Dating sites is one of the best ways to find a fun and interesting person that would be great for a date. There are many sites that can help you to do this. There are free dating sites, paid ones. Online dating sites has a lot of benefits, but some dating sites are too great. Some Final Pieces Of Advice For Online Dating Safety. Assume any and all conversations, video chats, attachments etc. Will or can be saved. These days there are plenty of apps to record screens that block screenshots (particularly Snapchat) and of course there is recording of screens with another device.

Online dating applications are getting recognition among teens and adults lately. Dating sites and applications have been skyrocketing than any other services online when they started. Online dating apps are considered to be a modern approach to meeting new friends and lovers online. With excellent service comes a significant flaw, considering the fact it’s obvious to answer, are online dating apps safe for your private information?

Many of us count heavily on social media; thus, personal information is more accessible than ever. But when it comes to dating apps, you have plenty of every intimate detail on it. You never know who is seeing your information. Your primary concern while using a dating app does not always have to be about privacy, it’s more of real stranger danger. We are going to provide essential tips to stay safe on dating apps.

Know what you are sharing

When you meet someone on a dating app, you spend more time thinking about the dating app than you do thinking about the person that you are meeting on the dating app. Latest Articles. By dating on Facebook. By dating on Facebook, you actually get to spend more time on Facebook thinking.

It is pretty evident how much one can get your private information stalking on your social media profile. If someone is using it for the wrong reason, it can result in extreme danger. Dating apps generally have areas to fill about your other social media platform, for example, Instagram on Tinder. If accidentally your roommate tags you in a post writing a caption of your exact home location, it gets easy for wrongdoers. Moreover, you need to inspect all the information thoroughly on dating apps and other social media sites. It’s obvious you need to remove that information that gives too much detail on your privacy. Also, avoiding suspicious dating applications will benefit you.

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Are dating apps safe at sharing locations?

Almost all dating apps require geo-location access to find the best match near you. Applications like Tinder and OkCupid keep location locked unless you would want to make it public. Other dating apps may publicly be flashing an exact location that might come handy for bad people.

Happn- a dating app, is popular for its dynamic feature to detect the location of a match and number of path cross alerts. It’s easy to track down someone if you are using Happn for online dating. Thus, knowing details on the features of the application you are using should be a top priority to consider.

Are dating apps safe while transferring data?

Every application put users’ data on their server. If the encryption method of data transfer is SSL, then it can be stated as a safe application to try; however, some of the dating applications do not care much about user privacy. There is always a need for a question to ask yourself, are online dating apps safe for your critical information. Improper server-end security hereby comes handy to hackers, which can leak millions of private information of the user.

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Stay inside the online dating app

Some of the dating applications are pretty protective of your data unless you find a match. After you find a match, you are allowed to chat with the person. Believe it or not, try using the chat service if it has only text messaging. Chatting with strangers with call and media sharing features might bring explicit content. Plan to meet the match in real life rather than relying much on dating apps. Also, read the terms and conditions as well as disclaimers set by Dating App Company.

Don’t bother going premium at first

Most dating applications have a free and paid version available to their users. With the paid version, you get premium features available with an application. At first, do not try to invest in a dating app unknowingly. Either it’s a free or paid version of the application, it should not affect you from finding a match. While signing in for a paid version, there is a tremendous amount of financial information to fill.

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Delete your account, not the dating app

People usually delete the entire app from their smartphone after they find a match, but it is not what you would need to do. Deleting the app entirely does not delete your profile on them. An untrusted application can manipulate your data for future use or sell them. Make sure you carefully go through a detailed process to remove your personal information within the application and delete the app afterward.

Our thorough analysis of dating applications brings to the conclusion that most dating applications do not handle user sensitive information with much care. Before you hop into dating applications, learn details on its function and feature. The less information you have on a dating application, the more you minimize potential risk. Never forget; Have fun, be smart, date safe!

To be perfectly honest, I’ve never tried online dating. I thought about it this time last year, but all I managed to do was repeatedly download and then delete the Tinder and OKCupid apps on my phone — usually while I was sitting on the toilet. I know this makes me sound like a giant weirdo, but I’m literally scared of Tinder — even though staying safe while dating online is completely doable if you make sure to follow experts' online dating safety tips.

Currently, I’m in a weird place relationship-wise, so I don’t think I’ll be venturing into the magical world of online dating anytime soon. That said, since the Pew Research Center reports that 15 percent of American adults use online dating sites — and most of those adults are millennials like me— I felt like it was worth my time to learn all that I could about staying safe while dating online.

I spoke with online dating expert Laurie Davis to find out more. As an award-winning dating coach and the founder and CEO of eFlirt, a beautiful website created to “help singles navigate the intersection of romance and technology to attract an ideal match,” Davis probably knows better than anyone how to protect yourself when dating online. So if you want some expert advice on how to stay safe while dating online, read on.

1. Google Yourself

It may sound ridiculous, but according to eFlirt dating coach Laurie Davis, you need to Google yourself so you can 'Know what is out there about you.' According to Davis, Googling yourself is Rule Number One when it comes to safely dating online, because you should know how much of your personal information is readily available to any rando with a working laptop and a strong Internet connection who knows your full name.

