VENMO DEFAULTS TO PRIVATE POSTS IN PRIVACY OVERHAUL

SECURITY DESK■ 1 MIN READ

MON, MAY 11, 2026

■ AI-SUMMARIZED FROM 1 SOURCE ▸ TIMELINE

Venmo is testing a major app redesign that will make new user posts private by default, marking a significant shift for the payment platform that previously exposed transaction data publicly.

The change sets new account holders' posts to be viewable only by friends rather than the general public. This addresses long-standing privacy concerns that have plagued the platform. In 2021, BuzzFeed News demonstrated the vulnerability by locating President Joe Biden's Venmo account and those of his associates through the app's public transaction feed. The incident exposed how Venmo's default settings made sensitive financial activity visible to anyone. Venmo users have historically been able to adjust privacy settings manually, but most relied on defaults. The redesign aims to reverse this by prioritizing privacy from the start. The new default represents a recognition that public transaction posting poses genuine security and privacy risks. The feature is currently in testing, with broader rollout expected pending the app redesign's completion. The update also reflects broader industry pressure on social platforms to strengthen privacy protections and reconsider data exposure policies.

■ SOURCES

► The Verge

■ SUMMARY WRITTEN BY AI FROM THE LINKS ABOVE

■ MORE FROM THE SECURITY DESK

P126GMAIL NOW REQUIRES QR CODE AND TEXT MESSAGE

Google has updated its account registration process to require users to scan a QR code and send a text message during signup. The change affects new Gmail account creation.

2H AGO— AI Desk

P123PASSWORD RESETS ALONE WON'T STOP AD BREACHES

Resetting compromised passwords in Active Directory doesn't automatically remove attackers from the system. Cached credentials and Kerberos tickets can allow unauthorized access to persist even after password changes.

2H AGO— Security Desk

P122PALANTIR'S NHS DATA ACCESS 'DANGEROUS', MPs WARN

UK MPs have criticized NHS England for granting US tech firm Palantir unlimited access to identifiable patient data as part of an AI-driven health improvement initiative. The move has raised serious concerns about data privacy.

2H AGO— Industry Desk

P117AI SCALES UP IDENTITY THEFT ACROSS US

A Bloomberg investigation reveals that generative AI and autonomous agents are accelerating identity theft operations in the United States, enabling criminals to access Social Security numbers from darknet markets and create deepfake driver's licenses at scale.

2H AGO— AI Desk

◄ BACK TO NEWS

VENMO DEFAULTS TO PRIVATE POSTS IN PRIVACY OVERHAUL

■ MORE FROM THE SECURITY DESK

■ SUBSCRIBE TO THE DAILY BRIEF