A new cybersecurity report has raised concerns over the safety of online dating platforms, finding that three-quarters of the most widely used apps fall short on digital security protections.
The analysis, conducted by the Business Digital Index, examined 24 of the largest dating services and issued letter grades based on several security categories. These included software patching practices, history of data breaches, website and email protections, reputation of hosting systems, and use of encryption protocols such as TLS and SSL.
According to the report, only two major platforms – Bumble and EliteSingles – received a “B” grade, placing them in the medium-risk tier. Popular apps such as Hinge, Grindr, eHarmony and Tinder were graded “D,” classified as high risk. Meanwhile, Christian Mingle, Match and AdultFriendFinder were deemed critical risks, receiving an “F” grade. AdultFriendFinder ranked lowest overall.
The study highlighted email security as a particularly weak point for several services, including Match and Christian Mingle. Insufficient email authentication, the researchers noted, leaves users vulnerable to phishing campaigns and other attack vectors similar to those that enabled a Dropbox breach in 2022. While companies have increasingly focused on monetization strategies such as subscriptions and premium features, the report suggests that cybersecurity investment has not kept pace with user growth.
With more and more users turning to smaller or more niche dating apps to find better fits for their specific needs, security becomes even more important. While apps like Tinder may stil be able to provide solid security even with a “D” grade, smaller apps may be much less well-equipped to provide proper user protection – as seen with the massive back-to-back breaches from the app Tea.
