- Proton has unveiled the Data Breach Observatory, a new project to track and report data breaches
- The tool monitors dark web markets to find violations, often before companies reveal them publicly.
- The initiative expands Proton’s mission of fighting for online privacy and government transparency.
In a significant step to improve public awareness of online threats, Swiss privacy company Proton launched its new Data Breach Observatory.
This publicly accessible database actively crawls the dark web for leaked sensitive data, providing a near real-time view of the alarming scale of cybercrime – a scale that, according to Proton research, has already seen more than 100 billion records compromised in 2025 alone.
The new observatory is designed to address a fundamental cybersecurity problem: the lack of reporting 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 avoids this problem by going directly to the source, monitoring underground markets where cybercriminals trade stolen credentials and personal information.
This project is an expansion 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 blocks on internet access and VPN services.
Together, these tools provide a comprehensive view of the threats facing internet users today, from corporate data breaches to state-sponsored censorship, reinforcing Proton’s status as a key defender of digital freedom.
Illuminating the dark web
The Data Breach Observatory works in partnership with risk detection firm Constella Intelligence, monitoring dark web locations where stolen data is advertised and sold.
By keeping a close eye on these illicit exchanges, Proton aims to warn victims of a breach as soon as possible, potentially even before the targeted organization becomes aware of the breach. The observatory lists recent 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 educate the public about the true extent of cybercrime. By making this information freely available, the company hopes to make it more difficult for companies to hide security flaws and arm users with the knowledge they need to protect themselves. This commitment to “responsible disclosure” includes informing the affected organization before publishing the information.
This proactive approach is a vital public service in an era of rampant data breaches. By providing a clear, unfiltered view of the threat landscape, Proton gives both individuals and businesses a powerful new tool in the fight to protect their digital identities.
How Proton VPN can protect your data
The launch of the Data Breach Observatory underscores the critical need for strong 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 preventive measure. A VPN, or virtual private network, encrypts your Internet connection, making it much harder for hackers to intercept your data, especially when you use 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-respecting countries, providing an additional layer of protection against sophisticated network attacks. By masking your IP address and encrypting your data, Proton VPN ensures your digital footprint remains private, reducing the risk of your personal information ending up on the dark web markets that the new observatory now monitors.
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