Woburn, MA – November 7, 2017 – New research from Kaspersky Lab found that one-in-ten (13%) users of online dating websites admit that they give out personal data to matches within minutes or hours of starting a conversation.
Woburn, MA – November 7, 2017 – New research from Kaspersky Lab found that one-in-ten (13%) users of online dating websites admit that they give out personal data to matches within minutes or hours of starting a conversation. Additionally, the research showed that people who use online dating websites encounter cyberthreats more frequently than the average consumer, yet many users still do not take steps to protect their data and devices.
Sharing personal details on online dating sites may seem like a harmless way to make a connection with potential matches; however, oversharing could put consumers at risk of having their personal data compromised by scammers and cybercriminals. Some users of online dating services make the job of cybercriminals even easier by including sensitive information directly on their public profile. A quarter of consumers surveyed admit to sharing their full name publicly on their dating profile, and one-in-ten have shared their home address and details about their work.
Consumers are even more likely to give up information to those they have been “matched” with in the online dating world. The research found that 16 percent of people provide matches with personal details, with 13 percent of people doing so within minutes or hours. Furthermore, 15 percent of consumers share information about themselves that they consider “embarrassing” with matches, and 14 percent send matches private or unclothed photos. This creates a personal security risk, as cybercriminals could use this information for blackmail purposes, demanding money from their victims in exchange for keeping the data private.
In addition to the risks presented by oversharing personal data, users of online dating websites are exposed to more cyberthreats than the average internet user. Kaspersky Lab’s research found that 41 percent of individuals that use online dating services have experienced some form of IT security incident, such as having their accounts breached or targeted by ransomware, compared to 20 percent of people that do not date online.
People who use online dating websites are aware of the potential security risks of these services and are worried about device and personal safety. Of those surveyed, 63 percent of people are worried about the device they use for online dating becoming infected with malware, and 61 percent are concerned about their data being stolen or leaked from the dating app or service itself. More than half of people (55%) have experienced some form of threat or problem while dating online, including online and offline threats.
Despite these findings, many consumers do not use simple methods to protect their devices and personal data when using online dating services. Just one in five consumers (21%) deny dating apps permission to access to their device data, and only 27 percent use a security or antivirus solution.
“Consumers need to exercise caution when it comes to giving away too much about themselves on their public profile or to potential dates,” said Andrei Mochola, head of consumer business at Kaspersky Lab. “Just as you wouldn’t tell a passerby in the street your home address and phone number upon first meeting them, users of online dating sites need to take responsibility for the security of their data and not assume that it is secure and untouchable within the site or app. This advice goes far beyond online dating, and internet users should take steps to protect themselves and their personal information online, no matter where they are.”
Kaspersky Lab offers a comprehensive range of solutions to help all consumers protect their data and devices. Kaspersky Free offers basic malware protection at no cost. For those interested in more comprehensive features and protection, Kaspersky Security Cloud is an adaptive security solution that is customizable to offer consumers the protection that they need.
To learn more about the research and to read the report, “Dangerous Liaisons: Is everyone doing it online?” visit our blog.
About Kaspersky Lab
Kaspersky Lab is a global cybersecurity company celebrating its 20 year anniversary in 2017. Kaspersky Lab’s deep threat intelligence and security expertise is constantly transforming into next generation 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 Lab technologies and we help 270,000 corporate clients protect what matters most to them. Learn more at www.kaspersky.com.
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