Privacy guide for expats in Spain « Euro Weekly News

As we navigate 2025, protecting your personal information online has never been more critical. Recent events paint a concerning picture of digital vulnerability that should alarm every internet user, particularly expats who often rely heavily on digital services to manage their lives abroad.

The Privacy Crisis Unfolding Now

The first half of 2025 has already witnessed unprecedented cyber attacks. Yale New Haven Health’s 5.5 million affected patients and Hertz’s over one million compromised records highlight the risks to personal data, demonstrating that even major corporations struggle to protect customer information. More troubling still, Meta confirmed a highly sophisticated spyware attack on WhatsApp users, compromising journalists, activists, and civil society members, showing that even supposedly secure messaging platforms face serious threats.

These breaches aren’t isolated incidents. 2024 saw more than 1 billion records stolen, and if the first two months of this year are anything to go by, 2025 looks to be an unprecedented year for data breaches. For expats in Spain managing banking, healthcare, and government services online, these statistics represent real risks to your financial security and personal safety.

Why Expats Are Particularly Vulnerable

Living abroad creates unique digital privacy challenges. You’re likely managing accounts across multiple countries, using public Wi-Fi networks more frequently, and relying on digital banking and communication tools to stay connected with home. Each of these activities creates potential entry points for cybercriminals and data harvesting companies.

Spain’s position within the European Union means you benefit from GDPR protections, but recent regulatory changes add complexity. Europe is preparing to ‘ease the burden’ of landmark data privacy law, with changes to GDPR expected. While these modifications aim to help businesses, they also signal evolving privacy landscapes that require your active attention.

Essential Privacy Tools for Digital Protection
Secure Email: ProtonMail and Alternatives

Traditional email services like Gmail and Outlook scan your messages for advertising purposes and store your data indefinitely. ProtonMail, based in Switzerland, offers end-to-end encryption and operates under strict privacy laws. Your emails are encrypted before they even reach ProtonMail’s servers, meaning not even the company can read your messages.

Other secure email providers include Tutanota, based in Germany under strong EU privacy laws, and StartMail from the Netherlands. These services typically cost between €3-6 monthly but provide invaluable protection for sensitive communications about finances, healthcare, or legal matters.

Virtual Private Networks (VPNs): Your Digital Shield

A VPN encrypts all internet traffic between your device and the websites you visit, making it impossible for internet service providers, governments, or hackers on public networks to monitor your online activities. For expats, VPNs serve multiple purposes: protecting privacy, accessing geo-blocked content from your home country, and securing connections on public Wi-Fi networks common in Spanish cafes and airports.

Choose VPN providers with no-logging policies, preferably based in privacy-friendly jurisdictions. ExpressVPN, NordVPN, and Surfshark are popular choices, though consider Mullvad or ProtonVPN for maximum privacy focus. Expect to pay €3-10 monthly for quality service.

Search Engines: Breaking Free from Google

Google tracks every search you make, building detailed profiles for advertising purposes. DuckDuckGo offers comparable search results without tracking or storing personal information. Startpage provides Google results through a privacy-protecting proxy, while Brave Search offers independent indexing with strong privacy protections.

Password Management: Your First Line of Defense

Using the same password across multiple sites means one breach compromises all your accounts. Password managers generate unique, complex passwords for every account and store them securely. Bitwarden offers excellent free and premium options, while 1Password and Dashlane provide user-friendly premium alternatives.

Advanced Privacy Strategies
Two-Factor Authentication Everywhere

Enable two-factor authentication on every important account, particularly banking, email, and government services. Use authentication apps like Authy or Google Authenticator rather than SMS, which can be intercepted.

Browser Privacy Settings

Firefox with privacy extensions like uBlock Origin and Privacy Badger blocks trackers and advertisements. Alternatively, use Duck duck go browser, which blocks trackers by default and includes built-in ad blocking.

Social Media Audit

Review privacy settings on all social media accounts. Limit who can see your posts, disable location tracking, and consider whether you need these accounts at all. Many expats find life significantly improved after reducing social media usage.

Practical Steps for Immediate Implementation

Start with the most critical changes: switch to a secure email provider, install a reputable VPN, and use a password manager. These three changes address the majority of common privacy vulnerabilities.

Next, audit your existing accounts. Remove unnecessary services, update privacy settings on accounts you keep, and enable two-factor authentication. This process takes time but dramatically improves your security posture.

Finally, educate yourself about ongoing threats. Subscribe to privacy-focused newsletters like the Electronic Frontier Foundation’s updates or follow security researchers on social media to stay informed about emerging risks.

The Spanish Context

Spain’s data protection agency has been particularly active in 2025. In May 2024, it fined a gym EUR27,000 for mandatory biometric access control, showing aggressive enforcement of privacy rights. The Agency started working on a new strategic plan for the coming years following leadership changes, suggesting evolving privacy enforcement approaches.

As an expat, you have the same privacy rights as Spanish citizens under GDPR. Don’t hesitate to file complaints with Spain’s data protection agency if companies mishandle your personal information.

Conclusion: Privacy as a Fundamental Right

Digital privacy isn’t paranoia, it’s basic digital hygiene in an increasingly connected world. The breaches dominating 2025’s headlines prove that hoping companies will protect your data is insufficient. Taking control of your digital privacy protects not just your personal information, but your financial security, personal relationships, and peace of mind.

The tools and strategies outlined here require initial investment in time and money, but they provide long-term protection against threats that grow more sophisticated each year. In Spain’s digital landscape, where expat life depends heavily on online services, this protection isn’t luxury, it’s necessity.

Start today with one small change. Your future self will thank you for taking privacy seriously before it becomes a crisis.