GITNUXREPORT 2025

Personal Statistics

Most Americans want stronger privacy protections and greater control online.

Jannik Linder

Co-Founder of Gitnux, specialized in content and tech since 2016.

First published: April 29, 2025

Our Commitment to Accuracy

Rigorous fact-checking • Reputable sources • Regular updatesLearn more

Statistic 1

35% of adults have used privacy-focused search engines like DuckDuckGo or Startpage

Statistic 2

50% of users have taken steps to secure their personal data with encryption

Statistic 3

59% of respondents use privacy shields or VPNs in public Wi-Fi networks

Statistic 4

54% of internet users utilize privacy-focused browser extensions

Statistic 5

39% of consumers have switched to privacy-focused email providers like ProtonMail or Tutanota

Statistic 6

70% of Americans believe that their personal data should be more protected

Statistic 7

81% of consumers feel that the companies they do business with should be responsible for protecting their personal data

Statistic 8

45% of respondents have limited their online activities due to privacy concerns

Statistic 9

55% of Americans regularly check their credit reports for suspicious activity

Statistic 10

72% of users feel they have lost control over their personal information online

Statistic 11

35% of individuals have deleted a social media account due to privacy concerns

Statistic 12

67% of consumers are more likely to trust companies that clearly explain their privacy policies

Statistic 13

48% of online adults use VPNs to protect their personal data

Statistic 14

55% of internet users have experienced targeted advertising based on their personal data

Statistic 15

49% of smartphone users are concerned about how their location data is being used

Statistic 16

80% of consumers are willing to share personal data if they receive personalized experiences

Statistic 17

33% of adults report having experienced identity theft

Statistic 18

58% of people feel overwhelmed by the amount of privacy options available online

Statistic 19

65% of online shoppers abandon their carts due to privacy or security concerns

Statistic 20

29% of Americans have used online tools to monitor their personal data security

Statistic 21

74% of users have limited their sharing of personal information after data breaches

Statistic 22

52% of consumers are unlikely to do business with companies they believe mishandle personal data

Statistic 23

57% of respondents value transparency on how companies use personal data

Statistic 24

41% of Americans check their online privacy policies before sharing personal information

Statistic 25

54% of online users have disabled cookies in their browsers for privacy reasons

Statistic 26

39% of respondents have refused to use a service due to privacy concerns

Statistic 27

78% of consumers believe that companies should be more transparent about how they collect and use personal data

Statistic 28

61% of data breaches involve personal information

Statistic 29

46% of individuals regularly update their passwords to protect their personal data

Statistic 30

34% of users avoid sharing certain personal details online due to privacy fears

Statistic 31

77% of users trust peer recommendations over corporate privacy policies

Statistic 32

83% of consumers believe they should have full control over their personal data

Statistic 33

63% of respondents are concerned about government access to personal data

Statistic 34

48% of respondents have deleted apps due to privacy concerns

Statistic 35

72% of users feel that online privacy is more important than ever

Statistic 36

55% of consumers are less likely to purchase from companies with poor privacy practices

Statistic 37

61% of online shoppers use ad blockers to prevent targeted advertising based on personal data

Statistic 38

43% of Americans are unaware of how their personal data is being used by companies

Statistic 39

55% of users employ encrypted messaging apps to keep personal communications private

Statistic 40

38% of consumers read online privacy policies thoroughly before accepting them

Statistic 41

49% of people have limited their online activity due to fears of personal data misuse

Statistic 42

65% of users prefer personalized online experiences despite privacy concerns

Statistic 43

54% of Americans are concerned about the privacy of their health information online

Statistic 44

42% of internet users have refused to share personal information online when asked

Statistic 45

74% of consumers are aware of data collection practices but feel powerless to prevent it

Statistic 46

69% of online users regularly review their privacy settings

Statistic 47

44% of users believe that online security measures are insufficient to protect personal data

Statistic 48

70% of respondents support government regulation of online data collection

Statistic 49

52% of users have taken steps to limit the amount of personal data they share online

Statistic 50

63% of Americans express concerns about their personal data being sold to third parties

Statistic 51

47% of people are more likely to trust a company that offers clear data privacy policies

Statistic 52

78% of internet users believe that governments should do more to regulate online data collection

