Is Pornhub Safe? How to Browse Adult Websites Securely

This is a question we get asked a lot and one which is floating all over the internet too, especially on discussion forums where people can stay anonymous if they want: Is Pornhub safe? Is it a safe porn site to enter? We decided to address it here since we’d rather let people get their facts straight on cybersecurity directly from the industry instead of scraping for half-truths around the web.

So, is Pornhub safe to browse? What should you do and not do when browsing Pornhub? What are the cybersecurity risks associated with browsing Pornhub? Can you get viruses into your computer? How about malware? What about other adult websites, how safe are those?

What can you do to protect your computer when accessing Pornhub or other adult content websites? How about your privacy, who can see what sites you are browsing and how can you hide your activity?

We’ll answer all these questions and more, right below. Keep scrolling and learn how to stay safe when browsing Pornhub and other adult websites.

Is Pornhub safe to browse for your cybersecurity?

The short answer is that no, Pornhub is not completely safe to browse, however, whenever, without taking some necessary precautions. That doesn’t mean that Pornhub is a malware or cybercriminal hub bent on causing its users harm on purpose, quite the contrary. However, there can be risks associated with browsing Pornhub which go beyond the website’s control. It is important to learn how to browse Pornhub safely to avoid potential risks.

Given that its popularity is so high (there were over 33.5 billion visits to Pornhub last year, according to the website’s official data) and that in many cases its visitors are not necessarily tech-savvy, it’s no wonder that Pornhub can attract cybercriminals bent on using this opportunity.

As we said, Pornhub in itself is safe and strives to stay that way, as a huge business employing lots of tech people tasked to keep the website primed. But you can still become a target for cybercriminal groups and hackers while visiting Pornhub and other adult-themed websites (especially less popular ones, with less developed security policies). This is mostly due to the ads displayed on the porn website, over which the website has little control.

Unfortunately, the prevalence of malware on porn websites is very high. According to security researcher Conrad Longmore, there’s a 53% chance of encountering malware while browsing Pornhub. Of course, security employees from Pornhub and similar websites are doing their best to keep it safe for their users and catch malware as fast as possible. But the truth remains that porn sites are still one of the most popular destinations for hackers and uploaders of malicious code.

What Are the Main Cybersecurity Risks of Pornhub?

What can these cybercriminals targeting the visitors of porn sites be after? What are the main risks you are exposed to while browsing? These risks are not unique to Pornhub but are common across many adult sites.

#1. Computer viruses (Trojans)

Well, for one, to infect your computer with viruses. While the vast majority of viruses you can contract this way are mostly harmless, they can still slow your system significantly, as well as serve as a gateway for more dangerous stuff. These very common viruses to be found on ads displayed on porn websites can be Trojans, for the most part.

Such viruses don’t pose a huge security risk but they can make your computer slower, as well as create more vulnerabilities into your system, which can then be exploited for more dangerous malware to enter. Compared to other porn sites, Pornhub is generally considered safer, as other porn sites often rely on ads for revenue, increasing the risk of exposure to malicious content and viruses.

#2. Adware

Other viruses you can get from the ads displayed on Pornhub or a porn site are adware. This means that once they take root into your computer, they will cause more ads and spammy content to be displayed to you even if you’re not browsing Pornhub anymore.

This is not just annoying since it can also slow down your system, but it can also be privacy-infringing since the ads can be adult content related. If you share your computer with other family members, you probably don’t want indecent ads popping up when other people are using the device.

#3. Malware or Spyware

Other types of malware that you can contract from clicking ads on Pornhub or similar sites are more dangerous. The cybercriminals behind them can be after your data, and considering the nature of the content you are browsing, this can be very sensitive data related to the type of adult content you are interested in, your online behavior and so on. These types of malware can also be found on other porn sites.

Sextortion scams are very common. This is when you get an email from hackers claiming to have installed spyware into your computer and filmed you while you were browsing adult websites, recording also everything you have watched and so on. They will also tell you that unless you send them money, they will send this data to your employer, family, friends and so on.

For the most part, these claims are bogus and the hackers are just fishing for the users gullible or scared enough in order to make some easy money. But in some cases, they may be real. Don’t take that chance and make sure you stay safe, first and foremost by having your device protected by a reliable anti-malware solution.

How Safe Are Other Adult Content Websites?

What about other porn sites, besides Pornhub? Are their security risks the same?

Well, for the most part, we should stress again that Pornhub is still overall safe-ish. It’s the content from third parties (ads) that you need to be wary of. The same risks from ads are also true for every other adult-themed site out there, especially those who allow publishers to stream their own content (the ‘tube’ type of porn websites).

This is because such websites make money from allowing advertisers to run embedded ads from traffic networks. In many cases, this embedded content has malicious code included in it. While the host website (the porn website running these ads) removes all ads containing malicious scripts, it can take a while for these risky ads to get detected.

But in the case of lesser-known websites, with fewer employees and less of a security network in place, the risks may actually be greater than with Pornhub. If another website you’d like to browse is also a huge one, well-known and with millions of users, the risks are probably about the same.

If we’re talking about obscure porn websites, then not only they are more likely to get infected with malware from third parties (advertisers) but they may be a front for cyber-criminality in themselves.

Pornhub’s Commitment to Trust and Safety

Pornhub has taken significant steps to enhance user safety and build trust on its platform. Recognizing the importance of safeguarding its users, the company employs a combination of advanced AI technology and human reviewers to monitor and remove illegal content, including child exploitation and non-consensual material. This dual approach ensures a more thorough and effective content review process.

In addition to these measures, Pornhub continuously refines its trust and safety policies to better identify and eliminate unlawful content. The platform’s commitment to user safety is further demonstrated through its partnerships with reputable organizations such as the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children. These collaborations help Pornhub swiftly identify and remove content related to child exploitation, reinforcing its dedication to maintaining a safe and responsible online environment.

By implementing these robust trust and safety policies, Pornhub aims to protect its users and uphold its core values of safety and responsibility.

How to Protect Your Privacy when Browsing Pornhub?

The issue of safety has two aspects: protecting yourself from viruses, extortion, hackers, and so on, rounded up under the umbrella term ‘cybersecurity’ and the second issue of protecting your privacy from everyone around you.

Let’s start by addressing privacy first.

You may be tempted to browse Pornhub incognito to make sure no one but you knows about it. While this can be a partial solution (not to store search history, cookies and so on), incognito browsing is not really private.

Major browsers like Google Chrome and Mozilla are very upfront about it whenever you open up a new incognito browser window.