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US data protection: Online habits and data breaches

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3 years ago

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ProtonVPN’s survey reveals US online data protection habits and how common data breaches are.

As an organization building an internet where privacy is the default, Proton are always interested in how people protect themselves and their data online. They asked 1,000 randomly selected people over the age of 16 questions about their online habits to reveal what the average US citizen is doing to secure their online data.

The survey results indicate just how common data breaches are, which data people are most concerned about being exposed, as well as the level of protection individuals use to keep their information safe.

ProtonVPN have highlighted the key findings from the survey below.

Gmail is the most common email provider, but iCloud is popular among people under 25

The survey asked respondents which email provider and internet browsers they used most.

Gmail came out on top as the most popular email provider, with 73.71% of respondents using a Gmail account.

Apple’s email service, part of the iCloud suite, was the fourth most popular overall. However, the results showed a sharp increase in iCloud accounts within the 16 to 24-year-old age bracket (over 18% had an iCloud account compared to under 10% of those above this age range), signaling a conspicuous appeal to the younger generation.

When evaluating email service providers, it’s important to consider their track record as well as the protections they have in place. Some email providers, such as Yahoo and Outlook, have suffered major data breaches. Other email providers, such as Gmail, have a good security record but scan your emails, track your purchasing habits, and share access to your messages with third parties. And, unfortunately, none of these popular providers, including Apple’s email service, offer end-to-end encryption or zero-access encryption.

ProtonMail uses zero-access encryption on all emails so that we cannot read your messages, meaning no third parties can read them either. It also means that even if there were a data breach, your messages would remain secure.

Most providers do now offer two-factor authentication for their logins, and you should always use this security measure. However, 2FA by itself won’t always be enough to protect your account, depending on the type of breach. It also cannot prevent your provider from selling or sharing your data. For a more private email experience, you need to use an encrypted service, such as ProtonMail, that protects all messages.

For internet browsers, Google Chrome came out on top with 63.45% of people using Chrome as their day-to-day browser, while Safari came second with 26.29% of people using Apple’s chosen browser as their main search provider.

Many people use Big Tech services simply because they come preinstalled on their devices or offer name recognition and speed. Yet these services are built on a business model of exploiting your data for advertising purposes, which is at odds with privacy. This is especially true with browsers, which is why using alternative services that minimize data collection is the best way to find what you’re looking for while handing over the least amount of information.

72% of people admit to using public WiFi networks without adequate security measures, despite privacy warnings

Though many may feel they are as careful as possible with their online security, do we give this as much thought when we are on our phones or on the move?

Chances are, when you have been out grabbing dinner, on holiday, or working from a coffee shop, you’ve logged into a public WiFi network. Our survey revealed that over 72% of people use public WiFi networks, despite the risks they pose to your privacy.

These WiFi networks often will make you agree to terms and conditions that allow them to monitor your browsing and link to your email so that they can sell that data to advertisers.

Having a trustworthy VPN running on your device can help with this issue, as the VPN encrypts your data, preventing the network operator from monitoring your online browsing.

Over a quarter of people surveyed had their data exposed in a breach

As part of the survey, we additionally asked respondents to enter their main email address into a website called haveibeenpwnd.com. This website is free to use and checks whether an email address has been exposed in an online breach.

Our survey found that 25.8% of people have had their data exposed in a breach online at least once. Over 10% hadn’t even realized this was the case before checking for the survey.

The website also checks if your email address has been subject to a “paste”. “Pasting” is a type of data breach where hackers copy and paste personal information, such as email addresses, names, passwords, and so forth, on specific websites, like PasteBin. This makes it much easier for others to obtain and share a person’s data. 20% of people who took part in our survey found that their personal information had been subject to “pastes”.