As Davis put it, 'Once someone has your full name, what will they find? Based on what comes up, you may want to wait a date or two.' She's not wrong, either. I Googled myself just now and found images and info galore. As Davis told Bustle, 'one of my clients found that her town posted the sale of her house on their website, and it came up on the first page of Google. Not only would a date now know her address, but they also would know how much she paid for her home.' Yikes.

2. Don't Give Your Full Name Until After A First Date

Safe Online Dating Apps Like

As we've established, making yourself too easy to Google won't help you stay safe while dating online. So, unsurprisingly, when I asked Davis if it's best not to list your full name on your online dating profile, here's what she said: 'while you want to be completely authentic in your profile, you want to be careful about any overly personal details you reveal that may make you Googleable. Giving someone your full name in your profile — or even before you meet — immediately gives them digital access to your background.' So, there you have it. No full names until after you meet up.

3. Get A Google Voice Number

Part of the reason I've never delved into online dating is simply because I fear being cellular-ly harassed by matches that just didn't work out; but according to Davis, this fear doesn't have to keep anyone from searching for love (and/or sexy time) online. There is a way to communicate with your dates while simultaneously protecting your cell phone number, and it doesn't involve buying a burner phone like you're Marvel's Jessica Jones. Davis tells Bustle, 'If you're concerned about giving out your phone number, you can create a free Google Voice number. It's an app you download that gives you a separate number to give to dates.'

It's as simple as downloading this app and getting yourself a free Google voice number. Everything on your phone will work exactly the same, but you'll just have an easier time blocking people if you need to. As Davis explained it, 'When someone calls, it will still ring on your cell phone and you can text through it as well. If things go awry, it's very easy to block their number.'

4. Don't Reveal Who You Work For

If you (like myself) are proud of the way you get to make money, then you probably want to shout it from the figurative mountaintops, and that's perfectly understandable. You've no doubt worked your butt off to get to where you are professionally, and wanting to celebrate all of your hard work makes sense.

That said, when it comes to your online dating profile, Davis suggests keeping things as vague as possible. As Davis points out, 'Most apps will automatically pull in not just your job title, but your company. That's a huge security breech — imagine if someone were to show up unannounced at your office!' Davis continued, 'It seems like a worst case scenario, but I have heard of this happening. Go into your Facebook settings and change this section so it's more vague.'

5. Meet Up In A Public Place

I feel like this one is pretty obvious, but I wanted to bring it up anyway. If you want to safely date online, it's imperative that all of your first dates happen in public spaces. In fact, it's not a bad idea to meet up somewhere outside of your neighborhood, either. If the two of you hit it off, then there will be plenty of time to Netflix and chill in the future.

6. Drive Yourself To And From Your Date, Or Take Public Transportation

Hopefully you already know this, but having your OKCupid match pick you up for your first date is a horrible idea. Not only will they know where you live, you'll literally be in a car with a stranger. (Which I realize is me every single time I've ever been in an Uber, but this is different, OK?)

So while there's something romantic and environmentally-conscious about sharing a ride with someone, when it comes to online dating, it's always ideal to either drive yourself or take public transportation instead. Protect yourself by saving the joint car rides for a later date.

7. Don't Overdo It On The Booze

Let me be clear about this: alcohol doesn't assault people, people assault people. That said, I think most of us know from experience that it's much more difficult to stay aware of your surroundings and make good choices when you're drunk as hell. (Also, hangovers are the worst.) So instead of drinking five beers in five hours like I once did on a date, maybe stick to one nerve-settling glass of wine.

8. Don't Use Facebook Or Instagram Photos In Your Profile

Using your Facebook profile picture in your online dating profile may seem harmless, but it really isn't. It's way too easy for someone to run a Google image search on your photos, and in turn, find out a whole crap-ton of personal information about you. So no matter how strong your Instagram game is, make sure the selfies you use in your online dating profile can't be found anywhere else on the Internet. You also might want to avoid the option on Tinder that allows you to link your profile with your Instagram.

9. Tell A Friend Specific Details About Your Date

Telling your buddy about your upcoming date is a good start, but if you really want to stay safe, give them plenty of details about your plans. Before you head out to meet your potential lover, text one (or more) of your friends the name and address of your designated meeting spot, then send them a link to your date's online dating profile, and set up a time to check in with each other after your date. This way, if anything sketchy happens, at least someone will know when to start looking for you and where to do it.

In the far more likely scenario that nothing bad happens, just knowing that your friends have your back will probably help you relax and enjoy your date more than you otherwise would have.

10. Consider Carrying Pepper Spray (But Be Careful With It)

Not everyone is comfortable with carrying a weapon, and that's fine. Personally, I'm a fan of pepper spray, and I carry it with me often. I've never actually had to use it, and I hope I never need to, but it does make me feel safer. If you're looking for ways to feel safer while dating online, then you might want to start carrying the stuff, too. Just, you know, make sure you learn how to use it first.

11. Don't Let Them Walk You Home On Your First Date

If you didn't follow my advice about meeting somewhere outside of your neighborhood, then at least make sure you don't let your date walk you home. I know late-night strolls with beautiful people are romantic AF, but you don't want someone you literally just met to know where you live. So if your date offers to walk you home, politely decline. I know, I know, it sounds super paranoid. It's always better to be safe than sorry, though, and online dating is no exception to this rule.

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Images: Bustle; Giphy/(11)