Millions of Tinder users risk being blackmailed by Vladimir Putin’s hackers, spy chiefs warn
Poor security during the uploading of photos can be exploited by attackers on vulnerable profiles, spy chiefs claim
TINDER users risk being blackmailed by Vladimir Putin’s hackers, warn spy chiefs.
Millions on the popular hook-up site assume they won’t be recognised if they have an anonymous profile.
But hackers from Putin’s Russia can seize on the electronic footprint left on the app and other social media to build up a profile of the user.
The risk is highlighted in this week’s “threat report” from the National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC).
The agency warns: “Attackers could use the data for a variety of malicious purposes.”
It says poor security during the uploading of photos can be exploited by attackers.
Hackers can seize access tokens for Facebook. And vulnerabilities exist in several apps’ message history, particularly for Android users running outdated software, says the NCSC.
Security expert Prof Anthony Glees said: “People are giving away important and sensitive details by putting personal stuff on the internet. This is pure gold for the Russians, Chinese and anybody who wants to exploit those facts.
“My advice is don’t put anything online about you, your sexual habits and preferences, that you wouldn’t want your mother to know.’’
