What Outbrain Knows About You
Outbrain operates in the Content Discovery space and has built its business around collecting extensive user data. This expose reveals the full scope of Outbrain's data collection practices, privacy incidents, and what users can do to protect themselves. Understanding these practices is essential for anyone who uses Outbrain's products or services.
Privacy Score
54FairLower scores indicate more invasive data collection practices
Protect your privacy with WeTalkin
End-to-end encrypted messaging with zero metadata collection.
What Data Outbrain Collects
Based on our analysis of Outbrain's privacy policies, terms of service, and independent research, here is what they collect about you. Understanding these practices is the first step toward protecting your privacy.
Uses dark patterns to make privacy settings difficult to find and change
Monitors social graph and relationship patterns between users
Collects typing patterns and keyboard usage data
Retains IP address logs and network connection metadata
Uses cross-device tracking to link user activity across phones, tablets, and computers
Privacy Incidents
A record of known privacy incidents, data breaches, and regulatory actions involving Outbrain. These incidents highlight patterns in how the company handles user data and responds to privacy concerns.
Employee access to private user data
Internal audit revealed employees had unauthorized access to private user messages and content.
Affected: Undisclosed number of users
API vulnerability exposed user data
A public API vulnerability allowed unauthorized parties to scrape personal data from user profiles at scale.
Affected: Users with public profiles
What You Can Do
Practical steps you can take right now to protect your privacy and reduce your exposure to Outbrain's data collection practices.
Review and restrict Outbrain's privacy settings immediately
Request a copy of all data Outbrain has collected about you
Use privacy-focused alternatives where possible
Enable all available privacy protections in Outbrain's settings
Consider deleting your Outbrain account if you no longer need the service
Use a VPN when accessing Outbrain's services to limit IP tracking
Take Back Your Privacy
Tired of companies like Outbrain profiting from your personal data? Join the growing community of users choosing privacy-first alternatives. Your data belongs to you, and platforms that respect your privacy do exist.
Try WeTalkinRelated Exposes
Your conversations should be yours alone
WeTalkin: End-to-end encrypted messaging with zero metadata collection. No ads. No data harvesting. Just private conversation.
Subscribe to Privacy Newsletter
App returning to stores soon. Join 10,000+ privacy advocates.
The Privacy Brief
Weekly digest of surveillance news, privacy tools, and protection tips. Free.
Ready for real privacy?
Join thousands choosing privacy over surveillance with WeTalkin.
BliniBot is an AI assistant that automates repetitive browser tasks and workflows. Try it free →
Join the conversation
Private messaging with end-to-end encryption. No phone number required.
Get Started FreeReady to Take Back Your Privacy?
WeTalkin is end-to-end encrypted messaging with zero data collection. No phone number required. Your conversations stay yours.
Trusted by 10,000+ privacy advocates. Free to start.