- Proton has unveiled the Data Breach Observatory, a new project to track and report on data leaks
- The tool monitors dark web marketplaces for breaches, often before companies make them public
- The initiative extends Proton’s mission to champion online privacy and public transparency
In a significant step to raise public awareness of online threats, Swiss privacy firm Proton has launched its new Data Breach Observatory.
Actively scouring the dark web for leaked sensitive data, this publicly available database provides an almost real-time look at the alarming scale of cybercrime, a scale that Proton’s research shows has already seen over 100 billion records compromised in 2025 alone.
The new observatory is designed to tackle a fundamental problem in cybersecurity: the underreporting of data breaches.
Many organizations are slow to report security incidents, if at all, often for fear of reputational damage or regulatory sanctions. Proton’s initiative circumvents this problem by going straight to the source and monitoring the underground marketplaces where cybercriminals trade stolen credentials and personal information.
This project is an extension of Proton’s core mission of creating a more private and secure internet. It builds on the work of its existing internet censorship observatory (Proton VPN Observatory), which tracks government-led blocking of internet access and VPN services.
Together, these tools provide a comprehensive overview of the threats facing internet users today, from corporate data breaches to state-sponsored censorship, strengthening Proton’s status as a key advocate for digital freedom.
shining a light on the dark web
The Data Breach Observatory works in partnership with the risk detection company Constella Intelligence – and monitors the dark web locations where stolen data is advertised and sold.
By keeping a close eye on these illegal exchanges, Proton aims to alert victims of a breach as early as possible, possibly even before the targeted organization is aware of the leak itself. The observatory lists the latest breaches, the type of data exposed (such as names, passwords and financial information) and the number of records affected.
According to Proton, the goal is not only to inform, but also to educate the public about the true extent of cybercrime. By making this information freely available, the company hopes to make it harder for companies to hide security flaws and to give users the knowledge they need to protect themselves. This obligation of “responsible disclosure” includes informing the affected organization before the information is published.
This proactive approach is a vital public service in an era of massive data breaches. By providing a clear, unfiltered view of the threat landscape, Proton gives individuals and businesses alike a powerful new tool in the fight to protect their digital identities.
How Proton VPN can secure your data
The launch of the Data Breach Observatory underscores the critical need for robust digital protection.
While the observatory can alert you after your data has been compromised, using a tool like one of the best VPN services is a crucial preventative measure. A VPN, or Virtual Private Network, encrypts your Internet connection, making it significantly more difficult for hackers to intercept your data, especially when you’re using unsecured public Wi-Fi networks.
Proton VPN, the company’s flagship security product, offers powerful end-to-end encryption that protects your online activity from prying eyes. Its Secure Core architecture routes your traffic through multiple servers in privacy-friendly countries, providing an extra layer of protection against sophisticated network attacks. By masking your IP address and encrypting your data, Proton VPN ensures that your digital footprint remains private, reducing the risk of your personal information ending up on the dark web marketplaces that the new observatory is now monitoring.
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