Popular online tools for formatting code are leaking significant amounts of user information. Sites such as JSONFormatter and CodeBeautify are involved in exposing secrets that users upload voluntarily. TechRadar highlighted this security concern in a recent report.
Developers often use code formatting websites to organize and prettify their code snippets, but a TechRadar investigation reveals a major privacy risk. The article points out that users are willingly uploading sensitive data, including secrets, to platforms like JSONFormatter and CodeBeautify. These sites, designed for quick formatting tasks, appear to be mishandling or exposing this information, potentially compromising user security.
The report, published on November 26, 2025, urges coders to be cautious with what they share online. It emphasizes the dangers of transmitting confidential details through third-party tools without proper safeguards. No specific details on the extent of the exposure or affected users were provided in the summary, but the warning underscores broader issues in web-based developer tools.
This incident highlights ongoing challenges in data privacy for online services frequented by programmers.