Statistic 53

58% of consumers have limited their use of online services after a privacy breach

Statistic 54

29% of respondents have knowingly shared false personal data to protect their privacy

Statistic 55

62% of Americans regularly review their digital footprint and personal data online

Statistic 56

40% of users disable location tracking features on their devices for privacy reasons

Statistic 57

30% of adults have used data anonymization techniques to protect their personal information

Statistic 58

65% of respondents believe that their personal data is worth more if it is kept private

Statistic 59

56% of online consumers check their privacy rights and policies regularly

Statistic 60

38% of people avoid using certain apps or websites because of privacy concerns

Statistic 61

47% of consumers feel that data breaches have made them more cautious about sharing personal data online

Statistic 62

68% of users prefer encrypted messaging apps over standard ones for privacy

Statistic 63

77% of internet users are concerned about government surveillance accessing their personal data

Statistic 64

43% of online users say they are more cautious about their privacy than they were five years ago

Statistic 65

31% of users have deliberately given false information online to safeguard their privacy

Statistic 66

69% of consumers believe that more transparency would improve their trust in how personal data is handled

Statistic 67

58% of online shoppers prefer to see clear privacy policies before making a purchase

Statistic 68

44% of users have stopped engaging with certain online services due to privacy concerns

Statistic 69

71% of respondents believe stronger regulations are necessary to protect personal data online

Statistic 70

40% of consumers have became more privacy-conscious following data breach incidents

Statistic 71

42% of respondents have asked companies to delete their personal data from servers

Statistic 72

65% of Americans believe that corporations are primarily responsible for safeguarding personal data

Statistic 73

61% of respondents think that online tracking is intrusive and should be limited

Statistic 74

37% of users prefer to use pseudonyms or fake identities online for privacy reasons

Statistic 75

54% of online adults are concerned about how their data might be used for targeted political advertising

Statistic 76

62% of users believe that personal data sharing increases their risk of identity theft

Statistic 77

55% of consumers are more likely to trust companies that implement privacy-by-design principles

Statistic 78

39% of online shoppers read privacy policies carefully before completing a transaction

Statistic 79

44% of respondents think that privacy policies are too complicated to understand

Statistic 80

68% of consumers believe that online privacy safeguards should be a legal requirement

Statistic 81

41% of respondents would pay for privacy-enhanced services if available

Statistic 82

54% of online adults are concerned about how their data might be used for targeted political advertising

Statistic 83

89% of organizations have experienced a data breach that involved personal information

Statistic 84

60% of adults use at least three different online platforms to manage their personal data

Statistic 85

66% of people have personal data stored on multiple cloud platforms

Statistic 86

40% of financial transactions now use biometric data for security purposes

Statistic 87

28% of respondents use two-factor authentication to secure their personal accounts

Statistic 88

36% of adults have used online privacy tools like Tor or similar for anonymity

Statistic 89

23% of internet users have experienced online harassment when their personal data was accessed or shared without consent

Statistic 90

58% of online activity is conducted through mobile devices, emphasizing the importance of mobile privacy safeguards

Statistic 91

30% of online users have participated in privacy-related online forums or groups to discuss data protection

Statistic 92

62% of Americans have changed their privacy settings on social media platforms in the last year

Statistic 93

70% of users prefer to manage their personal data manually rather than relying on automated tools

Statistic 94

69% of Americans have limited their digital footprint intentionally

Statistic 95

66% of respondents use biometric authentication to secure their personal devices

Statistic 96

48% of consumers have reviewed and updated their privacy settings in the last six months

Statistic 97

50% of internet users have used anti-tracking tools or plugins to limit their data exposure online

Statistic 98

33% of online users have participated in data privacy protests or campaigns

Statistic 99

64% of people with privacy concerns restrict their social media usage

Statistic 100

55% of users deactivate GPS location services on their smartphones to prevent tracking

Statistic 101

59% of internet users would prefer to have an option to opt-out of targeted advertising entirely

Statistic 102

66% of users prefer controlling what personal data is shared over relying on automated privacy protections

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Sources

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Trust Badges - Publications that have cited our reports

