Porn sites: Youporn & Co. collect this data
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PornHub, Youporn, Redtube, xHamster and other porn sites promise to respect users' privacy, but in fact they collect a lot of data about their visitors. You can find out what they are and what they do with them in this article.
Save this data PornHub & Co.
The Internet portal Vice has researched what data porn sites collect about their visitors. Even though sites with porn content promise to respect and protect the privacy of users, the vice editors found that certain information is still collected even if you surf in incognito mode and delete the cookies.
- The IP address is always transmitted.
- Also the city or town where you are at the time of visiting a porn site.
- The operating system and, in the case of mobile use, possibly also the battery level.
- Data about the browser and browser version are also recorded.
- The sexual orientation, i.e. whether gay, heterosexual, etc. is recorded.
- Like sexual preferences.
- If you do not have an account on the page you are visiting and are not logged in, the information is usually not saved after your visit.
- If you have an account, the portal also stores the email address that you specified when registering.
- Additional information is collected and saved if you use a paid premium account. Depending on the portal and payment method, you may even have to enter your name and credit card details.
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What your data is used for
The world is not governed by sex, but by money. Most porn sites offer the content for free, but still have to make money. And they do so by using the information they collect.
- Advertising: Advertisers want their ads to be displayed in a targeted manner. This means that information about your sexual preferences, where you are, etc. is used so that you can see certain advertising content.
- Recommendations: For example, you will see videos in German or related videos. The longer you stay on the page and the more page views you make, the more advertising is displayed. And that makes the portal more money.
- Optimized content: Based on the information collected, operators of porn sites can determine which topics are more popular, what length the videos should ideally be, and much more. This enables them to optimize their offer, which in turn leads to more page views.
Can you be identified?
It is very clear that information is collected. But can you identify a person or misuse the data?
- If you do not have an account, a secure, reliable identification of a person is not possible.
- If you have a premium account and have provided your data (name, credit card, etc.), identification is possible.
- Even if Pornhub & Co. promise not to misuse user data, hackers may steal the data. In rare cases, the information may then be used to blackmail a person, for example if they are a well-known personality or hold a high office.
- In the worst case, it can happen that sexual minorities are persecuted. For example, where there is a homophobic government or where homosexuality is prohibited.
In our next practical tip, you will learn how to surf anonymously.