Brazil faces high digital privacy risks and heavy internet usage

A study by NordVPN involving 20,000 people across 20 countries highlights significant digital privacy concerns and habits among Brazilians. The research reveals a contradiction in digital behavior: while 33% of Brazilians cannot imagine a day without being connected, 37% fear their personal data is circulating online without their knowledge. This level of concern is among the highest in the surveyed countries.

Data exposure is widespread, with 82% of Brazilians having shared their full names, 78% their birth dates, and 51% their CPF (a primary identification number used for banking and health records). Additionally, 21% have disclosed banking information. Experts note that the data most feared by users is often the most common and inexpensive to trade on the dark web, such as email passwords and streaming account credentials.

Regarding time spent online, the study suggests Brazilians spend an average of 52 years connected, which represents approximately 68% of the country's average life expectancy of 76 years. This high level of connectivity is linked to habits like endless social media scrolling, which can trigger dopamine responses and lead to physical and emotional exhaustion, anxiety, and sleep disruption.