Money Shot: Pornhub and the Rise of a Global Industry Following Nicholas Kristof’s New York Times investigation that discovered numerous videos depicting sexual violence against minors on one of the Internet’s most-visited websites – Pornhub – Montreal-based Mindgeek announced changes that include verifying users before uploading videos as well as disallowing downloads so as to prevent illegal images being reuploaded or spread further.

Kristof’s moves may come too late for some of those she interviewed; for instance, high school student Serena Fleites from Virginia who sent nude videos to her older brother who then uploaded them onto Pornhub has garnered over 1.5 million signatures in an online petition demanding Pornhub be closed down and its executives held accountable for complicity in child sexual abuse, exploitation and trafficking.

Pornhub’s new owner, Ethical Capital Partners, claims a comprehensive suite of tools for screening out content deemed offensive or inappropriate was a key reason behind their purchase, yet he will only disclose publicly that these changes will take place “over time”.

Pornhub and its sister sites have quickly become some of the world’s most beloved free adult websites, attracting millions of visitors and millions in advertising revenue. Each visit leaves behind data – from location and browsing history to personal details that could potentially identify you personally. A virtual private network (VPN) service can help keep your personal details hidden while still protecting you in case an adult website gets compromised with malware or compromised.