How To Keep Your Privacy on Dating Apps
Dating apps are the modern-day equivalents of going to the movies, dinner, flower delivery, and a movie. Unlike this, dating apps like Grindr, Tinder, and Bumble have more privacy risks. You better spend some time on privacy date apps this Valentine’s Day.
Online dating is a privacy issue because it is a ‘catch-22.’ It indicates you are looking for someone to make you feel wanted. Hence, you are trying to build a connection but speaking to a stranger. This process is a dance in that you must be careful about sharing enough about yourself to captivate without overexposing yourself. You must also be ready to accept information from the other end of the conversation and continue believing they are acting in good faith.
The scammers take advantage of the security gaps. Nowadays, apps are hackers’ main target, and some accounts even become fake. So, people are tricked into providing their most secret photos or funds. The US Federal Trade Commission reported that romance scam cases have increased abysmal. More than $547 million in reported losses in 2021.
Furthermore, aside from scammers, the data regarding personal information entered on these apps is also used for targeted advertising. This is due to the large user base of dating apps worldwide. However, not all dating apps have safely handled users` data. But what matters is that love is still there on the planet, and we have ways to restrict our online activities.
What Data Do Dating Apps Collect?
Most dating apps combine your data with the ads following you and also let you know how many people fit your dating standards? That’s exactly how they can operate their business while offering free services. (You gain access to more robust privacy controls when you pay for a dating app subscription, primarily because of privacy concerns.)
These apps are generally designed to request the sharing of sensitive information. It can be alarming if you consider the type of data they collect. For example, before using Tinder, you must share:
- Phone Number or Apple or Google account
- First name of the user
- Date of birth
- Two photographs
- The location can be determined by your phone, which enables location tracking.
- Sexual orientation
It implies that you are encouraged to provide more information on the dating platforms, from where you work to your hobbies and nationality. They additionally have access to your app activity, like swipes and conversations. Let us assume that a dating app can use any data you provide to show you advertisements.
Many dating services carry a lot of trackers. According to Ghostery, the Match Group dating services (e.g., Tinder, Match.com, OkCupid) had up to 36 trackers on their websites alone, including trackers from Google and Facebook.
Data Breaches of Dating Apps
Security breaches and privacy violations associated with dating apps have been numerous because of their age. Tinder, launched in 2012, initially suffered from data breaches and security lapses. Grindr had the same problems, and users’ location privacy concerns didn’t disappear even after the fixes were implemented. Other apps such as OkCupid, Bumble, and MeetMindful have also suffered breaches exposing users’ HIV status and personal profiles, among other data.
In 2022 and 2023, more breaches of sites such as CityJerk, Uninjected, and TruckerSucker occurred. The case against Bumble exposed even bigger concerns, such as data gathering and sharing with third parties without users’ approval. These cases highlight the big picture of ignoring user privacy and security protocols in the app industry, including dating apps.
Even though some system-level flaws have been corrected, the culture of universal misuse of individual data prevails, leaving users defenseless against privacy violations. Users should remain careful about security issues despite the improvements in dating apps.
Privacy Protection on Dating Apps
Account Security
- Use strong, unique passwords and two-factor authentication if possible. Proton Pass will generate strong passwords for you. It will also generate secure two-factor authentication (2FA) codes.
- Watch out for the links, especially those to shortened URLs. Hackers will do their best to trick you away from the dating app to sites where they can easily get your data. This is the most popular Tinder scam of all. Rest your cursor over any link before you click it, or copy and paste the link into https://checkshorturl.com/.
- You should use a dating app only on secure WiFi. Another more efficient option is to secure your dating app’s internet connection with a reliable VPN. Thus, the app’s encryption will implement a new security measure.
- Remember to subscribe to a paid plan. Several dating apps give you extra privacy options if you upgrade to a premium package, such as turning off location tracking or making your account invisible to users.
Social Engineering and Privacy Concerns
- Always avoid putting your full name, home address, or workplace on your profile. Bumble, Tinder, and Happn allow users to provide information about their job and education. Using only this data and a first name, the researchers from Kaspersky matched the dating app profile to a Facebook or LinkedIn account 60% of the time.
- Use a VPN to stop the dating app trackers and protect against triangulation attacks. Almost every dating website and app contains trackers that can be used to track your activity on the internet. ExtremeVPN’s NetShield Ad-Blocker prevents trackers from even loading, which increases your internet connection speed. In contrast to other ad blockers, it has the added capability to block trackers across your browser and various applications.
- Be very careful when selecting your profile pics. Many contexts can be shown from what is in the backdrop of a photo, data that can be used to identify you. Also, be aware that using a photo from your social media accounts could lead to your dating profile being discovered through a reverse image search.
- Do not connect your dating app account to other accounts, like Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, and so on. This makes it easier for hackers to connect the dating profile with your social media profile. Likewise, Facebook can sell your personal information to marketers, or something bad may happen to your data if Facebook were to take a data breach.
- Don’t use your normal email address for your dating app, or you could contact new matches. Hide your real email address/name and use an alias or a separate private email address just for that specific app or relationship.
- Always turn off location-sharing features.
- Your matches have to use a temporary phone number. You can use services like Burner or Phoner, which give you temporary numbers for a period (a couple of weeks) at no cost or very little cost. You cannot use that number for your dating app account because it is temporary. But it may give you some time to get familiarized with your matches and then decide if you can trust them with your phone number.
- Doing a reverse image search of your match’s profile picture can be a solution if something feels wrong. Assuming the search shows that the photo was submitted by a modeling agency or a foreign celebrity, it is most definitely a fake account.
- Always be aware of where you share your information so you will not be accidentally exposed. When asked about your private life, pay more attention to discussing your current hobbies and the objectives you desire for the future rather than the normal routine you are used to. Focus on saying, “I like pizza,” instead of giving specific locations. It does not fall under your obligation to pass on your details when you are uncomfortable.
- Beware of sending photos to people you have never met. Images may embed the metadata on the date and place where the photo was taken. Nevertheless, if you intend to share a photo, remove the metadata before you do.
- Beware of chats with bots. Detecting online bots is becoming more challenging. A simple test involves inputting gibberish like “I love you.” Then, observe if the bot repeats the nonsensical phrase or responds with an unrelated question. (You can excuse yourself if it’s a human by claiming your phone dropped).
- If anyone from a dating app asks you to send money, reply “No,” except if you want to see yourself on the next Tinder Swindler.
- Do not simply connect your matches on Facebook as well. Get a hold of your Facebook account, and you will have access to your friend and family network, your past activity, and your location. Wait until the end of several weeks of dating and then friend them. (Quitting Facebook instead would be more, ideally.)
Ensuring Physical Security
- Agree on a convenient meeting place and inform a friend about the event. Moreover, you must choose a neutral place to meet, like a restaurant or cafe, not one you frequent every week.
It’s not to say that dating apps are where you will only find trouble. They can be fun, with over a million people using them to find dates, hookups, friends, and partners. Cupid’s arrow is so effective. It might give the impression of safety, but remember, if something seems too good to be true, it likely isn’t genuine.