The Scoop: Millions of singles use dating sites and apps to find partners, but many of these platforms are rife with security issues ranging from chatbots to phishing scams. Now, singles can download PSafe to protect themselves from those threats. The company focuses on mobile devices and offers a range of tools to keep people safe from viruses, identity theft, and phishing links. After all, security is the last thing singles want to think about when they’re opening themselves up to a potential partner.
Recent research from cybersecurity provider PSafe indicates that dating site and app users are still falling for simple scams that download malware onto their devices. And, often, all it takes is one wrong click.
Scammers may direct users to phony websites that earn revenue from click-through commission or encourage them to allow notifications that automatically install malware. PSafe collected data from its 21 million active users around the world and discovered that dating site and app scams are responsible for 19% of the malware that users allow onto their devices.
Consumer Reports noted that online and mobile daters lost more than $230 million in 2016 in romance scams. Many were duped by fake dating profiles, while a significant number also fell victim to the kinds of scams that PSafe described.
PSafe helps people secure their mobile devices from scammers.
“Data leaks are growing exponentially. How many have there been already this year?” said PSafe CEO and Founder Marco DeMello.
PSafe offers free and paid versions of its mobile security solutions that include identity theft monitoring, scam alerts, and fraudulent website warnings to keep people safe.
Dating site and app users may encounter a significant number of fabricated advertisements, counterfeit promotions, and bogus profiles. Marco said that those types of malicious activities aren’t going anywhere because they can be so successful. In fact, he said he sees those issues increasing.
“Just recently we’ve seen data breaches from many major banks, credit card companies, and others — one after the other. Large corporations are failing to protect our data,” he told us. “You need to keep yourself safe; you need to stay protected.”
Improving Cybersecurity in Brazil and the United States
Marco, a former Microsoft executive, identified the need for mobile security before the technology became as ubiquitous as it is today. He began developing PSafe in Brazil in 2010 while building its headquarters in San Francisco.
During its more than eight years in business, PSafe has amassed a significant number of users around the globe, especially in America and Brazil. The gender split between male and female users is relatively balanced, with most users ranging from their early 20s to their early 50s. More than 200 million people have downloaded the company’s primary product, dfndr, and the app now blocks approximately 385,000 cyberattacks every 24 hours.
PSafe offers two versions of its products to users. The first is a free version of dfndr, which provides a robust feature list and is ad-supported.
“Even the free version provides a comprehensive security net,” Marco said.
PSafe CEO and Founder Marco DeMello spoke with us about how the app protects users.
The paid version of dfndr offers additional features to improve phone performance, including a memory booster and a CPU cooler. But even that version costs less than $2 a month.
In addition to security, dfndr allows users to lock their private photos or apps, helps them check their wifi signal, and clears caches and cookies to make devices run more efficiently.
PSafe’s ultimate goal is to help its users browse online, download apps without fear, and use their devices with less hassle.
“We want to give you the freedom to do what you love online without having to be constantly worried that someone is trying to rob you, steal your data, or violate your privacy,” Marco said.
Dfndr App Can Keep Users Safe on Dating Platforms
offers a comprehensive suite of tools that can help singles browse dating sites safely.
If users try to navigate to a fake site, or one that could download a virus onto their device, the app alerts them to the risk. PSafe also includes an anti-theft feature that ensures that users don’t give their information to a fake dating platform.
“If people install dfndr on their phone, they can enable anti-hacking, anti-phishing protection, and identity protection. That should provide users with a comprehensive shield from attacks of every type,” Marco said.
Online scams have become much more sophisticated than the old “Nigerian prince” examples with which most internet users are familiar. New types of cybercrime emerge frequently, and dfndr has blocked more than 240 million cyberattacks since the start of 2019.
Marco said PSafe has seen an increase in fake profiles, bots, and AI on both dating platforms and social media sites where users seek mates. Smartphone users also need to be wary of identity theft and may discover too late that components of their personal details appear on the dark web.
“We recover, on average, 30,000 stolen identities per day,” Marco said.
PSafe’s dfndr app can protect more than just dating app users. It can protect users of any app that relies on the exchange of highly personal information — including online banking or shopping.
PSafe is currently available on Android devices, and the company is in the process of rolling out an iOS version, which will be available soon.
PSafe: Provides Peace of Mind When Browsing Online
Though dating apps may have their share of issues, today’s singles often use them to find a quality partner. That’s why PSafe looks out for users by offering a secure layer between them and malicious attacks.
Marco and PSafe also recommend a few strategies for staying safe when using a dating platform. And it all starts with scrutinizing the site:
- Search for info about a new app before you sign up: Maybe you’re excited to join a new dating app that aims to bring together people with interests you share. However, it may still be too good to be true, so search for more about the app before entering your credentials.
- Watch out for fake profiles and bots: If a profile seems a little fishy — or the person in the image looks a little too much like a stock photo — be wary of sending that person sensitive information or photos. And don’t click on any links they might send you.
- Don’t give out personal information: Identifiers like your full name, your address, or where you work could be used to steal your identity.
- Use unique names and passwords for all your accounts: If hackers gain access to one of your accounts, they could get into all of your accounts if you don’t switch up your account information.
Most of all, PSafe suggests that users regularly scan their device for viruses or malware using dfndr. The company is proud to offer such a wide range of services — both paid and free resources to protect daters.
“We’re passionate about security and cybersecurity, and we feel that we’re fulfilling our mission,” Marco said. “We love helping people feel better about their activities online.”
