Grindr addressed this issue by allowing users to disable location sharing. For example, the app shows how far away your ‘matches’ are in great detail. In 2014, Synack cybersecurity researchers discovered that Grindr users could easily exploit this information to uncover the locations of other users. However, Grindr, like other popular dating apps, has several vulnerabilities that allow strangers to find out your location.

The program uses GPS and Wi-Fi to match you to other Grindr users in your geographic area. If you want to get the most out of Grindr, the app constantly needs to know where you are. This creates potential dangers for your privacy and wellbeing. Sadly, a small group of people with bad intentions use Grindr for their own purposes. That’s often a huge relief in a world where many still judge two men holding hands. What privacy risks does Grindr have?įor many users, Grindr is a platform on which they can be themselves without shame. Subsequently, we set up a list of tips for those who take their Grindr privacy seriously: don’t share any unnecessary personal information, turn off your location, and use a fake location app through an Android emulator. VPNOverview spoke with expert Philip Tijsma, who’s part of the COC, an official LGBT association in the Netherlands, as well as Azza Sultan, associate director of Grinder for Equality. Sadly, many still discriminate others based on their sexuality, which makes safety measures necessary. Especially in some countries, where local laws aren’t as accepting of the LGBT community, caution is extremely important. We do, however, want to ensure that you, and other users, have the chance to protect yourself and your privacy. We don’t mean to cause a panic or to stop people from using dating apps. Even so, it’s always good to be aware of the potential privacy risks that come with dating apps such as Grindr. With the app users can check out profiles of people in their neighborhood, exchange messages, and look for a date. Grindr’s goal is to provide men from the LGBT community with a safe (dating) platform. Since then, Grindr has changed the gay scene completely. The app was launched in 2009, making it older than Tinder. With millions of users worldwide, Grindr is one of the most popular dating apps for gay and bisexual men.

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