Week in the Privacy News 2025-44

Good morning, folks!

As your morning hot beverage might be brewing, let me highlight some important news from last week. While peers at Mullvad can enjoy this week's spotlight as their VPN scores highest in newest test, Universe Browser makes rounds for opposite reasons. Firefox add-ons will have to declare wheter they collect data and deployment of ChatGPT's Atlas and AI browsers motivates people to ditch Safari once-for-all. Read about it here:

New tool of the week

• Meet Mullvad! Privacy oriented, no-logs VPN service operator that has a good reputation and strong security practices

Insights

• Assured Security Consultants found no critical vulnerabilities in Mullvad VPN
• EFF and Global Partners urge governments not to sign the UN Convention Against Cybercrime
• Read an analysis of PETs: Privacy Enhancing Technologies
• Beware of new "privacy browser" called The Universe Browser that behaves like a malware linking to Asia's underground
• Tools for Humanity’s Adrian Ludwig argues that data breaches and phishing attacks are a type of feedback for Web3 designers

Knowledge

• What to know about ChatGPT Atlas:
• Starting November, Firefox add-ons must declare if they collect or transmit personal data
• US Homeland Security wants to start new mobile platform using AI infused surveillance
• DHS manager failure caused outage of Amazon for 16 hours
• "Is it finally time to ditch Safari?" asks Anthony Ha in a think-piece on AI Browsers

Inspiration: Going On(Line) an offering of media from the web

• Join p2pfoundation's Michael Bauwens Academy Cohort courses
• [Take our own Web3 Privacy Now courses through our Academy]()
• Privacy is culture: X Spaces talk with Womxn in Privacy, W3P, and Book of Ethereum

Inspiration: Going Off(Line) an offering of IRL events

*(new/changes in **bold**)*

• Oct 28 - Cybersecurity and Privacy Institute Annual Conference
• Oct 28-29 - Blockchain Life 2025 Dubai
• Nov 7-8 - SeaGL conference Seattle
• Nov 16 - Web3Privacy Now Congress II Buenos Aires
• Nov 21 - Ethereum Privacy Stack
• Dec 27-30 - 39th Chaos Communication Congress Hamburg