We asked respondents to specify the type of information they found being exposed the most. Three kinds of data were especially common:

  1. Email Addresses (57.19%)
  2. Passwords (38.36%)
  3. Usernames (33.22%)

The survey also asked respondents to specify the type of companies that had been breached. The social media industry had the highest percentages of people affected by a data breach (42.12%), followed by gaming (25%) and tech-based websites (20.55%).

A larger breakdown can be seen below:

Social media 42.12%
Gaming 25.00%
Technology 20.55%
E-commerce 18.84%
Lifestyle 17.81%
Banking 17.12%
Creative 11.64%
Fitness 10.96%
Adult industry 8.56%

Unfortunately, there isn’t much anyone can do when an external company suffers a data breach. People trust that a company or website has as much security in place as possible to keep their online data safe. This is not always the case, and even companies with high security levels have suffered large data breaches.

Most large social media platforms have suffered data breaches, including Facebook in 2019 and TikTok, Instagram, and Youtube, where the information of millions of users has been exposed. In this case, there is nothing more these individuals could have done to protect their data.

If people are worried about their information being exposed from websites such as social media, sharing as little personal data as possible on these accounts will reduce the amount of data at risk in any potential breach.

82% of people are concerned about having their personal data exposed in a breach, but less than 21% would change their online habits

The team at ProtonVPN wanted to find out not just what information has been exposed online, but ultimately what information people are most concerned about being exposed.

The survey revealed that the three types of information people are most concerned about being exposed in a breach are:

  1. Bank details (54%)
  2. Passwords (43.53%)
  3. Physical addresses (18.13%)

Overall, 82% of people admitted to being worried about having their information exposed in online data breaches.

However, when we asked the same survey respondents about the precautions they take to protect themselves and their data online, their responses did not match this level of concern:

  • Less than 23% of people said they read privacy policies to ensure their data will not be sold to third parties.
  • Less than 20% of people said they have two-factor authentication (2FA) set up on all accounts, which keeps your accounts safe if your password is stolen or exposed.
  • Moreover, when asked after taking the survey whether they plan to do anything more to keep themselves protected online, only 20.82% said they plan to do so.

But for those who want to take extra precautions, what more can you do to make sure they keep their data and online usage as private and secure as possible?

Steps you can take to protect yourself

Though a company data breach is not something an individual can protect themselves from, there are several precautions you can take to keep your data and online usage as secure as possible.

The security experts at ProtonVPN have given their tips on what to do if you are worried about your data being exposed online:

  • Where possible, set up 2FA and extra steps to sign in to ensure your accounts are as safe as possible. With 2FA, even if someone obtains your login details, they will not be able to access your account without also having access to your second authentication pass.
  • Don’t sign up for or share personal information with a website or service unless it is strictly necessary. We know that this is not easy with social media. However, we recommend sharing as little personal information as possible.
  • When checking out, always untick any boxes that ask if they can keep your payment information for the next time you shop.
  • Make sure all your passwords are different for each of your accounts, which is made easier by using a password manager. This means that if your data is obtained on one website’s data breach, hackers will not have access to your other accounts.

Sources and Methodology

Based on a survey of 1,000 US citizens aged 16 and over and picked at random from across the US, which took place in November 2021.

Censuswide conducted this survey on behalf of ProtonVPN.

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BCLC

BCLC Launches “What’s played here stays here” Campaign

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3 days ago

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March 27, 2025

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BCLC’s new “What’s played here stays here” campaign is issuing an important reminder to British Columbians who choose to gamble – specifically that all net profit its operations generate stays in B.C. to help fund critical services like education, health care and community programs.

The campaign also reinforces that all other gambling websites operating in B.C. are illegal and take away funds from critical community programs and services.

“Across B.C. and Canada, we’ve seen incredible groundswell around the importance of buying and supporting local, and that’s no different for British Columbians who choose gambling for their entertainment. We want our B.C. players to know they can find a world-class gambling experience in their own backyard, whether it’s at one of our 33 casinos, 3,400 lottery retailers, or online at PlayNow.com, and that the proceeds from their play with BCLC make a positive impact at home in their community,” Pat Davis, President and CEO of BCLC, said.

