Is AdultFriendFinder safe to use? What a cybersecurity expert says

One of the most common questions asked about AdultFriendFinder is also one of the most basic: is the site safe to use? Everything from the dating site interface and design to the ubiquity of adult content sets off some understandable warning bells in veteran internet users, so the question makes a lot of sense. 

To better understand the risks of using AdultFriendFinder, we consulted Anna Larkina, Web Data and Privacy Analysis Expert at Kaspersky, one of the leading cybersecurity services in the world, about the nature of the threats users might face and the ways they can mitigate the risks.

Understanding the risks of online dating

First off, understand that there is a risk inherent to using any online service, and that even the most reputable websites have experienced major hacks or exploits. “Users should remember that any service can potentially encounter various cybersecurity issues,” Larkina told us, including “data leaks, attacks on third party contractors, or issues related to the human factor.” 

But the stakes are higher for some websites 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 crucial personal information, from your date of birth to your phone number, that can all be exploited by bad actors. 

While this is a risk you take with any dating service, AdultFriendFinder is perhaps more vulnerable than most dating sites, so it’s important to understand the potential pitfalls.

What risks are specific to AdultFriendFinder?

The “adult content” angle

While there is absolutely no obligation for AFF users to share nude photos of themselves, or get naked on a webcam feed, many, many people opt to do so, and while we have no objection from a moral perspective — let your freak flag fly — it’s important that you know you’re risking more than an awkward conversation with the odd coworker or family member who comes across your account.

Unfortunately, bad actors who wish to do you harm can use your personal information against you. “Data from services with adult content or dating services can be especially sensitive for users, because it’s more personal,” warns Larkina. “If fraudsters somehow obtain such private data, they can use it for more ‘efficient’ blackmailing or targeted phishing.” Needless to say, you should be wary of how you use the site and what information you share, especially if you have a public-facing job.

AFF security breaches

While dating sites invest heavily in cybersecurity protections, another unfortunate reality of the online world is that the threats are constant and ever-evolving, and hackers eager to discover treasure troves of personal and financial information will always be incentivized to target online dating sites.

AdultFriendFinder has had two major security breaches in its 30-year history, which actually demonstrates a very stellar record of security, but it’s still worth being aware of these events. In 2016, hackers managed to gain access to the personal information of four million AFF users before the breach was found and stopped, while a larger breach occurred in 2016, impacting 300 million AFF accounts, including 15 million accounts that had been officially deleted by the user but whose data had not been properly expunged from their servers.

Phishing scams

Another common hacking technique, and one particularly effective on dating websites is phishing, which is when a bad actor assumes a false identity to gain your trust and deceive you into revealing compromising or sensitive information.

To combat phishing, AFF offers users the ability to verify their identities using government-issued identification, but this verification process is still an optional extra on the site rather than a mandatory step towards account creation.

Can your AFF account be found?

While the private information you offer to AFF during account creation (your real name and email address, for example) is not public-facing, that doesn’t mean no one will ever discover your account. AFF’s dating profiles are public by default, so if you include a picture of your face (as many accounts do), you can be recognized by friends, co-workers, and family members. 

Additionally, because AFF has had two major hacks before, you should assume there’s at least an outside chance that the site is hacked in the future, which may result in your email address ending up in a hacked database.

How to protect your online identity when using AdultFriendFinder

Does all of the above mean you should never use an online dating website, or never use AdultFriendFinder in particular? Absolutely not. We shared the risks to make you aware of them, and to better help you protect yourself, not to discourage you from signing up. 

To help you protect yourself, Larkina shared a list of best practices that will help you mitigate your risks while still having fun, on AFF or any other dating site:

1. Don’t use a professional email address to sign up for a dating site. If you’re especially nervous, consider creating a new email address just for the purposes of signing up.

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

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

4. When using AFF in particular, limit your interactions to users who have verified their identity

Summing up her advice, Larkina urges online dating service users to treat these “platforms as public spaces, not as private ones” as far as possible, and be ever mindful 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 as you would any other dating site.