Secure Dating Apps
More than 40 million Americans use online dating services or dating apps. As is the case when meeting someone new, whether online or offline, it’s wise to keep a few safety precautions in mind. Dating apps don’t conduct criminal background checks on users, so it’s up to each user to determine if they are comfortable meeting up with someone. However, it is important to remember that if you do experience sexual assault or violence while dating online or using an app, it is not your fault.
Below are some steps you can take to increase your safety when interacting with others through online dating apps and services—whether you are interacting virtually or in person. Like any safety tips, they are not a guarantee, but they may help you feel more secure.
Like most popular dating apps, Bumble is free to download for iOS or Android, and you can create a profile, swipe through your card stack, and exchange messages without paying for the privilege. There are also two premium subscriptions available. Jan 07, 2020 This app provides a secure virtual space to browse hot singles on the down low. You can take on a sexy persona online and enjoy the live chat features on the app. The basic membership of BeNaughty is free, so it doesn’t cost you anything to look around and explore the online dating scene — without anyone in your life finding out. Australian Dating Apps Finicky in Matters of this Heart Posted On กรกฎาคม 2, 2021 at 7:14 am by SECURE UPDATE / No Comments Solitary and able to mingle although not dating. These are the 5 best dating apps for singles looking for a long-term, committed relationship 2021: Hinge; Match; The League; Bumble; Coffee Meets Bagel; Keep reading for a quick overview of each one, including how much the premium features cost and what you can do for free! Hands down, Silver Singles is one of the best senior dating sites you can join today. Try Silver Singles. The Final Word – Silver Singles is the top senior dating site that only allows singles over the age of 50. The website is easy to use, quick to get started, and memberships are very affordable.
When Connecting Online
Use different photos for your dating profile. It’s easy to do a reverse image search with Google. If your dating profile has a photo that also shows up on your Instagram or Facebook account, it will be easier for someone to find you on social media.
Avoid connecting with suspicious profiles. If the person you matched with has no bio, linked social media accounts, and has only posted one picture, it may be a fake account. It’s important to use caution if you choose to connect with someone you have so little information about.
Check out your potential date on social media. If you know your match’s name or handles on social media—or better yet if you have mutual friends online—look them up and make sure they aren’t “catfishing” you by using a fake social media account to create their dating profile.
Block and report suspicious users. You can block and report another user if you feel their profile is suspicious or if they have acted inappropriately toward you. This can often be done anonymously before or after you’ve matched. As with any personal interaction, it is always possible for people to misrepresent themselves. Trust your instincts about whether you feel someone is representing themself truthfully or not.
The list below offers a few examples of some common stories or suspicious behaviors scammers may use to build trust and sympathy so they can manipulate another user in an unhealthy way.
Secure Dating App
- Asks for financial assistance in any way, often because of a sudden personal crisis
- Claims to be from the United States but is currently living, working, or traveling abroad
- Claims to be recently widowed with children
- Disappears suddenly from the site then reappears under a different name
- Gives vague answers to specific questions
- Overly complimentary and romantic too early in your communication
- Pressures you to provide your phone number or talk outside the dating app or site
- Requests your home or work address under the guise of sending flowers or gifts
- Tells inconsistent or grandiose stories
- Uses disjointed language and grammar, but has a high level of education
Examples of user behavior you may want to report can include:
- Requests financial assistance
- Requests photographs
- Is a minor
- Sends harassing or offensive messages
- Attempts to threaten or intimidate you in any way
- Seems to have created a fake profile
- Tries to sell you products or services
Wait to Share Personal Information. Never give someone you haven’t met with in person your personal information, including your: social security number, credit card details, bank information, or work or home address. Dating apps and websites will never send you an email asking for your username and password information, so if you receive a request for your login information, delete it and consider reporting.
Don’t Respond to Requests for Financial Help. No matter how convincing and compelling someone’s reason may seem, never respond to a request to send money, especially overseas or via wire transfer. If you do get such a request, report it to the app or site you’re using immediately. For more information, check out the U.S. Federal Trade Commission's tips on avoiding online dating scams.
When Meeting in Person
Video chat before you meet up in person. Once you have matched with a potential date and chatted, consider scheduling a video chat with them before meeting up in person for the first time. This can be a good way to help ensure your match is who they claim to be in their profile. If they strongly resist a video call, that could be a sign of suspicious activity.
Tell a friend where you’re going. Take a screenshot of your date’s profile and send it to a friend. Let at least one friend know where and when you plan to go on your date. If you continue your date in another place you hadn’t planned on, text a friend to let them know your new location. It may also be helpful to arrange to text or call a friend partway through the date or when you get home to check in.
Meet in a public place. For your first date, avoid meeting someone you don’t know well yet in your home, apartment, or workplace. It may make both you and your date feel more comfortable to meet in a coffee shop, restaurant, or bar with plenty of other people around. Avoid meeting in public parks and other isolated locations for first dates.
Don’t rely on your date for transportation. It's important that you are in control of your own transportation to and from the date so that you can leave whenever you want and do not have to rely on your date in case you start feeling uncomfortable. Even if the person you're meeting volunteers to pick you up, avoid getting into a vehicle with someone you don’t know and trust, especially if it’s the first meeting.
Have a few ride share apps downloaded on your phone so in case one is not working when you need it, you’ll have a backup. Make sure you have data on your phone and it’s fully charged, or consider bringing your charger or a portable battery with you.
