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Is AOL Safe?

Is AOL Safe?

Laura Martisiute

January 17, 2025

Reading time: 4 minutes

If you use or plan to use AOL, you need to know: Is AOL safe? 

Below, we explain whether AOL is: 

  • Safe to use. 
  • Good for privacy. 

We also look at some steps you can take to improve both your safety and privacy when using this online service. 

What Is AOL?

AOL, short for America Online, is an online service provider. 

AOL

Originally founded in 1985 as Quantum Computer Services, it changed its name to AOL in 1991 and became well-known for its dial-up internet access and other services, such as chat rooms and instant messaging.

Today, AOL continues to provide online services, like email, news, and entertainment content (it owns media brands like TechCrunch and Engadget). Since 2021, it is part of Yahoo! Inc.

Is AOL Safe?

Depends on your definition of “safe” and what you’re talking about specifically when you say “AOL.” 

When most people think of AOL, they think of AOL’s email service, AOL Mail.

This service uses SSL (Secure Sockets Layer) to secure email communication and includes spam filtering and virus protection to shield users from malicious content. 

That said, research from 2024 found that AOL is inadequate when scanning email attachments for security risks (while other providers, including Gmail, also delivered some malicious emails in the test, AOL and Yahoo were the only two to deliver every malicious document). 

AOL.com website receives a security score of 756 out of 950 from UpGuard, with the website noting that the Content Security Policy is implemented unsafely and the referrer policy is unsafe-url (which can expose sensitive information).

In 2014, AOL experienced a data breach that affected 2.4 million users. 

In a 2019 Comparitech comparison of 10 email services on privacy and security, AOL Mail received a score of “-1.” The review said that “AOL lost points for using email data for a variety of reasons and scanning emails in some cases.” Other email providers that received “-1” were Yahoo Mail and Yandex. 

Yahoo, the parent company of AOL, also doesn’t have the best track record regarding safety. You can see our take on whether Yahoo is safe here. 

Is AOL Private?

Again, it depends on your definition of “private,” but generally, no. Part of the reason why is that Yahoo, the parent company of AOL, doesn’t have a reputation for being very private. 

AOL’s privacy policy is under the umbrella of Yahoo!. Yahoo!’s privacy policy receives a “Grade E” from Terms of Service; Didn’t Read (ToS;DR), a project that rates internet services’ terms of service and privacy policies. This means, “The terms of service raise very serious concerns.”

Terms of Service; Didn't Read page for Yahoo!

According to ToS;DR, the service stores data on people even if they don’t use the service, the service can read user’s private data, the app requires broad permissions, the service may collect, use, and share location data, and tracking is done via third-party cookies without user consent.

On a more positive note, AOL users can use the Privacy Dashboard to see how their information is used with AOL products and manage privacy controls. 

How to Improve Your Safety and Privacy On AOL

Follow the below steps for a safer and more private experience when using AOL.

  • Review and adjust privacy settings. Go to your AOL account’s privacy settings to review what data is being collected, limit data sharing, and restrict personalized ads. 
  • Enable two-factor authentication. Turn on two-factor authentication for your AOL account to add an extra layer of security. This will require both your password and a second form of verification, like a text message code, to log in, helping to protect your account from unauthorized access.
  • Use strong, unique passwords. Ensure your AOL password is strong and unique to reduce the risk of someone else being able to log into your account. Avoid reusing passwords from other online accounts, and consider using a password manager to generate and store complex passwords securely.
  • Be cautious with third-party apps. Limit the use of third-party apps or services that request access to your AOL account. When necessary, only grant access to trusted apps, and regularly review any connected services to ensure they are still secure and necessary.
  • Avoid clicking on suspicious links. Be wary of phishing emails and links, even if they appear to come from trusted sources. Always verify the sender and avoid clicking on links in unsolicited messages, as this can protect your account from scams and data theft.
  • Clear cookies and browsing data regularly. Regularly clear your browser’s cookies and cache to prevent AOL and other sites from tracking your browsing behavior over time. 
  • Monitor account activity regularly. Regularly check your AOL account activity for any unusual login attempts or suspicious activity. 
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Laura Martisiute is DeleteMe’s content marketing specialist. Her job is to help DeleteMe communicate vital privacy information to the people that need it. Since joining DeleteMe in 2020, Laura h…
Laura Martisiute is DeleteMe’s content marketing specialist. Her job is to help DeleteMe communicate vital privacy information to the people that need it. Since joining DeleteMe in 2020, Laura h…
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