Freedom
Russian President Vladimir Putin has publicly addressed the Kremlin's recent restrictions against Telegram and the resulting complaints about battlefield communication issues. The Kremlin is intensifying its efforts to prevent Russians from using foreign platforms and virtual private networks (VPNs). Putin and a Russian communications battalion commander claimed that the use of foreign communication systems poses a danger to Russian forces, aiming to validate future Telegram bans.
EU's Democracy Shield: Free Speech or Censorship Risk?
The European Union's proposed European Democracy Shield is being criticized as a potential 'powerful censorship regime' that could undermine free speech online. The initiative, intended to defend elections and counter disinformation, would establish a European Centre for Democratic Resilience to monitor political speech. Critics argue that this, combined with existing regulations like the Digital Services Act, grants EU regulators unprecedented power over online content, potentially leading to s
Utah's SB 73: A Threat to VPNs and Digital Rights
Utah's proposed Senate Bill 73, which aims to tax online pornography, has been criticized as a civil liberties disaster. Beyond the tax, the bill would make it illegal to circumvent content blocks implemented by platforms due to local age verification laws, including through the use of Virtual Private Networks (VPNs). This move is seen as a significant expansion of censorship and a threat to privacy, as it could punish users for bypassing restrictions and potentially lead to broader censorship o
Myanmar's IMEI Registration: What It Means for Privacy
The Myanmar Internet Project (MIP) has issued a warning about a new mandatory IMEI registration system that significantly boosts the military junta's surveillance capabilities, allowing precise tracking of user locations. MIP advises the use of reliable VPN services and encrypted messaging applications to counter this increased surveillance.
2.9 Billion Records Exposed in National Public Data Breach
News published today highlights a class-action lawsuit filed after a massive data breach by National Public Data, a Florida-based background check business. The breach, which occurred around April 8, 2024, exposed the private data of an estimated 2.9 billion U.S. citizens, including full names, Social Security numbers, and addresses, which was subsequently published on the dark web by a cybercriminal group called USDoD. Many victims are still unaware of their exposure due to a lack of notificati
Pakistan's Firewall Is Here to Stay: What It Means
Reports suggesting the rollback of Pakistan's 'firewall' due to internet quality issues were denied by the IT ministry, which confirmed the system remains fully functional amidst ongoing digital surveillance and censorship.
What Is a VPN Used For? Privacy, Security & the Law
This article discusses the utility and legality of VPNs for online privacy and security. It highlights that while VPNs are generally legal, they are banned in 10 countries including China, Russia, and the UAE, where users are advised to uninstall them. The piece also mentions a surge in VPN downloads in the UK following the implementation of the Online Safety Act, indicating growing concerns about online privacy and data tracking among internet users.
Iran Threatens VPN Users With Criminal Prosecution
Iranians attempting to access the global internet are facing threats of criminal prosecution as a 'near-complete' digital blackout enters its second week. Local authorities and telecom operators are reportedly issuing direct warnings via SMS to citizens who have used VPNs to circumvent ongoing restrictions. These messages warn that repeated attempts to connect to the international internet will result in blocks and cases being referred to judicial authorities, directly impacting internet users'
Congress May Abolish Online Anonymity: What's at Stake
A proposed surveillance bill in the U.S. Congress, which reportedly has bipartisan support, threatens to eliminate online anonymity. Critics argue that stripping anonymity would lead to unprecedented mass surveillance and censorship, endangering whistleblowers, government employees, and activists by allowing them to be tracked and identified. This development is seen as a significant rollback of civil rights and a threat to fundamental freedoms in the digital age.
Australia's Age Verification Law: Privacy vs. Regulation
Several adult websites have started blocking Australian users in anticipation of new age verification codes set to take effect on Monday. These regulations will require adult sites, AI companion chatbots, and app stores to implement age verification for access to pornography and other potentially harmful content. The move has raised concerns about data privacy and the potential for users to bypass these checks using VPNs, a trend observed when similar laws were implemented in the UK.
India's ISPs Block 43,000+ Websites: What You Need to Know
A recent study has brought to light extensive website blocking by Indian Internet Service Providers (ISPs), with over 43,000 web domains being blocked. These blockages, often implemented through court orders, government directives, and private complaints, raise significant concerns regarding transparency, proportionality, and legal oversight within India's internet censorship mechanisms.
TikTok Is Tracking You Even If You Never Installed It
Recent investigations have uncovered that TikTok's "data harvesting empire" utilizes invisible tracking pixels to collect sensitive personal information, including health diagnoses and fertility details, from individuals across the web, even if they do not have the app installed. The video details how these trackers operate and offers solutions to prevent such data collection.
ISP Blocking Your VPN? Here's How to Get Through
This article explores the complex reasons behind ISPs blocking VPN traffic, including technical challenges like strong encryption protocols, legal mandates from governments citing national security or copyright enforcement, and commercial disputes. It explains that ISPs often use deep packet inspection (DPI) to detect and block known VPN ports and encryption signatures, impacting users who rely on VPNs for privacy, accessing geo-locked content, or bypassing censorship.
15.8 Million Medical Records Stolen in France Health Breach
Cybersecurity authorities in France have reported a major data breach affecting a third-party healthcare software provider linked to the country's health ministry, Cegedim Santé. Approximately 15.8 million administrative medical files were stolen, with nearly 165,000 files containing doctors' handwritten notes that sometimes included sensitive patient medical histories, such as HIV/AIDS status and sexual orientation. The leaked data included full names, gender, dates of birth, telephone numbers,
ICE Is Buying Your Location Data. Here's What to Know.
Congresswoman Veronica Escobar and over 70 Democratic lawmakers have called for a new investigation into the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) agencies, including Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), for their warrantless purchases of Americans' location data. The lawmakers urged DHS Inspector General Joseph Cuffari to investigate ICE's alleged resumption of these purchases, despite a previous finding that such data acquisitions were illegal and led to the program's shutdown in 2023. T