Is AdultFriendFinder safe to use? What a cybersecurity expert says

One of the most frequently asked questions about AdultFriendFinder is understandable: Is AFF safe to use? Just looking at a dating site is enough to ring those alarm bells – the dating interface and the design and volume of adult content. Prospective attendees have the right to question its validity.

To better understand the risks of using AdultFriendFinder, we consulted Anna Larkina, Web Data and Privacy Analyst at Kaspersky, one of the world’s leading Internet security services, about the types of threats users can face and how to mitigate the risks.

Understanding the dangers of online dating

First, understand that there are risks involved in using them anywhere internet service, and that even reputable websites have experienced serious hacking or exploitation. “Users should keep in mind that any service may experience a variety of cybersecurity issues,” Larkina told us, including “data leaks, attacks by third-party contractors, or issues related to human error.”

But the risk is undoubtedly higher for some websites than others. For example, on a typical merchant website, you only provide them with your credit card information, but on a dating site, you have the ability to provide your credit card details and important personal information, from your date of birth to your phone number, information that can prove very useful to scammers.

While this is a risk you take with any dating service, AdultFriendFinder is perhaps more vulnerable than most dating sites due to the nature of its content and user base, so it’s important to understand the potential issues.

What are the specific risks in AdultFriendFinder?

The “adult content” angle.

While there is absolutely no obligation for AFF users to share their nude photos, or to be nude on a webcam feed, many, many people choose to do so, and while we have no objections from an ethical point of view – let your queer flag fly high and proud – it is important that you know that you are risking more than an awkward conversation with co-workers and family members who come across your account.

Unfortunately, bad actors can exploit and use your personal information against you.

“Data from services with adult content or dating services can be especially sensitive for users, because they are very personal,” warns Larkina. “If fraudsters somehow get hold of that confidential data, they can use it to commit ‘efficiency’ errors or phishing crimes.” Needless to say, you should be careful how you use the site and what information you share, especially if you have a public-facing job.

AFF security breach

While dating sites are investing heavily in online security, online threats are constant and constantly evolving. Hackers eager to find treasures of personal and financial information will often target online dating sites – they can be an easy choice.

AdultFriendFinder has experienced two major security breaches, which is the best security record in its entire 30-year history. In 2016, hackers gained access to the personal information of four million AFF users before the breach was discovered and stopped. And a major breach occurred in 2016, affecting approximately 300 million AFF accounts, including 15 million accounts that were legitimately deleted by a user but whose data was not properly removed from AFF’s servers.

Phishing scams

Another common form of hacking – and one that is very effective on dating websites – is phishing, which is when a bad actor assumes a false identity to gain trust and trick you into revealing compromising or sensitive information. It’s easy to do on dating sites because, by their very nature, people sign up to search for people and make connections. Scammers can create attractive personas, tell users what they want to hear and lure them into the scam.

To combat phishing, AFF provides the ability to verify identity with a government-issued identity. This verification process is optional — it’s not mandatory when you set up an account. We recommend doing it, and setting the search filter for verified accounts only. It’s a surefire way to protect yourself from bad actors.

Can your AFF account be found?

Although the private information you provide to AFF (your real name and email address, for example) is not public, AFF dating profiles are public by default, so if you upload a photo of your face (as most accounts do), you can be seen by friends, co-workers, and family members.

And since AFF has experienced two major hacks in the past, there’s always the outside chance that it could happen again, which could result in your email address and information ending up in a malicious database.

How to protect your identity online when using AdultFriendFinder

Does all this mean you should never use AdultFriendFinder, or any dating site? Not at all. We’re here to help you protect yourself and stay alert, without buying you the energy to sign up.

Larkina shared an additional list of best practices to help you minimize risks while having fun on AFF or any other dating site:

1. Do not use a professional email address to sign up for a dating site. If you are too nervous, consider creating a new email address for registration purposes.

2. To protect your accounts, use strong and unique passwords, change them regularly, and if possible, enable two-factor authentication.

3. Be very careful what you share with strangers, especially when it comes to sensitive information or intimate photos. “Always check reputation and other risks before you send or post anything,” warns Larkina.

4. If you use AFF in particular, limit your interactions to users who have verified their identity

Summarizing her advice, Larkina urges online dating service users to treat these “platforms as public, not private” as much as possible, and to remember that “every piece of data you provide — email, phone number, username, etc. — becomes part of your digital history.” If you are careful about what you share and who you share it with, you can safely enjoy AdultFriendFinder and any other dating site.