Is AdultFriendFinder safe to use? What a cybersecurity expert says

One of the most common questions asked about AdultFriendFinder is understandable: is it safe to use AF? Just one look at the dating site is enough to ring alarm bells – the outdated interface and design and the vast amount of adult content. Potential daters are right to question its validity.

To better understand the risks of using AdultFriendFinder, we consulted Anna Larkina, web data and privacy analytics specialist at Kaspersky, one of the world’s leading cybersecurity services, about what types of threats users may face and how to mitigate the risks.

Understanding the Risks of Online Dating

First, understand that there are risks involved in using Any Online services, and even the most reputable websites, have experienced major hacks or exploits. “Users should remember that any service can potentially encounter a variety of cybersecurity issues,” Larkina told us, including “data leaks, attacks on third-party contractors, or human factors-related issues.”

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But the risks for some websites are undoubtedly higher than others. For example, with a typical merchant website, you’re only providing them with your credit card information, but on a dating site, you’re potentially providing your credit card details and important personal information, from your date of birth to your phone number, information that could prove very valuable 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 risks are specific to AdultFriendFinder?

“Adult Content” Angle

Although there is no obligation for AFF users to share nude photos of themselves, or to be naked on a webcam feed, many people choose to do so, and while we have no objection from an ethical standpoint – let your freak flag fly high and proud – it’s important that you know you risk more than just an awkward conversation with coworkers and family members who stumble across your account.

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

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“Data from services with adult content or dating services may be particularly sensitive for users, because it is more personal,” warns Larkina. “If fraudsters somehow obtain such personal data, they can use it for more ‘efficient’ blackmailing or targeted phishing.” Needless to say, you should be careful about how you use the site and what information you share, especially if you have a public-facing job.

AFF security breach

While dating sites invest heavily in cybersecurity protection, online threats are constantly and constantly evolving. Hackers who are eager to discover a treasure trove of personal and financial information will often target online dating platforms – they can be easy pickings.

AdultFriendFinder has suffered two major security breaches, which is actually a pretty stellar security record throughout its 30-year history. In 2016, hackers gained access to the personal information of four million AFF users before the breach was discovered and shut down. And a major breach occurred in 2016, affecting approximately 300 million AFF accounts, including 15 million accounts that were officially deleted by the user but whose data was not properly removed from AFF servers.

phishing scams

Another common hacking technique – and particularly effective on dating websites – is phishing, which occurs when a bad actor assumes a false identity to gain your trust and trick you into revealing compromising or sensitive information. This is easy to do on dating sites because, by their nature, people sign up specifically to find people and form relationships. Scammers may present themselves as charming individuals, telling users exactly what they want to hear and luring them into a scam.

To combat phishing, AFF offers the ability to verify identity with a government-issued identification. This verification process is still an optional extra – it’s not mandatory when setting up an account. However we recommended doing so and setting search filters for verified accounts only. This is a surefire way to protect yourself from bad actors.

Can your AFF account be found?

Although the personal information you provide to AFF (for example your real name and email address) is not public, AFF’s dating profile is public by default, so if you include a photo of your face (as many accounts do), you may be recognized by friends, coworkers, and family members.

And since AFF has suffered two major hacks before, there’s always a chance of it happening again, which could result in your email address and information ending up in a suspicious database.

How to Protect Your Online Identity When Using AdultFriendFinder

Does this mean you should never use AdultFriendFinder or any dating site? Absolutely not. We’re here to help you protect you and stay alert, not to discourage you from signing up.

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

1. Don’t use a professional email address to sign up on a dating site. If you’re particularly nervous, consider creating a new email address solely for the purpose of signing up.

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

3. Be extremely cautious about what you share with strangers, especially when it comes to sensitive information or intimate photos. “Always assess reputation and other risks before posting or sending anything,” Larkina cautions.

4. Especially when using AFF, 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 spaces, not private spaces” as far as possible, and to always keep in mind that “every piece of data you provide – email, phone number, username, etc. – becomes part of your digital footprint.” If you’re careful about what you share and who you share it with, you can safely enjoy AdultFriendFinder and any other dating site.