Misha Rykov

Misha Rykov is a Privacy & Security Researcher currently working as a freelancer. He has gained recognition for his investigative work in the field of online privacy, particularly regarding mental health applications. Rykov is notably involved with the Mozilla Foundation's Privacy Not Included project, which assesses the privacy and security practices of various mental health apps. His research has highlighted significant concerns about how these apps manage sensitive user data, often revealing lax security measures and poor privacy policies that could jeopardize users' personal information.12

Originally from Kyiv, Rykov is now based in Berlin, Germany. Before his freelance role, he worked as a Research Analyst at IoT Analytics, where he contributed to understanding privacy implications in the Internet of Things (IoT) sector.3 His expertise encompasses a broad range of online privacy issues, making him a valuable voice in discussions around data protection and ethical data usage.

Rykov's work has been instrumental in raising awareness about the potential dangers associated with inadequate privacy measures in mental health apps, emphasizing the need for better regulatory oversight and improved practices within the industry.24