Is Yahoo Safe?

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

Below, we explain whether Yahoo 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 Yahoo?

Yahoo is an American web services provider known for its search engine, web portal, email service, news, finance, sports, and various other online services. 

Founded in January 1994 by Jerry Yang and David Filo, it became one of the most popular websites in the 1990s and early 2000s, playing a crucial role in the early days of the internet. 

Yahoo’s main offerings include Yahoo Search, Mail, News, Finance, and Sports.

Although it was once a dominant player in the internet space, Yahoo faced challenges adapting to the rapidly changing digital landscape. In 2017, Yahoo’s core internet operations were acquired by Verizon Communications, which later merged Yahoo with AOL to form a subsidiary called Oath, later rebranded as Verizon Media. In 2021, Verizon Media was sold to Apollo Global Management and renamed “Yahoo” again.

Is Yahoo Safe?

Depends on your definition of “safe,” but probably not. Yahoo doesn’t have the best track record. 

It employs standard security protocols like HTTPS encryption to protect data transmission between your device and its servers. It also offers features like two-factor authentication (2FA) for Yahoo Mail, which adds an extra layer of security to your account.

Yahoo experienced several significant security breaches in the past, most notably in 2013 and 2014, which compromised the data of over three billion accounts (two of the biggest data breaches on record). This included user information like names, email addresses, dates of birth, and, in some cases, encrypted or unencrypted security questions and answers. 

Although these breaches were disclosed in 2016, Yahoo faced criticism for the delay in notifying users. Since then, Yahoo has made efforts to strengthen its security practices.

The security company UpGuard gives Yahoo a score of 854 out of 950 for its site security, with the sole concern being that the Content Security Policy is not implemented safely and may not restrict sources appropriately.

Is Yahoo Private?

No, Yahoo is not generally seen as private. 

Yahoo’s business model relies on advertising, and it uses collected data to deliver personalized ads to users.

In its privacy policy, Yahoo describes what kind of data it collects, why, and whom it shares it with. Data collected can include your name, email address, phone number, and other details you provide when creating an account, as well as search queries, browsing history, interactions with Yahoo services, and location data. 

Yahoo participates in various ad networks and may share some user data with third-party advertisers and partners for analytics, advertising, and research purposes.

As disclosed in its privacy policy, Yahoo Mail scans email content for security purposes (e.g., to detect spam or malware) and may also analyze email content to deliver targeted ads.

Yahoo offers some privacy controls, such as the ability to manage ad preferences, review and delete data, manage what information is visible to others, and adjust privacy settings across different Yahoo services.

Terms of Service; Didn’t Read (ToS;DR), a project that rates internet services’ terms of service and privacy policies, gives Yahoo a “Grade E.” According to ToS;DR classification, this is the worst grade an internet service can get. It means, “The terms of service raise very serious concerns.” For comparison, Google also gets a “Grade E.”

ToS;DR notes the following as potential concerns: 

• Yahoo can store data on people even if they don’t use the service.
• It can read users’ private messages.
• It requires broad permissions.
• It may collect, use, and share location data.
• It uses tracking via third-party cookies without user consent.

On the plus side, ToS;DR says that Yahoo provides information about how they intend to use your data and does not sell your personal data. 

How to Improve Your Safety and Privacy On Yahoo

Follow the steps below for a more private and secure experience while using Yahoo. 

• Manage ad preferences. Visit the Yahoo Ad Interest Manager to adjust your ad settings. You can opt out of receiving personalized ads based on your browsing habits.
• Turn off location tracking. In your account settings, you can manage location tracking features that Yahoo may use to collect location data.
• Limit profile visibility. Adjust the visibility of your personal information in your Yahoo profile, such as your name, profile picture, and contact details. You can choose who can see your information (e.g., “Friends” or “Only Me”).
• Enable two-factor authentication (2FA). Turn on 2FA for your Yahoo account to add an extra layer of security. This requires a second verification step (usually a code sent to your phone) in addition to your password when logging in.
• Use a strong, unique password. Choose a complex, unique password for your Yahoo account that includes a mix of letters, numbers, and special characters. Avoid reusing passwords across multiple sites.
• Review connected apps and devices. Regularly check which apps and devices have access to your Yahoo account. Revoke access for any that you no longer use or recognize.
• Limit third-party access. Be cautious when granting third-party apps access to your Yahoo account. Ensure that you only grant permissions to apps and services you trust.
• Avoid scanning emails for ads. While Yahoo uses automated systems to scan email content for advertising purposes, you can use email aliases or a secondary email service for more sensitive communications.
• Delete your Yahoo search history. Go to your Yahoo account settings to review and delete your search history. This can reduce the amount of data Yahoo retains about your search behavior.
• Use private browsing. When accessing Yahoo services, use a private or incognito browser window to minimize the data stored locally on your device.
• Review and delete data. Regularly review the data Yahoo has collected about you by going to your account settings or privacy dashboard. You can delete some data, such as search history or activity logs.
• Set up data alerts. Enable alerts to notify you of unusual account activity, such as login attempts from unfamiliar devices or locations.