One in six users has been doxed while dating online

Woburn, MA – July 19, 2021 – Today Kaspersky released survey results finding that one in six users has been doxed while dating online. The findings are part of a survey examining the primary threats and fears that users face while dating online.

In some countries dating apps have become the most popular way for people to meet. However, with love transferring to the digital world, the gathering and public exposure of personal data, also known as “doxing,” has become a major concern.

According to Kaspersky research, while half (54%) of respondents say that dating apps have made dating easier for them, 55% say they are afraid of being stalked by someone they met online, which can be one of the consequences of doxing.

Users leave a vast trace of identifying information online, and this data can be picked up and used to doxers’ advantage. Doxers’ access to a target’s home address, place of work, name, phone number, etc. increases the risks of transferring threats from the online world to the physical one. For instance, 16% of respondents said they have been doxed. Eleven percent were doxed while dating online but were unfamiliar with the concept and did not know that’s what had happened.

The survey found several privacy threats users face when dating online. Forty percent of interviewees reported that, while communicating online, their partner shared screenshots of their conversation without their consent, threatened them with personal information they found online, leaked their intimate photos, or stalked them in real life. The most widespread problem was cyberstalking; 17% of respondents said they have been stalked on social media by a person they did not match with.

Has any of the following happened to you?
A person I did not match with>	17%
Someone I matched with>	12%
Someone I matched with looked up my personal information and threatened to use it to harm me	10%
Someone I did not match with>	9%
Someone I matched with>	8%
No, none of the above	60%

Threats respondents face when dating online

“Indeed, social media and various apps have made dating much easier for us,” said Anna Larkina, security expert at Kaspersky. “You might find the love of your life online but unfortunately, there are also bots and fraudsters looking for prey on dating platforms. That is why, while communicating with someone online, it is still important to remember the basic rules of digital privacy. To date online safely, I recommend not sharing personal identifying information, such as your phone number, location, home, and work address, etc. Preventing threats at such an early stage will let you enjoy online dating without any fears.”

If you want to learn more about how technologies can change dating and relationships, follow this link.

Learn about the ways users can be doxed and discover how to minimize the risk of having personal information stolen by watching the free “Doxing: dangers and prevention” course, developed by Kaspersky privacy experts together with Endtab.org.

To keep your personal information protected, Kaspersky also recommends:

• Handling private online data responsibly by following the tips from the Kaspersky “Definitive Checklist: how to protect your data online”
• Always checking permission settings on the apps you use, to minimize the likelihood of your data being shared or stored by third parties – and beyond – without your knowledge
• Using two-factor authentication. Remember that using an application that generates one-time codes is more secure than receiving the second factor via SMS. If you need additional security, invest in a hardware 2FA key
• Using a reliable security solution like Kaspersky Password Manager to generate and secure unique passwords for every account, and resist the temptation to reuse the same one over and over again
•  Finding out if any of the passwords you use to access your online accounts have been compromised, by using a tool such as Kaspersky Security Cloud. Its Account Check feature allows users to inspect their accounts for potential data leaks. If a leak is detected, Kaspersky Security Cloud provides information about the categories of data that may be publicly accessible, so that the individual affected can take appropriate action
• Always considering how the content you share online might be interpreted and used by others

About Kaspersky

Kaspersky is a global cybersecurity and digital privacy company founded in 1997. Kaspersky’s deep threat intelligence and security expertise is constantly transforming into innovative security solutions and services to protect businesses, critical infrastructure, governments and consumers around the globe. The company’s comprehensive security portfolio includes leading endpoint protection and a number of specialized security solutions and services to fight sophisticated and evolving digital threats. Over 400 million users are protected by Kaspersky technologies and we help 240,000 corporate clients protect what matters most to them. Learn more at usa.kaspersky.com.

Media Contact

Sawyer Van Horn

sawyer.vanhorn@Kaspersky.com

(781) 503-1866