Is Pornhub Safe?
Laura Martisiute
Reading time: 5 minutes
Table of Contents
If you use or plan to use Pornhub, you need to know: Is Pornhub safe?
Below, we explain whether Pornhub is:
- Safe to use.
- Good for privacy.
We also give some steps you can take to improve both your safety and privacy when using this online service.
What Is Pornhub?
Pornhub is a popular adult entertainment website that hosts a vast collection of user-uploaded and professionally produced pornographic videos.
Launched in 2007, it has become one of the largest and most visited websites in the adult industry and is the 15th most visited website in the world.
Pornhub hosts a wide range of adult content, including videos, photos, and live webcam performances.
Pornhub has faced scrutiny over the years for hosting non-consensual and illegal content. In response, they say they have implemented measures to improve content verification and removal processes, but concerns about content ethics and safety persist.
Is Pornhub Safe?
Generally speaking, Pornhub is considered mostly safe or at least safer than it was.
That said, as an adult entertainment website, Pornhub content is somewhat more likely to host malicious files compared to other kinds of websites. Security experts estimate that users have a 53% chance of encountering malware on Pornhub. However, this research is about a decade old.
Pornhub users can be unwittingly exposed to everything from viruses to spyware just by navigating through the site (although most harmful files are present in the ads).
Pornhub’s safety standards are primarily geared toward the subjects of the videos, with the site emphasizing its efforts to ensure that uploaded materials are not illegal in any form.
Some of the measures Pornhub has taken include creating a dedicated content review team, implementing a system to verify uploaders, and banning users from downloading content (as users could download out-of-compliance videos before they were removed and reupload them).
Is Pornhub Private?
Depends on your definition of “private.”
Pornhub’s website expresses that it focuses on protecting user privacy and ensuring private information is secured, but it is light on the details as to how it accomplishes this (beyond using HTTPS encryption).
Uploaders have the ability to change the audience of their videos, including making them private, and registered users can adjust who can see different aspects of their activity. Apart from that, users can browse the site anonymously, which bypasses the need to make an account.
In its privacy policy, Pornhub outlines the kind of data it collects from anonymous users, which includes how the website is used (such as pages visited and search history), device and operating system information, and occasionally government identification information.
Users that register with Pornhub will have their contact data, personal information, government identification information, and any contributions made to the site stored.
A 2023 report found that Pornhub was among the adult websites found to be collecting and selling data to third parties illegally.
Terms of Service; Didn’t Read, a project that rates internet services’ terms of service and privacy policies, gives Pornhub a “Grade E.” The top concerns are that the service can read users’ private messages, content is kept after users delete it, and terms may be changed at any time at Pornhub’s discretion.
How to Improve Your Safety and Privacy on Pornhub
Follow the below steps for a safer and more private experience on Pornhub.
- Use the Tor browser. Using private mode or the Incognito tab doesn’t keep you as private as you think. Instead, use the Tor browser. To access Pornhub using the Tor browser, first download and install the Tor browser from the official website. Open the Tor browser, connect to the Tor network, and then navigate to “https://www.pornhub.com” by typing it into the address bar.
- Clear your browser history and cache regularly. Regularly clear your browsing history, cookies, and cache to remove any traces of your activity.
- Use a VPN (Virtual Private Network). A VPN masks your IP address and encrypts your internet connection, making it difficult for anyone to track your online activities. Choose a reputable VPN service to enhance your privacy.
- Use strong passwords and enable two-factor authentication. If you create an account on Pornhub, use a strong, unique password to prevent unauthorized access. Avoid using the same password across multiple sites. Enable two-factor authentication to further protect your account.
- Avoid sharing personal information. If you create an account, refrain from sharing personal information in comments or on your profile, such as your real name, email address, or contact details.
- Regularly check and adjust privacy settings. Review the privacy settings on your account and adjust them according to your preferences. Ensure that you are aware of what data is being collected and how it is being used.
- Install and use ad blockers. Use browser extensions like ad blockers to prevent intrusive ads and potential tracking scripts from running on your device.
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