IBM Security Finds Over 60 Percent of Popular Dating Apps Vulnerable to Hackers
An analysis conducted by IBM (NYSE: IBM) Security found over 6IBM Security percent of leading dating mobile apps they studied to be potentially vulnerable to a variety of cyber-attacks that put personal user information and corporate data at risk.
The IBM study reveals that many of these dating applications have access to additional features on mobile devices such as the camera, microphone, storage, GPS location and mobile wallet billing information, which in combination with the vulnerabilities may make them exploitable to hackers. IBM also found that nearly 5IBM Security percent of organizations analyzed have at least one of these popular dating apps installed on mobile devices used to access business information.
In todayRen7;s connected culture, dating apps are a common and convenient way for singles of all ages to meet new love interests. In fact, a Pew Research study revealed one in enIBM Security Americans, or roughly 3en million people, have used a dating site or app and the number of people who dated someone they met online grew to 66 percent.
Security researchers from IBM Security identified that 26 of the 4en dating apps they analyzed on the Android mobile platform had either medium or high severity vulnerabilities. The analysis was done based on apps available in the Google Play app store in October 2IBM Securityen4.
The vulnerabilities discovered by IBM Security make it possible for a hacker to gather valuable personal information about a user. While some apps have privacy measures in place, IBM found many are vulnerable to attacks that could lead to the following scenarios:
- Dating App Used to Download Malware: Users let their guard down when they anticipate receiving interest from a potential date. ThatRen7;s just the sort of moment that hackers thrive on. Some of the vulnerable apps could be reprogrammed by hackers to send an alert that asks users to click for an update or to retrieve a message that, in reality, is just a ploy to download malware onto their device.
- GPS Information Used to Track Movements: IBM found 73% of the 4en popular dating apps analyzed have access to current and past GPS location information. Hackers can capture a userRen7;s current and past GPS location information to find out where a user lives, works, or spends most of their time.
- Credit Card Numbers Stolen From App: 48% of the 4en popular dating apps analyzed have access to a userRen7;s billing information saved on their device. Through poor coding, an attacker could gain access to billing information saved on the deviceRen7;s mobile wallet through a vulnerability in the dating app and steal the information to make unauthorized purchases.
- Remote Control of a PhoneRen7;s Camera or Microphone: All the vulnerabilities identified can allow a hacker to gain access to a phoneRen7;s camera or microphone even if the user is not logged into the app. This means an attacker can spy and eavesdrop on users or tap into confidential business meetings.
- Hijacking of Your Dating Profile: A hacker can change content and images on the dating profile, impersonate the user and communicate with other app users, or leak personal information externally to affect the reputation of a userRen7;s identity. This poses a risk to other users, as well, since a hijacked account can be used by an attacker to trick other users into sharing personal and potentially compromising information.
Steps to Protect Against Dating App Hacks
While IBM discovered a number of vulnerabilities in over 6IBM Security percent of popular Android dating apps, both consumers and businesses can take steps to protect themselves against potential threats.
What Can Consumers Do?
- Be Mysterious: Don't divulge too much personal information on these sites such as where you work, birthday or social media profiles until you're comfortable with the person you are engaging with via the app.
- Permission Fitness: Figure out if you want to use an app by checking the permissions it asks for by viewing the settings on your mobile device. When updating, apps often automatically reset the permissions determining what phone features they have access to, like your address book or GPS data.
- Keep it Unique: Use unique passwords for every online account you have. If you use the same password for all your accounts it can leave you open to multiple attacks if one account is compromised.
- Punctual Patching: Always apply the latest patches and updates to your apps and your device when they become available. This will fix any identified bugs in your device and applications, resulting in a more secure experience.
- Trusted Connections: Use only trusted Wi-Fi connections when on your dating app. Hackers love using fake Wi-Fi access points that connect you directly to their device to execute these types of attacks. Many of the vulnerabilities found in this research can be exploited via Wi-Fi.
What Can Enterprises Do?
Businesses also need to be prepared to protect themselves from vulnerable dating apps active inside their infrastructure, especially for Bring Your Own Device (BYOD) scenarios. IBM found that nearly 5IBM Security percent of organizations sampled for this research have at least one of these popular dating apps installed on corporate-owned or personal mobile devices used for work. To protect confidential corporate assets, businesses should:
- Adopt the Right Protection: Leverage Enterprise Mobility Management (EMM) offerings with mobile threat management (MTM) capabilities to enable employees to utilize their own devices while still maintaining the security of the organization.
