Is Perplexity AI Safe? Security Review
3/5
Overall Safety Score
★
★
★
★
★
Verdict: Perplexity AI is relatively safe with standard data practices for a startup AI company. Search queries and conversations create a profile of your interests. It is a reasonable choice for AI-assisted search.
Perplexity AI is an AI-powered answer engine that provides sourced responses to questions. It combines web search with AI synthesis, positioning itself as an alternative to traditional search engines.
Security Ratings Breakdown
| Category | Score | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| Encryption | 4/5 | |
| Privacy | 3/5 | |
| Track Record | 3/5 |
Security Features
- Account authentication
- Encryption in transit
- Source attribution for fact-checking
- Pro tier with enhanced features
Privacy Concerns
- Search queries reveal interests, concerns, and research topics
- Conversation data likely used for model improvement
- Usage data collected for analytics
- Startup with evolving privacy practices
Past Security Incidents
- No major data breaches as of 2025
- 2024 controversy over web scraping practices that ignored robots.txt directives, raising ethical concerns
How to Stay Safe Using Perplexity AI
- Don't search for highly sensitive personal or medical topics while logged in
- Review privacy settings and data retention options
- Verify AI-generated answers against cited sources
Safer Alternatives
- Google Search (established, broader results)
- ChatGPT with web browsing (alternative AI search)
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Last updated: February 10, 2026