Along with illegal online gambling websites, BCLC also competes with Washington State and Las Vegas casinos, all of which aggressively market to B.C. residents.

“BCLC continues to raise awareness that these gambling options do not support B.C.’s economy and take away funds from vital provincial and community-based programs and services. In a time when British Columbians are standing united, we want to reinforce that playing together with BCLC helps make B.C. even better,” Pat Davis added.

The post BCLC Launches “What’s played here stays here” Campaign appeared first on Gaming and Gambling Industry in the Americas.

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Canada

Online casino with a Nordic twist enters yet another market as it continues to deploy its ambitious international expansion plans

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5 days ago

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March 26, 2025

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Winlandia.com, the online casino brand with a distinctly Nordic feel, has made its debut in Canada as it continues to expand its reach into international markets.

Winlandia is celebrating ten years of Nordic excellence and is now available for Canadian players, with its website available in both English and French.

Canadian players will get a real sense of Finnish Sisu when they sign up to Winlandia for the first time with a generous welcome bonus that is up for grabs.

When it comes to depositing, Winlandia has a well-stocked cashier including Visa, Mastercard, MuchBetter, Paysafecard, Payz, AstroPay and of course, Interac.

Players can expect instant deposits and fast withdrawals, so they get their winnings without delay.

The cool Nordic vibes extend to the online casino lobby where players can explore a vast portfolio of more than 9,000 slot, table, instant win, bingo, Slingo, arcade and live dealer titles.

Just some of the providers available include Pragmatic Play, NetEnt, Microgaming, Red Tiger, Play’n GO, Blueprint Gaming, IGT, Scientific Games, Nolimit City and Evolution Gaming.

Winlandia players will be able to benefit from its Personalization Platform that was implemented at the beginning of last year. This means players will get individual game recommendations based on real-time data, a bit like Netflix but for casino games, not movies.

Canadian players can also enjoy some of the most generous promotions in the market, including Daily Picks which sees free spins and other bonuses added to their account each day.

They can also take part in thrilling slot tournaments and go head-to-head with other players and where if they place high on the leaderboard, there are big prizes to be won.

Winlandia is powered by SkillOnNet and has quickly emerged as a top online casino brand in competitive markets such as Finland, Denmark and the UK.

The team behind the site is confident that Canadian players will be drawn to its comprehensive offering and unique Nordic flavour.

Winlandia has extended its collaboration with its premium affiliate partner, Gambling.com, as their exclusive launch partner for the Canadian market. Via their site assets like Gambling.com/ca, players will get an exclusive offer of 100% up to $5,000 + 150 Free spins on Big Bass Bonanza.

Christoffer Grönlund, Head of Acquisitions & PR at Winlandia, said: “Players in Canada can now enjoy an authentic Nordic online casino experience that includes thousands of casino games from the biggest providers offered alongside generous bonuses and promotions. 

“Despite being an international brand, localisation is very important to us and that’s why we implemented the payment method Interac to our cashier and ensure we have the most popular game providers for the Canadian market in our game lobby. 

“Canada is a big market and one that we are incredibly excited to enter this market together with our Premium Affiliate Partner Gambling.com/ca. We truly believe that their high volume of quality traffic of players will enjoy what we have to offer at Winlandia.” 

Gary Connelly, Senior Key Account Manager at Gambling.com Group, added: “I’m excited to welcome Winlandia Casino  as they prepare for their Canadian launch. 

“With 10 years of Nordic excellence and trust, a standout design, and an impressive portfolio of over 9,000+ games, Winlandia is well-positioned for success in this market. Following strong results in the UK, I look forward to a successful partnership in Canada, where their fresh player base offers great conversion potential.”