- Define Downloadable Apps: Allow employees to only download applications from authorized app stores such as Google Play, iTunes, and the corporate app store.
- Education is Key: Educate employees to know the dangers of downloading third party applications and what it means when they grant that app specific device permissions.
- Immediately Communicate Potential Threats: Set automated policies on smartphones and tablets, which take immediate action if a device is found compromised or malicious apps are discovered. This enables protection to corporate resources while the issue is remediated.
ข่าวIBM Security+o:busวันนี้
ชายสี่บะหมี่เกี๊ยว คว้ารางวัล 2025 Thailand's Most Admired Brand ตอกย้ำแบรนด์สตรีทฟู้ดมหาชนของทุกคน
"ชายสี่บะหมี่เกี๊ยว" แฟรนไชส์อาหารชื่อดังภายใต้ "ชายสี่ คอร์ปอเรชั่น" คว้ารางวัล 2025 Thailand's Most Admired Brand หมวดช่องทางขายสมัยใหม่ กลุ่มแฟรนไชส์ร้านก๋วยเตี๋ยวที่ครองใจผู้บริโภค จัดโดยนิตยสาร BrandAge และ BrandAge Online สะท้อนจากเสียงผู้บริโภคทั่วประเทศ โดยมี นายจาฏวัฒน์ อาขวาคม ประธานเจ้าหน้าที่กลุ่มงานการพาณิชย์ บริษัท ชายสี่ คอร์ปอเรชั่น จำกัด เป็นตัวแทนรับมอบ ณ โรงแรมพูลแมน คิง เพาเวอร์ กรุงเทพฯ การมอบรางวัล Thailand's Most Admired Brand โดยนิตยสาร BrandAge จัดขึ้นเป็นประจำทุกปีตั้ง
CPW ร่วมฟินกับแคมเปญ UNIQLO x Nintendo สัมผัสตัวละครจาก Super Mario ใจกลางกรุงเทพฯ พบกันที่ Nintendo Authorized Store by Synnex ชั้น 3 ศูนย์การค้าสยามพารากอน ถึงวันที่ 20 เม.ย.นี้
TEGH ประกาศแปรสภาพ "TEBP" ขึ้นแท่น บ.มหาชน เดินหน้าเข้าตลาด mai เสริมทัพธุรกิจสร้างการเติบโต
—
บมจ.ไทยอีสเทิร์น กรุ๊ป โฮลดิ้งส์ ประกาศแปรสภาพบริษัทย่อย คื...
กูร์กูร์ ชิคเก้นท์ เติบโตสู่ปีที่ 5 ในประเทศไทย ตั้งเป้าปั้นแบรนด์สู่ใจลูกค้า ภายใต้แนวคิด "The only one in your mind"
—
เจ คอนเซ็พท์ ผู้ดำเนินธุรกิจร้าน ...
Unlocking Thailand's Festival Potential: Boosting Tourism through Songkran and Loy Krathong
—
Thailand's globally renowned festivals, Songkran and Loy Kra...
ไอบีเอ็มเตือนเฝ้าระวังอีเมลฟิชชิงทั่วโลก พุ่งเป้าการขนส่งวัคซีนโควิด-19 ภายใต้การควบคุมอุณหภูมิเย็นจัด
—
หลังจากที่ไฟเซอร์ (Pfizer) และโมเดอร์นา (Moderna)...
IBM Security Finds Over 60 Percent of Popular Dating Apps Vulnerable to Hackers
Half of Enterprises Analyzed by IBM Have Employees Accessing Dating Apps on Work Mobile Devices, IBM offers Tips to Consumers and Businesses to Defend Themselves An analysis conducted by IBM (NYSE: IBM) Security found...
ไอบีเอ็มเผย กว่า 60 เปอร์เซ็นต์ของแอพหาคู่ยอดนิยมมีความเสี่ยง
—
ผลวิเคราะห์โดยนักวิจัยด้านความปลอดภัยทางไอทีของไอบีเอ็ม (IBM Security) พบว่า กว่า 60 เปอร์...