- Proton unveiled the Data Breach Observatory, a new project to track and report data breaches
- The tool monitors dark web marketplaces for violations, often before companies publicly disclose them.
- The initiative expands Proton’s mission to fight for online privacy and government transparency.
In an important move to raise awareness of online threats, Swiss privacy company Proton has launched its new Data Breach Observatory.
This publicly available database actively scours the dark web for leaked sensitive data, providing near real-time insight into 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 tackle a fundamental problem in cybersecurity: the underreporting of data breaches.
Many organizations delay reporting security incidents, if at all, often out of fear of reputational damage or regulatory sanctions. Proton’s initiative gets around this problem by going straight to the source, monitoring underground marketplaces where cybercriminals trade stolen credentials and personal information.
This project is an extension of Proton’s core mission to create 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 view of the threats facing Internet users today, from corporate data leaks to state-sponsored censorship, reinforcing Proton’s status as a key defender of digital freedom.
Shedding light on the dark web
The Data Breach Observatory works in partnership with risk detection company Constella Intelligence – monitoring dark web locations where stolen data is advertised and sold.
By closely monitoring these illicit exchanges, Proton aims to notify victims of a breach as early as possible, potentially even before the targeted organization becomes aware of the leak itself. 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 aim is not only to inform but also to educate the public about the true scale of cybercrime. By making this information freely available, the company hopes to make it harder for businesses to hide security vulnerabilities and give users the knowledge they need to protect themselves. This commitment to “responsible disclosure” includes informing the organization concerned before publishing the information.
This proactive approach is a vital public service in an era of widespread data breaches. By providing a clear, unfiltered view of the threat landscape, Proton offers individuals and businesses 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 highlights the critical need for robust digital protection.
Although the observatory can alert you when 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 much more difficult for hackers to intercept your data, especially when 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 located 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 markets that the new observatory now monitors.
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