The post Online casino with a Nordic twist enters yet another market as it continues to deploy its ambitious international expansion plans appeared first on Gaming and Gambling Industry in the Americas.

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GiG Launches Fourth Partner into Ontario as PowerPlay Enhances Its Gaming Experience with GiG’s Formidable Combination of Proprietary Platform, Sportsbook and AI technology

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6 days ago

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March 25, 2025

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Gaming Innovation Group (GiG Software Plc) has announced a major new partnership with PowerPlay Online Casino & Sportsbook,  with the brand now live having migrated to a premium technology supplier to propel growth in the regulated Canadian province of Ontario. The launch marks the fourth brand now active in the region powered by GiG’s cutting-edge iGaming technology, and further positioning GiG as a provider of choice for operators in regulated online markets in Canada, with Alberta next due in line once legislation passes.

GiG has established itself as one of the premier technology providers in Ontario, and PowerPlay will look to leverage a proven and powerful combination of GiG’s proprietary technology. The launch includes GiG’s award winning iGaming platform alongside a suite of next generation solutions, its feature packed Sportsbook, SportX, revolutionary rules based engine, LogicX and GiG’s innovative CMS.

PowerPlay has built a strong Canadian legacy, and its dedication to reliability and customer satisfaction has cemented its position as a trusted operator, ensuring players enjoy a world-class, secure, and seamless gaming experience.  Now, with the migration to GiG’s cutting-edge technology, PowerPlay is poised to enhance its offerings even further.

With a growing emphasis on cutting-edge artificial intelligence and automation, PowerPlay can also now call on the full power of dynamic AI tools DataX and LogicX, with the incorporation of advanced machine learning models into their toolkit, enhancing decision-making processes and rule building helping to deliver significant increases in player acquisition and customer retention. Innovative sportsbook SportX will boost PowerPlay’s offering by providing advanced bet-builder capabilities, dynamic odds, and a comprehensive suite of localised features, including horse racing and virtual sports betting.

The launch carries significance as further evidence of GiG’s accelerated delivery cadence, as the fourth publicly announced partner launch this year. GiG has implemented a suite of strategic improvements over the past year, and is set to further escalate launches throughout 2025, reinforcing its commitment to seamless execution and growth.

GiG’s has been one of the forerunners of regulated market expansion in iGaming for over 10 years, facilitating smooth market entries in complex regulated environments not only in North America, but across key markets in Europe, Latin America and now the Philippines in Asia, strengthening its position as a reliable and strategic technology partner for operators globally.

Having regulated in April 2022, online gaming in Ontario has enjoyed significant growth under the guidance of the AGCO (Alcohol & Gambling Commission). As of the second quarter of the 2024-25 fiscal year , Ontario’s online gambling market reached CA$738 million in Gross Gaming Revenue (GGR), reflecting a 1.7% quarter-over-quarter growth and a 35.4% year-over-year increase, according to data supplied by the regulator.

James Coxon, Chief Operating Officer at GiG, commented: “GiG’s expertise in delivering market-leading technology is once again proving instrumental in helping partners like PowerPlay navigate the complexities of regulated markets. The successful launch into Ontario highlights our ability to facilitate seamless market entry while ensuring stability and scalability for long-term growth. Our continued focus on delivering brilliant basics, from secure platform infrastructure to optimised user experiences, is key to enabling partners to maximise their potential. We’re proud to be playing a role in PowerPlay’s success and the ongoing evolution of both the Ontarian market and the wider future of iGaming in Canada, reinforcing our reputation as a trusted partner in the regulated space.”

Dean Serrao, Chief Executive Officer at PowerPlay, commented: “The successful migration to GiG’s technology platform is a milestone for PowerPlay as we continue to grow in Ontario. This partnership allows us to offer an enhanced and seamless experience for our players, while leveraging GiG’s flexible and scalable solutions to expand our presence in the market. We are excited for what’s ahead and confident this move will help us strengthen our position as a leading brand in the province.”

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