Concurrent Multi-Vector Attacks Hit Consumers, Businesses Using Separate VPNs and Password Managers. “Spend More to be Less Secure.”

A new study by PureVPN — a global leader in online privacy and security, safeguarding digital freedom — reveals that consumers are spending hundreds of dollars and dozens of hours every year managing overlapping security tools, yet feeling less protected than ever.

In “The Cost of Fragmentation: Measuring Time, Spend and Risk in Personal Cybersecurity Tool Stacks,” researchers with Ontario Tech University, PureSquare, and CQR Cybersecurity reveal that security tool fragmentation – the use of disparate password managers and VPNs – creates a previously unknown security gap. Threat actors exploit this gap and consumers’ “alert fatigue” to steal credentials and offer them on the Dark Web.

Paying More to Be Less Secure: The average person now manages 3.4 security apps, spends up to 27 hours a year maintaining them, and wastes between $574 and $850 annually on redundant subscriptions and unmanaged risks.

The study warns that tools fragmentation – the use of non-integrated password managers, VPNs, and other tools from differing vendors – creates notification cycles that drive “alert fatigue” — a dangerous blind spot that became especially visible during the 2025 Google breach affecting 2.5 billion Gmail accounts. The breach drove individuals to flood forums and search engines with urgent “what to do” queries while scrambling across multiple apps.

“Fragmentation doesn’t just waste money, it leaves people vulnerable when breaches strike,” said Ifrah Arif, Product Manager at PureVPN. “Unification is the missing layer. Choosing an app that integrates essential password management and VPN protections within a single secure app can sharply reduce this alert chaos – which can easily overwhelm all but the most tech-savvy consumers.”

The Measured Cost of Fragmentation

• 44% of users receive overlapping alerts.
• 38% receiving overlapping alerts say they ignore them.
• 29–34% of people leave tools disabled or miss paid features entirely.
• Redundant subscriptions account for 24% of annual security tool costs.
• The high cost of tool fragmentation and alert chaos: $400 million is lost every year to multi-surface attacks (see below).
• Personal pre-breach costs to consumers: duplicative “chaos tax” expenditures can cost more than $850 per consumer, per year.

Missed alerts and ignored warnings become the new normal, turning fragmented apps into open doors for attackers.

The team’s further analysis of 1.5M breaches shows that nearly 38% of attacks exploit stolen credentials and exposed connections, taking advantage of fragmented tools, resulting in $400 million lost every year to these multi-surface attacks. However, the true cost to an individual when their password data is offered on the Dark Web cannot be captured, as the danger grows with each use of stolen credentials.

One App, Complete Protection

Leading from this research, PureVPN has unified VPN, Password Manager, Dark Web Monitoring, Tracker & Ad Blocker, and Data Removal into a single unified platform. Instead of multiple apps competing for the consumer’s attention, users receive one alert stream, one workflow, and one place to act.

Built on the principle of integration over addition, each component strengthens the others:

• VPN + Password Manager ensures credential autofill travels through an encrypted tunnel.
• Tracker & Ad Blocker stops real-time tracking, while Data Removal erases personal identifiers from data brokers.
• Dark Web Monitoring continuously scans hidden marketplaces and breach dumps for exposed credentials.

Notifications are consolidated and prioritized to reduce false alarms, while the new bottom navigation keeps breach-response tools easily accessible under stress. One subscription replaces overlapping costs — delivering both protection and simplicity.

“Security isn’t about how many tools you have, it’s about how well they work together when it matters,” said Ali Khan, Head of Product at PureVPN. “PureVPN’s security suite is designed around that reality: one app, complete protection, no wasted motion.”

With this unified app, now live on Android and iOS, PureVPN is redefining what personal protection means: one app, complete peace of mind.

About PureVPN

PureVPN is a global leader in online privacy, security, and digital freedom with over 18 years of expertise. Its unified app combines VPN, password management, tracker blocking, dark web monitoring, and data removal into a single, streamlined platform — reducing complexity and giving users complete protection in one place.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20251023485420/en/

PureVPN Research says Paying More to Be Less Secure: The average person now manages 3.4 security apps, spends up to 27 hours a year maintaining them, and wastes between $574 and $850 annually on redundant subscriptions and unmanaged risks.