OP 17 December, 2024 - 06:36 AM
An investigation by Follow the Money (FTM) found that the use of Tinder by military personnel can be dangerous. Journalists found profiles of hundreds of military personnel from the United States, Germany, France, Great Britain and other countries on the platform. Through the application, it was possible to find out their personal data, places of residence, as well as track movements between military bases. Experts believe that such applications pose a serious security risk.
FTM created three fake Tinder accounts and "moved" them to different military bases. Thanks to the triangulation method, it was possible to calculate the location of the military and even their travel routes.
The app also made it possible to track users' movements using data on the distance between accounts. For example, one U.S. military officer working in the field of missile defense was spotted at the Ramstein base in Germany, then in Spain, and again in Germany. Similar cases have been identified at bases in Lithuania, Estonia, Mali and other countries.
Many militaries themselves make it easier for attackers. Their profiles indicate their positions, and photos in uniform or against the background of equipment make it easy to identify them. Some employees were even found through other social networks such as LinkedIn and Instagram*. There, journalists found addresses, dates of birth, friends and colleagues.
Experts warn that such information can be used by the special services of other countries for blackmail or recruitment. For example, details from a profile can be the basis for establishing trust and obtaining secret data. In addition, you can track activity at the bases: if the number of users increases dramatically, this may indicate exercises or other important events.
The protection of Tinder users' data remains a controversial issue. Despite the company's assurances about security measures, FTM's investigation shows that the app remains vulnerable. Experts insist on the need to revise security policies to reduce the risks of information leaks, especially in the context of military and government workers.
FTM's research shows that the problem is international in nature. Tinder remains popular, which means that the risks remain. Experts emphasize that such data can pose a danger not only to individual military personnel, but also to the security of entire states.
This is not the first time that apps have resulted in a data breach. Previously, due to fitness apps, the locations of secret military bases were revealed. However, many armies, including the U.S. Army, still haven't banned the use of Tinder. In some countries, such as the Netherlands, restrictions apply only to work phones, and personal devices remain uncontrolled.
In addition, an investigation by the French newspaper Le Monde revealed serious security risks for Joe Biden, Donald Trump and Kamala Harris. The movements of their guards are tracked through the popular fitness app Strava, used by security officers, including those of the American Secret Service.
In addition, Strava may disclose personal information to strangers in the vicinity. The leak of user information was caused by the default privacy settings in the app's feature. And in 2023, specialists with the help ofStrava's heatmap features were able to identify users' home addresses.
FTM created three fake Tinder accounts and "moved" them to different military bases. Thanks to the triangulation method, it was possible to calculate the location of the military and even their travel routes.
The app also made it possible to track users' movements using data on the distance between accounts. For example, one U.S. military officer working in the field of missile defense was spotted at the Ramstein base in Germany, then in Spain, and again in Germany. Similar cases have been identified at bases in Lithuania, Estonia, Mali and other countries.
Many militaries themselves make it easier for attackers. Their profiles indicate their positions, and photos in uniform or against the background of equipment make it easy to identify them. Some employees were even found through other social networks such as LinkedIn and Instagram*. There, journalists found addresses, dates of birth, friends and colleagues.
Experts warn that such information can be used by the special services of other countries for blackmail or recruitment. For example, details from a profile can be the basis for establishing trust and obtaining secret data. In addition, you can track activity at the bases: if the number of users increases dramatically, this may indicate exercises or other important events.
The protection of Tinder users' data remains a controversial issue. Despite the company's assurances about security measures, FTM's investigation shows that the app remains vulnerable. Experts insist on the need to revise security policies to reduce the risks of information leaks, especially in the context of military and government workers.
FTM's research shows that the problem is international in nature. Tinder remains popular, which means that the risks remain. Experts emphasize that such data can pose a danger not only to individual military personnel, but also to the security of entire states.
This is not the first time that apps have resulted in a data breach. Previously, due to fitness apps, the locations of secret military bases were revealed. However, many armies, including the U.S. Army, still haven't banned the use of Tinder. In some countries, such as the Netherlands, restrictions apply only to work phones, and personal devices remain uncontrolled.
In addition, an investigation by the French newspaper Le Monde revealed serious security risks for Joe Biden, Donald Trump and Kamala Harris. The movements of their guards are tracked through the popular fitness app Strava, used by security officers, including those of the American Secret Service.
In addition, Strava may disclose personal information to strangers in the vicinity. The leak of user information was caused by the default privacy settings in the app's feature. And in 2023, specialists with the help ofStrava's heatmap features were able to identify users' home addresses.