More and more of us are discovering the perfect way to find a romantic match. Today’s singles can take advantage of digital dating, finding a platform where registration is so straightforward you could be interacting with likely candidates for hookups and dating within minutes. Stats from last year revealed there were currently more than 8,000 dating sites and apps, attracting almost 370 million active users. If you decide you're going to try out one of these platforms, although your chances of success are huge, you need to temper your enthusiasm with some basic rules about privacy. Here are five steps to ensure your security is guaranteed.
Stay away from public computers
Online dating, by its very nature, is a topic most associated with tender communications and intimate secrets. When planning romantic encounters, the idea that someone might be eavesdropping would be off-putting. Avoid public computers, whether that's a dedicated Internet café, or indeed, any café offering free (and unencrypted) Wi-Fi connectivity. Hackers can hop onto public networks, and the more sophisticated individuals might be capable of running password-cracking software to infiltrate other computers sharing a public chain. This would be one step away from sourcing other areas of information stored in your computer – such as banking passwords.
Choose sites with adequate safety features
What type of relationship are you seeking? Whether you’re looking for a long-term partner or mature hookups, there are incredibly resourceful platforms available to you. Modern dating apps and websites are geared towards helping you find someone truly compatible, with algorithms to steer you towards ideal individuals. Before registering with a mature dating site, research its security features. Do they require email validation? Can you report suspected spam accounts to their site administrators? How about two-step verification or additional means of safety? Check out some review sites to see how well their services are assessed by experts and other users.
Use a separate browser to keep your dating life private
The last thing you'd want is your private life spilling over into either your everyday interaction or your working timetable. So, use a dedicated web browser for your matchmaking endeavours. It would pay to do some research about how online businesses develop plans, as an important part of this process will involve factoring in Internet security. Take this information on board and apply it to your situation. Also use different browsers if there are other people around who can use your computer.
Check permissions you grant to dating apps
One excellent aspect of any form of modern communication software is they are designed to be user-friendly. This is a good thing when you're being active on a matching platform. The features you can tap into will be streamlined, and you can take charge of who you interact with. So, pay close attention to the permissions you grant. Select the ones that are absolutely crucial for the app and block some strange and irrelevant requests. Usually you can enable or disable using your camera, list of phone calls, email access, GPS, etc.
5 Avoid using public Wi-Fi networks
One of the most attractive aspects of dating apps and mobile versions of websites is their flexibility. Anyone signing up for a mature matchmaking resource can take this around with them. Wherever they happen to be, sitting enjoying a coffee or commuting, they could be checking out messages in their inbox, or browsing the latest newcomers. Of course, the disadvantage of this is the temptation to hop onto the nearest available Wi-Fi network. If you're travelling on a train or bus, these will invariably be free services. The drawback of surfing the Net via a public network that isn't password-protected is that anyone can eavesdrop. You may have noticed when going into settings on your phone to check for available networks, a list of other users in the vicinity will appear. Anyone with a degree of advanced knowledge will also be able to check out this shortlist and might then be able to employ software to crack your phone’s password. It would be best to take some basic precautions. You could start by turning off ‘auto-connect,’ where your device will automatically attempt to connect to the nearest available Wi-Fi network. It would be best to take control of the networks you’re connecting to.
In conclusion, a lot of privacy protection and security is down to common sense. Don’t do things like share files. Whenever you do so, you open a portal into your personal network that unscrupulous users could exploit. Don’t access unprotected websites (easily identifiable by their URL – they must begin with HTTPS rather than plain HTTP). Step up your protection by enabling your firewall and by downloading VPN (virtual private network) software. The latter will protect you from the bad guys by making sure the data your exchange is always encrypted. This level of advanced integrity is assured by masking IP addresses, cutting off the route taken by hackers. What this will do is hide your identity, location, and activity. With these basic safeguards in place, you can relax and get on with the serious business of finding your perfect match.