Are Dating Apps Putting Your Business at a Security Risk?

There are some surprising trends in digital security today. The most important one is recognizing the growing vulnerability of businesses in a digital era. The opportunities for cybercrime are plenty, and you never really know where the next breach will come from. But there are certain things that businesses can do to reduce their risk when it comes to data loss and hacks. An important one may be linked directly to your employees’ personal lives.

Here are some critical security flaws linked directly to popular dating apps, and what you can do to protect your company.

Unencrypted Photo Uploads

This is a concern because it allows users to access personal identification information (PII) including users’ real names, locations, employment, and education details. While not only important to maintain personal and professional security, more governmental regulations both in the US and abroad are requiring organizations to identify and protect this type of sensitive information to stay in compliance. The effects of a data breach of one of the popular dating apps could be devastating, resulting in unwanted exposure, the release of personal information, and identity theft.

Unprotected Login Information

Certain dating apps were particularly guilty of practices that allowed researchers to gain login information, log into accounts, and send messages to another person all within the app itself. This was most effective for Android users, as there are free apps available on the platform that allow hackers to break into the phone and become a superuser. The hack can then give the superuser full access to dating app accounts, message viewing abilities, and any other function that could result in leaked data. From a corporate perspective, this is especially dangerous because the vulnerability can provide hackers with easy access to corporate email, data, and networks if the mobile device is unprotected.

Repeated Use of Passwords

As we’ve seen several times in recent years, the use of the same passwords for personal and professional accounts is a real problem. The same passwords used across multiple different accounts and the use of easily guessed passwords is still one of the top entry points for hackers to gain access to personal or sensitive information. If your employees are guilty of the common sin of using the same password for their corporate accounts as they do for their personal accounts, you are leaving your company exposed and vulnerable to the same level of security that their personal accounts support.

Take the Dropbox and LinkedIn hacks of recent years. These corporate attacks were facilitated because users were using the same password on their personal accounts as their professional ones. It’s not enough anymore to have just one strong password. Your employees need to be one step ahead of the bots and cybercriminals that are focusing 100% on how to gain access to your system.

The bottom line is that your employees should know the risks of using unsecured applications such as dating apps on the same device that they use for work. Help keep them in the know and keep your company protected.

Sleep Better at Night

Worried about your data? Relax! HF Services Records Management has you covered. You’ll always know your data is safe, whether it needs to be stored, managed or securely destroyed. Choose the solution that works for you, anywhere throughout Georgia.

Contact us today, and be a little happier by tomorrow.

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