Is LinkedIn Safe? Security Review
3/5
Overall Safety Score
★
★
★
★
★
Verdict: LinkedIn has Microsoft-grade security infrastructure but its professional data is extensively scraped and used for phishing. The platform itself collects significant data for its advertising and recruitment businesses.
LinkedIn is the world's largest professional networking platform with over 900 million members. Owned by Microsoft, it holds sensitive career and employment data that makes it a high-value target for scrapers and social engineers.
Worried about your LinkedIn data? Apps like this feed data brokers who resell your name, address and phone number. DeleteMe covers 976 broker sites, with human reviewers handling each removal.
Get DeleteMe Deal →Security Ratings Breakdown
| Category | Score | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| Encryption | 4/5 | |
| Privacy | 2/5 | |
| Track Record | 2/5 |
Security Features
- Two-factor authentication (SMS and app-based)
- Microsoft enterprise security infrastructure
- Login alerts and session management
- Profile visibility controls
- Encrypted connections (TLS)
Privacy Concerns
- Professional data (employer, title, connections) is a goldmine for social engineering
- Extensive data collection for advertising and recruiter products
- Data shared with Microsoft ecosystem
- InMail system exposes users to unsolicited contact
- Profile viewing generates data even in 'private' mode
Past Security Incidents
- 2012 breach exposed 6.5 million hashed passwords (later found to be 117 million)
- 2021 scraping incident exposed data from 700 million profiles (LinkedIn claimed no breach; data was scraped from public profiles)
- Frequent target of phishing campaigns impersonating LinkedIn notifications
How to Stay Safe Using LinkedIn
- Enable two-factor authentication
- Limit profile visibility to connections only where possible
- Be cautious of unsolicited messages and connection requests
- Don't share sensitive company information in posts
- Review and restrict data sharing in privacy settings
Safer Alternatives
- There is no direct privacy-focused alternative to LinkedIn for professional networking
🔒
LinkedIn Has Your Data — Take It Back
Apps like LinkedIn share your details with data brokers who resell them. DeleteMe covers 976 broker sites and puts a human privacy advisor on every removal, rather than firing off automated requests and hoping.
Get DeleteMe Deal →Money-back guarantee • Human-reviewed removals
Protect Yourself Further
Last updated: February 10, 2026