Tinder is the market leader when it comes to dating applications. Tinder quickly became popular. Once it launched in 2012, it quickly grew to over 50 million members within a few years. It is used to connect people and arrange dates.
However, the mobile application does not securely exchange information with its servers. Checkmarx researchers examined both the website and the app to see if the information shared with its servers was sent securely. While the online version performed well in these tests, the mobile app failed miserably.
The researchers found that the website uses the HTTPS protocol to exchange data. As of today, HTTPS is the most secure protocol, and all websites, including e-commerce, utilize it to ensure that sensitive information sent via their servers is protected to the maximum extent feasible.
The issue with the mobile app is that it is HTTP-based. This is a plain-text communication protocol, which means that if you use the Tinder app on a public network, anybody can see which pictures you are seeing and how you are interacting with them. Additionally, they may alter the photographs before they are shown.
For those unfamiliar with Tinder, it is an app that displays photos of individuals seeking dates in your region. It utilizes your location and, until recently, your Facebook profile for this reason. You may choose your location and the age range of the individuals you view.
Swipe right when you like a photo. You can swipe left if you don’t. Individuals who swipe right are informed, and if they swipe right for you as well, it’s a match, and you may begin communicating through Tinder’s chat.
The perils of using Tinder’s mobile application
Tinder manages a lot of data, with over 1.5 billion swipes each day and over 1 million dates per week. It not only displays photographs, but also the biographies of people. When you understand that all of this information is shared unencrypted and is visible to anybody with an interest in your private life and some free time, it’s an unpleasant sensation.
This is all very sensitive information that, in the wrong hands, might be exploited in unfathomable ways.
How to safely use Tinder
Maintain contact with the website
While the app has certain shortcomings due to the creators’ decision to utilize HTTP rather than HTTPS for an unexplained reason (better app performance? ), the website is safe. All data is encrypted, making it almost impossible for anybody to intercept or alter it. However, Checkmarx researchers discovered that Tinder’s software uses HTTP, making it unsafe. Until this issue is resolved, you should continue using Tinder through the website.
Utilize a VPN
If you want to ensure that the information you share with your internet-connected device is sent securely, the best choice is to use a VPN. This is true even if you are utilizing the website to add a degree of protection.
VPNs link you to the internet through their servers, and all traffic traveling via these servers is encrypted. It conceals your activities as well as your physical location.
NordVPN is one of the best VPNs for these reasons, since it protects your connection and information while also ensuring high-speed connections. With a rigorous no-logging policy in place, you can be certain that your browsing behavior is entirely private.
Who you swipe right or left is entirely up to you.
Tinder is an addiction for the majority of users. While the website securely transmits swipe data, it is feasible to identify whether you swiped right or left on a specific picture. According to Checkmarx experts, this is because the packet lengths for the two broadcasts are different.
As a result, you should instead use a VPN such as NordVPN to encrypt all data and ensure the privacy of your Tinder activity. Simply download and install the NordVPN software on your smartphone for optimum security.