Dating While Private

Welcome to Nosy Eye. The daily 5 min newsletter that helps you stay on top of data privacy matters. We’re like a bunk bed. Always on top.

Here’s what we got for you today:

• Protecting your privacy from dating apps

• Safeguarding your privacy from people you’re dating (at least in the beginning)

• Action Tip of the Day

Ahhh dating…. Knees weak. Palms sweaty. The source of comedy and horror stories.

We’re here to give you the lowdown on key things you can do to make your dating experience safer in regards to privacy. This applies to both parties of the dating equation.

We’re not dense. You need to establish trust in order for varying levels of intimacy to happen.

The challenge is toeing the fine line between how much information you share and the information you accept. The hope is all this happens in good faith.

Hope is lovely. Being prepared is even better.

Bad-faith actors and dating apps (yeah we’re lumping them together) take advantage of your vulnerabilities.

As we mentioned in yesterday’s letter, the more you understand the incentives, the better. And with the dating industry, we’re talking billions of dollars on the line.

Let’s start with the dating apps

Remember, incentives. It’s in their best interest to keep you on the app as long as possible (don’t believe their marketing).

Many of them are owned by massive data marketing companies who play fast and loose with your information which has often been victim to data breaches.

While you may be going on these apps to find a mate. Their goal is to mine as much data about you, in a vampiric fashion 🧛‍♂️

Your public profile is visible by anyone within that application.

Choose your pictures carefully

A LOT can be gleaned from seemingly simple pictures. Don’t use pictures with unique backgrounds, special occasions, etc.

You want to make it hard for the images to be reverse searched against.

There are many cases involving bad-faith actors using those photos for scam social media accounts (multiple pictures of a single person look more credible than a single scam profile picture).

Last we checked, you also don’t need an account to view Tinder profiles via desktop.

Consider your pictures to be public as these they will be scraped by plenty of data harvesting companies. Plus, take into account the rise of AI tools and their high demand for data.

It’s in your best interest to be as vague as possible with the personal details about yourself

This includes:

• Your birthday

• Hobbies

• Job/People you work with

• Pictures

• and more

Don’t connect your social accounts as this increases your exposure to data breaches. And please don’t use the same username as you do for other accounts.

Again, you want to increase the difficulty for other people running searches about your identity.

Also be mindful that your GPS location is usually required to match with other people. So even if potential matches won’t see your location, the companies know where you are.

Simple tip: Only keep dating apps installed on your phone when you’re actively using the applications. The longer these apps sit on your phone, the more information you are passively giving away.

Easiest thing you can do is not use dating apps anymore. Instead, opt to meet people in real life. Reduce your risk profile.

You’ve agreed to meet in person. Now what?

As you’re texting back and forth, figuring where to meet, make sure to use a temporary or virtual number. Otherwise, expect for your real number to be reverse searched.

If you’re still in the early phases of dating, don’t divulge your home address. This sounds obvious, but we all need to be reminded more than we’re taught.

Use an address/location in at least the next city over (decide on one prior to talking makes it easier).

Now, if you’re accused of lying and they refuse to understand why, they can get lost. You deserve someone smarter. They do not need to know where you live.

Meet in public, neutral places where there is plenty of foot traffic (people driving don’t care). Do not meet at places you normally frequent.

Taking it a step further, you can allow them to arrive first so you can see if whether or not you’re being catfished.

Sounds a little James Bondsy, but can’t leave things up to chance.

Action Tip of the Day

You’re going to reduce your digital footprint today in 4 easy steps.

1. Go to Have I Been Pwned.

2. Enter all of your email addresses to see what’s been exposed in data breaches.

3. Log that info down.

4. Now remove those email addresses from being publicly searchable on the site. Visit their opt-out page here.

That's all we have for you today. There's plenty more, of course. The matters of love are a beautiful experience, but your safety in its pursuit is no laughing matter.

If you’d like more information or clarification, just respond to this email with “Give me the deets.”

Anyways, bye for now.

DISCLAIMER: This newsletter is strictly educational. Please do not use easily identifiable data online, as you do not know who is going to give it away