Dating Sites and VPN: It's a Match!
Swipe right if you have concerns over personal data security and possible cyber threats on online dating websites and services!
As nowadays, online dating is almost as common as online shopping, a lot of people worldwide spend their time connecting with potential love interests. Why? Cause it's fast, convenient, and it lets you effortlessly filter down to someone suiting you most. But despite the commonness of online dating, it is not easy to find secure online dating sites.
Data Security Threats on Dating Sites
A large number of exploits in such trendy dating apps as Tinder, Badoo, OK Cupid, Bumble, and many more have been uncovered by security researches. The exploits allow access to users' names, message history, location data, login info, sexual preferences, and even the profiles viewed by them. This stolen data makes online dating users vulnerable to such threats as blackmail and stalking.
As most dating services have minimum HTTPS encryption, it is not difficult for hackers to access users' data. And even such basic information in the profile as education and employment, which seems harmless at first sight, can be matched to profiles on other social media, revealing more information about a user.
Some apps like Tinder, Zoosk, and Mamba, which have a distance feature, track their users' locations. The feature is very convenient as it shows how near or far the person who you're chatting with is from you — 400 meters away, 20 miles away, etc. Of course, users cannot see each other's real location, but hackers can uncover it by providing the apps with false coordinates and calculating the changing gap between users.
Sometimes massive leaks and data breaches take place. Usernames, emails, sexual preferences, home addresses, and even incomes of millions of dating websites users have been published online for sale or just made public, becoming the worst nightmare of many users.
How to Protect Your Privacy on Dating Sites
There are common-sense steps that dating sites users should take to protect their personal information. No matter how intense the euphoria of having a new love affair is, it is crucial to follow the following steps:
- Never share your personal data
No matter if it's your real phone number, email or home address — never share it with anybody until you've made sure this person is legitimate (by meeting in some safe public venue). - Use just your first name
While chatting with someone, never give your full name — use just your first name or, better, a nickname. - Never give your home address
Avoid giving your home address even if you've already had a couple of nice dates. Giving it to someone whose true motivations are not clear enough may endanger your property, family members, and your life. - Don't share employment and education details
Your job or education details may be used to connect them to your other profiles on social media and take personal information of you and your friends from there. - Use HTTPS websites
When you register on a dating website, always make sure it is an encrypted and secure site saying HTTPS and having a green lock symbol to eliminate the chances of your data being exposed while using the site. - Use a temporary email address
To keep your real email free of spam, and avoid your real data leaked, use a temp mail service to generate a temporary disposable email while registering on dating websites. - Use a Virtual Private Network
When you register on an online dating service, it's essential to use a VPN to hide your device’s IP address and keep your ISP private. VPN will encrypt your Internet connection coding your data the way the person on the other end of the screen won't be able to take advantage of.
Use a VPN to Find the Perfect Match
Connecting to a reliable VPN while using online dating websites and apps will keep your personal data strictly confidential, protecting you from the scam artists who are continuously attacking dating sites.
Suppose the security of your private data is your top priority when using online dating services. In that case, VPN is the crucial step that should be taken to stay safe and anonymous — and eventually, find your perfect match!
However, you should remember that VPN will secure your data only if it is turned on and connected, and if other steps offered in the article are followed — never share your personal data while chatting to someone on dating websites.
