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The hidden tax we pay: what share of your traffic is actually ads
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Whether we’re searching for something specific, like a cooking tutorial, or just scrolling for the sake of distraction, we go online for content. But alongside it comes something we never really asked for: ads and trackers, quietly working in the background and fueling the advertising engine the modern web runs on.
This hidden layer is easy to miss, but it still puts a load on your connection. Ads and trackers slow things down and eat into your bandwidth — all without much awareness, let alone consent. So how big is that cost, and how does it vary across the globe? We looked into it in our latest report.
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Age verification craze
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Leading age check firm mishandles user data
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A major age verification provider has been fined €950,000 for collecting excessive biometric data, relying on questionable consent, and storing sensitive information for years. As age checks become more widespread across the web, this case offers a closer look at how these systems handle your data — and where they can go wrong.
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400+ experts warn: age checks may do more harm than good
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More than 400 privacy and security researchers warn that mandatory age verification could backfire, exposing users to more data collection while still being easy to bypass with tools like VPNs or fake credentials. Their open letter breaks down why age checks may create more risks than they solve, from data leaks to new scams.
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Your data is up for grabs
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Your car may know more about you than your phone
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Modern cars are packed with sensors, apps, and connected services that allow them to collect everything: from your location and voice data to highly sensitive personal details. The report reveals just how little control drivers have, and how easily their data can be shared or sold behind the scenes.
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Your ad-related data ends up in government hands
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Every time an ad loads, your data can be broadcast to dozens of companies in real-time auctions — and not just the winner gets access to it. That same data can then be resold by brokers and, in some cases, quietly end up in the hands of government agencies, turning targeted ads into a surveillance channel.
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What caught our eye
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AdGuard news
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