Key Highlights

70% of Americans believe that their personal data should be more protected
81% of consumers feel that the companies they do business with should be responsible for protecting their personal data
60% of adults use at least three different online platforms to manage their personal data
45% of respondents have limited their online activities due to privacy concerns
55% of Americans regularly check their credit reports for suspicious activity
66% of people have personal data stored on multiple cloud platforms
72% of users feel they have lost control over their personal information online
35% of individuals have deleted a social media account due to privacy concerns
89% of organizations have experienced a data breach that involved personal information
67% of consumers are more likely to trust companies that clearly explain their privacy policies
48% of online adults use VPNs to protect their personal data
55% of internet users have experienced targeted advertising based on their personal data
49% of smartphone users are concerned about how their location data is being used

Despite overwhelming concerns—70% of Americans believe their personal data needs stronger protection and 81% expect companies to be responsible—most feel increasingly powerless over their online privacy, highlighting a growing demand for transparency, control, and stricter regulations in the digital age.

Adoption of Privacy-Focused Solutions

35% of adults have used privacy-focused search engines like DuckDuckGo or Startpage
50% of users have taken steps to secure their personal data with encryption
59% of respondents use privacy shields or VPNs in public Wi-Fi networks
54% of internet users utilize privacy-focused browser extensions
39% of consumers have switched to privacy-focused email providers like ProtonMail or Tutanota

Adoption of Privacy-Focused Solutions Interpretation

Amid rising digital vigilance, over half of adults are enlisting privacy tools—from encryption to VPNs—reflecting a cautious shift in safeguarding our online selves in an era of pervasive data scrutiny.

Consumer Privacy Concerns and Attitudes

70% of Americans believe that their personal data should be more protected
81% of consumers feel that the companies they do business with should be responsible for protecting their personal data
45% of respondents have limited their online activities due to privacy concerns
55% of Americans regularly check their credit reports for suspicious activity
72% of users feel they have lost control over their personal information online
35% of individuals have deleted a social media account due to privacy concerns
67% of consumers are more likely to trust companies that clearly explain their privacy policies
48% of online adults use VPNs to protect their personal data
55% of internet users have experienced targeted advertising based on their personal data
49% of smartphone users are concerned about how their location data is being used
80% of consumers are willing to share personal data if they receive personalized experiences
33% of adults report having experienced identity theft
58% of people feel overwhelmed by the amount of privacy options available online
65% of online shoppers abandon their carts due to privacy or security concerns
29% of Americans have used online tools to monitor their personal data security
74% of users have limited their sharing of personal information after data breaches
52% of consumers are unlikely to do business with companies they believe mishandle personal data
57% of respondents value transparency on how companies use personal data
41% of Americans check their online privacy policies before sharing personal information
54% of online users have disabled cookies in their browsers for privacy reasons
39% of respondents have refused to use a service due to privacy concerns
78% of consumers believe that companies should be more transparent about how they collect and use personal data
61% of data breaches involve personal information
46% of individuals regularly update their passwords to protect their personal data
34% of users avoid sharing certain personal details online due to privacy fears
77% of users trust peer recommendations over corporate privacy policies
83% of consumers believe they should have full control over their personal data
63% of respondents are concerned about government access to personal data
48% of respondents have deleted apps due to privacy concerns
72% of users feel that online privacy is more important than ever
55% of consumers are less likely to purchase from companies with poor privacy practices
61% of online shoppers use ad blockers to prevent targeted advertising based on personal data
43% of Americans are unaware of how their personal data is being used by companies
55% of users employ encrypted messaging apps to keep personal communications private
38% of consumers read online privacy policies thoroughly before accepting them
49% of people have limited their online activity due to fears of personal data misuse
65% of users prefer personalized online experiences despite privacy concerns
54% of Americans are concerned about the privacy of their health information online
42% of internet users have refused to share personal information online when asked
74% of consumers are aware of data collection practices but feel powerless to prevent it
69% of online users regularly review their privacy settings
44% of users believe that online security measures are insufficient to protect personal data
70% of respondents support government regulation of online data collection
52% of users have taken steps to limit the amount of personal data they share online
63% of Americans express concerns about their personal data being sold to third parties
47% of people are more likely to trust a company that offers clear data privacy policies
78% of internet users believe that governments should do more to regulate online data collection
58% of consumers have limited their use of online services after a privacy breach
29% of respondents have knowingly shared false personal data to protect their privacy
62% of Americans regularly review their digital footprint and personal data online
40% of users disable location tracking features on their devices for privacy reasons
30% of adults have used data anonymization techniques to protect their personal information
65% of respondents believe that their personal data is worth more if it is kept private
56% of online consumers check their privacy rights and policies regularly
38% of people avoid using certain apps or websites because of privacy concerns
47% of consumers feel that data breaches have made them more cautious about sharing personal data online
68% of users prefer encrypted messaging apps over standard ones for privacy
77% of internet users are concerned about government surveillance accessing their personal data
43% of online users say they are more cautious about their privacy than they were five years ago
31% of users have deliberately given false information online to safeguard their privacy
69% of consumers believe that more transparency would improve their trust in how personal data is handled
58% of online shoppers prefer to see clear privacy policies before making a purchase
44% of users have stopped engaging with certain online services due to privacy concerns
71% of respondents believe stronger regulations are necessary to protect personal data online
40% of consumers have became more privacy-conscious following data breach incidents
42% of respondents have asked companies to delete their personal data from servers
65% of Americans believe that corporations are primarily responsible for safeguarding personal data
61% of respondents think that online tracking is intrusive and should be limited
37% of users prefer to use pseudonyms or fake identities online for privacy reasons
54% of online adults are concerned about how their data might be used for targeted political advertising
62% of users believe that personal data sharing increases their risk of identity theft
55% of consumers are more likely to trust companies that implement privacy-by-design principles
39% of online shoppers read privacy policies carefully before completing a transaction
44% of respondents think that privacy policies are too complicated to understand
68% of consumers believe that online privacy safeguards should be a legal requirement
41% of respondents would pay for privacy-enhanced services if available
54% of online adults are concerned about how their data might be used for targeted political advertising

