Security Analysis

Is Cursor Safe?

Last updated: January 12, 2026

An honest security analysis of Cursor for developers considering it for their projects.

Scan Your Cursor AppCursor Security Guide

Quick Answer

Safe - desktop app with Privacy Mode option

Cursor is safe for development - it's a VS Code fork (desktop app) with strong privacy controls. Unlike web-based tools, your code runs locally. Privacy Mode prevents code from being sent to AI servers. SOC 2 Type II certified. No major security incidents unlike Windsurf's 94 Chromium CVEs.

Security Assessment

Security Strengths

  • Desktop app (VS Code fork) - your code stays on your machine unless sent to AI
  • Privacy Mode: completely disables AI features for sensitive repositories
  • .cursorignore file: exclude specific files/folders from AI context
  • SOC 2 Type II certified with enterprise security controls
  • No major security incidents (unlike Windsurf's 94 Chromium CVEs in 2024-2025)

Security Concerns

  • Without Privacy Mode, code snippets are sent to Anthropic/OpenAI for suggestions
  • AI may suggest hardcoded API keys or insecure authentication patterns
  • Cursor Rules files (.cursorrules) could contain sensitive prompts if shared
  • Tab completions happen automatically - easy to accept insecure code
  • Context window may accidentally include .env files if not in .cursorignore

Security Checklist for Cursor

  • 1
    For sensitive projects: Settings → Privacy Mode → Enable for this workspace
  • 2
    Create .cursorignore file: add .env, *.pem, *secret*, credentials.json
  • 3
    Review tab completions before pressing Tab - check for hardcoded secrets
  • 4
    Never commit .cursorrules files with proprietary business logic
  • 5
    Use Cursor's audit log (enterprise) to monitor AI query history
  • 6
    For maximum security: use Cursor without signing in (limited features)

The Verdict

Cursor is the most privacy-conscious popular AI coding assistant. The desktop-first architecture (VS Code fork) means your code doesn't live in the cloud. Privacy Mode and .cursorignore give granular control over what AI sees. Unlike Windsurf (94 CVEs), Cursor has maintained a clean security record. Still review all AI suggestions.

Security Research & Industry Data

Understanding Cursor security in the context of broader industry trends and research.

10.3%

of Lovable applications (170 out of 1,645) had exposed user data in the CVE-2025-48757 incident

Source: CVE-2025-48757 security advisory

4.45 million USD

average cost of a data breach in 2023

Source: IBM Cost of a Data Breach Report 2023

500,000+

developers using vibe coding platforms like Lovable, Bolt, and Replit

Source: Combined platform statistics 2024-2025

What Security Experts Say

“There's a new kind of coding I call 'vibe coding', where you fully give in to the vibes, embrace exponentials, and forget that the code even exists.”

Andrej Karpathy — Former Tesla AI Director, OpenAI Co-founder

“It's not really coding - I just see stuff, say stuff, run stuff, and copy paste stuff, and it mostly works.”

Andrej Karpathy — Former Tesla AI Director, OpenAI Co-founder

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Cursor safe for enterprise/proprietary code?

Cursor is SOC 2 Type II certified and offers Privacy Mode that completely disables AI for sensitive workspaces. Use .cursorignore to exclude secrets even in normal mode. Enterprise plans include audit logs and additional security controls.

Does Cursor send my code to the cloud?

By default, Cursor sends code snippets to AI providers (Anthropic/OpenAI) for suggestions. Enable Privacy Mode to completely disable this for sensitive repositories. You can also use .cursorignore to exclude specific files from ever being sent.

How is Cursor different from Windsurf security-wise?

Cursor is a VS Code fork (Electron/Node-based) while Windsurf had 94 Chromium CVEs discovered in 2024-2025. Cursor has no equivalent security incidents. Both are desktop apps, but Cursor's architecture and security track record are stronger.

What is .cursorignore and how do I use it?

Create a .cursorignore file in your project root (like .gitignore). Add patterns for files that should never be sent to AI: .env, *.pem, credentials.json, secrets/, etc. This works even without Privacy Mode enabled.

Is Cursor safer than web-based AI tools like Lovable?

Cursor runs locally as a desktop app - your full codebase isn't stored in the cloud. Web-based tools like Lovable keep your entire project on their servers. However, Cursor still sends code to AI providers for suggestions (unless Privacy Mode is enabled).

Verify Your Cursor App Security

Don't guess - scan your app and know for certain. VAS checks for all the common security issues in Cursor applications.

Scan Your AppCursor Security Guide

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