Stick to what you’re most comfortable with. There’s nothing wrong with having a few drinks on a date. Try to keep your limits in mind and do not feel pressured to drink just because your date is drinking. It can also be a good idea to avoid taking drugs before or during a first date with someone new because drugs could alter your perception of reality or have unexpected interactions with alcohol.
Enlist the help of a bartender or waiter. If you feel uncomfortable in a situation, it can help to find an advocate nearby. You can enlist the help of a waiter or bartender to help you create a distraction, call the police, or get a safe ride home.
Trust your instincts. If you feel uncomfortable, trust your instincts and feel free to leave a date or cut off communication with whoever is making you feel unsafe. Do not worry about feeling rude—your safety is most important, and your date should understand that.
If you felt uncomfortable or unsafe during the date, remember you can always unmatch, block, or report your match after meeting up in person which will keep them from being able to access your profile in the future.
Sexual assault and harassment are never acceptable and are never the victim’s fault no matter what you were wearing, drinking, or whom you were with. The National Sexual Assault Hotline (800.656.HOPE and online.rainn.org) is here to listen and provide resources, and is anonymous, free, and available 24/7.
Mobile online dating apps are popular among adults looking to find their ideal partner. According to the Pew Research Center, 15 percent of U.S. adults said they had used matchmaking sites in 2015. Following Valentine’s Day, many dating sites may offer promotions, coupons, and discounts to encourage new users to enroll, meaning new users will be using these apps for the first time.
While these apps allow users to effortlessly connect with other singles sharing similar interests through the push of a button or swipe of a finger, the amount of sensitive personal information they contain is cause for concerns when it comes to cybersecurity.
A 2016 review of five of the top dating apps by Seworks, found that all five apps contained exploits that made them vulnerable to hacking. The Seworks analysis found that hackers had accessibility to reverse engineer and compromise the apps and that even the source codes were too easy to read, which provided access to critical information.
As a result of these vulnerabilities, nearly 15,000 complaints were reported under the category of romance or confidence scams in 2016, according to the FBI’s Crime Complaint Center. People may not be aware that using these apps could make them more vulnerable to data breaches. One reason for this could be an overall lack of cybersecurity measures.
The University of Phoenix’s most recent cybersecurity survey suggests that many of these breaches could be a result of Americans not taking proper precautions to protect themselves online. According to the survey, men and women alike are not practicing cybersecurity best practices, and unmarried people take fewer precautions online.
The University’s survey found that nearly 43 percent of U.S. adults have experienced a personal data breach in the past three years, with half of male respondents having been hacked. Men are more likely to use dating apps – 17 percent compared to 14 percent of women, according to Pew. While women are less likely to connect to public networks when away from home, they are 8 percent more likely to always or usually connect to one that is secure.
Despite men’s likeliness to connect to unsecure public Wi-Fi networks, the survey suggests that they are more likely than women to take other cybersecurity measures. Men are five percent less likely than women to provide personal information online and nearly 10 percent more likely to invest in identity theft protection like VPNs and firewalls.
The survey also found that dating apps’ primary audience – unmarried people – are less cybersecurity-aware than those who are married. More than six in 10 unmarried people said they use the internet on their devices on unsecured public Wi-Fi networks every day. Additionally, married people are 14 percent more likely to invest in identity theft protection.
Dating apps can be useful matchmaking tools, but those interested in trying online dating apps should be aware of the cybersecurity concerns that come with finding an introduction to your soulmate electronically. Below are three tips to help protect your information:
Don’t use the online dating apps on public, unprotected Wi-Fi networks
Criminals have developed sophisticated methods to breach security systems, but hacking can be made much easier when users access apps on public Wi-Fi networks. These networks, like those offered in coffee shops, airports, or hotel lobbies, often do not require passwords and allow anyone to monitor your activity.
If you choose to access your account while in public, elect to use your phone’s Bluetooth instead of public networks and install a VPN. Additionally, consider disabling GPS and tracking for dating apps so that criminals cannot monitor your whereabouts.
Don’t share personal information online or via apps, text, or email
To enroll, most dating apps require users to provide their names, locations, and photos, and they may ask for more sensitive information like place of employment or income amount. If you sign up for an app, provide as little personal information as possible and never share information over in-app messaging, text, or email.
While the person you are talking to may not be a criminal, hackers can access your messages and uncover your personal information if your account is hacked. Wait to share these details until you meet your match in person. If they insist on you providing bank information or to send them money, contact the authorities.
Don’t sync your apps with social media accounts
Is Hinge A Safe Dating App
Withholding personal information over dating apps can help keep you safe, but research into the apps shows that much of this information can be found by hackers if accounts are linked to social profiles. Most dating apps are protected by passwords and may offer multi-factor authentication for an added layer of security. Using strong and diverse passwords on social sites can help enhance security, but syncing accounts to social sites create tokens that are often not secure.
Secure Dating Apps For Women
Many dating apps will use tokens from social media sites to verify users who chose to sync the apps with their accounts. These tokens allow the apps temporary access to personal information despite the social media sites being password-protected. Shared information can include friend lists, addresses, interests, birthdays, employment, and more. These tokens are often not securely stored and can provide hackers access to a user’s full profile.
Free Dating Sites App
About the Author:Dennis Bonilla is the Executive Dean at the College of Information Systems and Technology and School of Business, University of Phoenix. You can connect with him on Twitter here: @DennisBonillaIT.
Secure Dating Apps Like
Editor’s Note:The opinions expressed in this and other guest author articles are solely those of the contributor, and do not necessarily reflect those of Tripwire, Inc.