Consumer Privacy Concerns and Attitudes Interpretation

Despite overwhelming public demand for stronger data protection and transparency, nearly three-quarters of Americans still feel they have lost control over their online personal information, highlighting that while users value privacy and trust clear policies, rapid digital innovation and insufficient regulation continue to undermine their confidence in safeguarding personal data.

Impact of Privacy and Data Security Measures

89% of organizations have experienced a data breach that involved personal information

Impact of Privacy and Data Security Measures Interpretation

With nearly nine out of ten organizations facing personal data breaches, it's clear that in today's digital landscape, safeguarding personal information isn't just smart—it's essential for survival.

Online and Digital Behavior Patterns

60% of adults use at least three different online platforms to manage their personal data
66% of people have personal data stored on multiple cloud platforms
40% of financial transactions now use biometric data for security purposes
28% of respondents use two-factor authentication to secure their personal accounts
36% of adults have used online privacy tools like Tor or similar for anonymity
23% of internet users have experienced online harassment when their personal data was accessed or shared without consent
58% of online activity is conducted through mobile devices, emphasizing the importance of mobile privacy safeguards
30% of online users have participated in privacy-related online forums or groups to discuss data protection

Online and Digital Behavior Patterns Interpretation

In an era where nearly all adults juggle multiple cloud accounts, biometric security, and mobile privacy tools—yet over a fifth face harassment—it's clear that safeguarding our digital identities has become both a high-stakes necessity and a collective responsibility.

User Engagement and Preference for Control

62% of Americans have changed their privacy settings on social media platforms in the last year
70% of users prefer to manage their personal data manually rather than relying on automated tools
69% of Americans have limited their digital footprint intentionally
66% of respondents use biometric authentication to secure their personal devices
48% of consumers have reviewed and updated their privacy settings in the last six months
50% of internet users have used anti-tracking tools or plugins to limit their data exposure online
33% of online users have participated in data privacy protests or campaigns
64% of people with privacy concerns restrict their social media usage
55% of users deactivate GPS location services on their smartphones to prevent tracking
59% of internet users would prefer to have an option to opt-out of targeted advertising entirely
66% of users prefer controlling what personal data is shared over relying on automated privacy protections

User Engagement and Preference for Control Interpretation

Amid mounting digital privacy concerns, Americans are increasingly taking control—whether by tweaking settings, limiting footprints, or opting out—highlighting a collective push for personal sovereignty in an age dominated by automated data extraction and targeted advertising.