Tinder is the most popular mobile dating app in the United States, with approximately 7.86 million users, according to a 2019 Statista report. The majority of young adult users go to Tinder to find love or casual sex, seek validation and self-worth, and socialize with the opposite sex.
Like other dating apps, Tinder collects identifiable information such as name, age, gender, location, profession, and hobbies, among others. This is why it is crucial to protect your data and yourself against any possible harm.
Bots are primarily implemented on web-based chat platforms like Tinder. By definition, bots are computer software designed to do specific repetitive tasks. Web developers refer to it as crawlers or spiders. While the primary intention of bots is good, hackers can leverage bots filled with malicious software programs to execute cyber-attacks.
Good Bots vs. Bad Bots
Bots are used to perform various Internet-based tasks. Chatbots help facilitate human interaction without a person’s presence or intervention on social media sites like Facebook and Instagram. It is designed to answer commonly asked questions and provide information automatically or on-demand.
Commercial companies utilize bots as part of their marketing tactic. These bots crawl information on the web through search engine optimization and display ads that promote products or services.
Meanwhile, feed bots are responsible for aggregating content based on trending topics or popular search terms. You will see content according to your chosen niche if you are subscribed to an RSS feed.
Virtual assistants like Siri and Alexa are bots powered by artificial intelligence. These programs learn through the user’s browsing experience. It relies on voice recognition technology to perform better each time.
Web crawlers are bots that review content on the Internet. It syndicates data and ranks web pages according to relevance and traffic, among other factors. Other types of bots scan the web for duplicate texts, images, photos, and other copyrighted materials.
The Bad Guys
Since bots have the ability to access unlimited data, hackers have found a way to leverage this technology for crimes. Its primary goal is to compromise computers, networks, and servers. Once the protective layer between the computer and the Internet is destroyed, hackers can steal sensitive data like login credentials, passwords, financial information, and photos and videos.
Bots are open-source technologies that make it easier for cybercriminals to plot attacks against one or multiple users. Therefore, it is essential to spot warning signs that you are dealing with a malicious bot before using your personal information for fraud and theft.
How to Identify Bots (and Fake Tinder Profiles)
Anyone who is into Tinder can attest to the fact that not all users are real people. Unsurprisingly, some profiles are bots or computer-generated chat moderators deployed to engage users to take part in their marketing scheme or, worse, become victims of phishing.
The first step in protecting yourself against these malicious activities is to identify if you are engaging with a bot or a fake Tinder profile.
Characteristics of a Fake Tinder Profile
Fake Tinder profiles are schemes to scam the goodness out of people. These are accounts made by users.
- You know the old adage, “if it seems too good to be true, it probably is.” It is easy to spot a fake profile on Tinder by being critical of the default photo. If the image quality is pixelated or if it something that you would normally see on stock photos, then chances are you are not dealing with a real person.
- When you are interested with a man or a woman, chances are you will be enthusiastic to meet them in person, as any normal person would. However, someone who is behind a fake Tinder profile would oftentimes turn down invites for in-person meetings or would give alibis so you can postpone or cancel it every time.
- The most common modus operandi of scammers is that they ask for money immediately during the early stages of the relationship. They usually would claim they are in dire trouble, and your help would solve their life’s problem.
- If you meet someone who is ready to jump into high waters with you on a relationship is a red flag.
- You find that they are using stock photos on their profile and not their real photos. This is a huge warning sign if you are meeting people online.
- You engage in a conversation with an interesting person, and he/she asks too many personal questions. This could be an act of malicious phishing.
Fake Tinder profiles may not necessarily intend to cause harm. These are used by real persons to hide their identity at times due to privacy concerns. However, be mindful that fake accounts can be a vehicle to inflict emotional damage and, worse, rob or blackmail a person.
How to Spot Bots on Tinder
Now that you know how to identify fake Tinder profiles, it will be easier to spot good and bad bots. Scammers often rely on free open sources to create their bots, so the technology is not too sophisticated. Here is how you can determine if you are talking to a bot.
- As a security feature, Tinder gives users the option to link their social media accounts. If you encounter a profile which has no linked Facebook or Instagram accounts, chances are you are dealing with a bot.
- If a social media account is linked to the Tinder profile, but the photos seem fake, it is most likely a bot. The same could be true if the profile lacks personal touch or does not have interactions with real people online.
- Bots are programmed to respond immediately to chats based on keyword triggers.
- Bots are designed to respond in full complete sentences. They do not recognize jargon, slang, or street languages. If the conversation feels unnatural or if the responses lack connection, chances are it is a bot.
- Tinder bots will send links for you to click. Beware of this scheme as it will compromise your data or steal important information from you.
How to Prevent Bot Attacks
Nothing beats vigilance in preventing malicious bot attacks. Unfortunately, hackers prey on the users’ ignorance and inability to recognize warning signs. This is why it pays to familiarize oneself with typical bot activities and immediately cut off ties.
Fortunately, Tinder has tools that are easily accessible to users to stop bots from interacting with them. Although these are not designed to ban bots on the platform completely, these tools can help protect you and your data online.
Importance of Cybersecurity in Bot Protection
Over the years, cybersecurity technologies have improved drastically to respond to the reality of the current web experience. As a result, malicious bot attacks have become persistent and more sophisticated in a never-ending effort to launch Denial of Service (DDoS) attacks or break down network infrastructure not only of a private individual but also that of organizations, governments, and nations.
Service providers like Tinder and other social networking sites have the social responsibility to ensure a safe and secured experience within the platform. As an individual, your responsibility comes in using only trusted platforms and safeguarding data at all times. Hence cybersecurity is crucial now more than ever.
Conclusion
Tinder offers rewarding experiences in love and relationships. It is a convenient way to connect and communicate, but there are also risks associated with the overall web experience. Like other social media platforms, bots lurk on Tinder for various reasons. The best way to protect yourself is to know how bots operate and what to do when you encounter one. Besides, love should be as real as it gets, even in the virtual world.