Love in the age of the algorithm, how to avoid cheating and how Latin Americans find love

For more than half of Latin Americans (52%), dating apps are the tool that allows them to continue trading in the love market and that, in the midst of confinement, has helped them meet people for different purposes: to make new friends, looking for a long-term relationship, or finding just a casual relationship. However, despite its popularity, 8 out of 10 Latin Americans (82%) are afraid of being scammed or coming across fake profiles on these platforms.

Dating apps are here to stay. According to the Kaspersky study: Love in the age of the algorithmthey have acquired so much popularity that 52% of Latin Americans say that these applications (apps) have made it easier for them to meet people for various purposes: there are those who seek here the true love (long-term relationships) (30%) or just one casual relationship (28%). And of course, those who only seek a sexual partner (29%).

In fact, the survey reveals that many have found what they were looking for, from true love to more temporary or even one-time relationships.

Interestingly, despite his popularity and presumed success, the survey revealed that a quarter (25%) of Latin Americans would be embarrassed to admit that they met their partner this way.

In terms of cybersecurity, not everything that happens in these apps is “champagne and roses” since, as millions of people adopt these tools, also attract the interest of cybercriminals and, therefore, potential security risks. However, by following certain guidelines to make safe use and protect the information, you can fully enjoy the benefits of these technologies.

“The popularity of dating apps and the ease they provide to search for partners have overshadowed the cybersecurity and privacy risks that exist around these platforms. Not only because of the private information that is shared – since access is given to data such as phone number, social networks, geolocation, employment information, and even personal photos – but because it is known that, through the creation of false profiles, some criminals have hooked users to scam them or to go on a date in which crimes that go beyond the digital sphere are committed,” said Dmitry Bestuzhev, director of the Global Research and Analysis Team for Latin America at Kaspersky.

Recommendations to avoid fraud

• Be careful when sharing photos. Before sharing photos, choose those that do not reveal unnecessary information such as your address, the company you work for, etc. and do not show themselves in compromising situations. Remember that once you share them, they will live in cyberspace forever.
• Take care of your identity. Do not divulge your full name. While a pseudonym can cause mistrust, putting your first and last name can cause privacy issues and make you a victim of identity theft.
• Do not link your networks to these apps. Do not use your social media credentials to access your dating app profile as it will reveal too much information that can be used for evil. This applies even if you have privacy restrictions on your other networks.
• Protect your phone number. Try not to share your phone number. Instead, use the messaging tools built into dating apps, at least until you’re sure you can trust the other person.
• Pay attention to your instinct. Being mistrustful online can help keep you safe. Don’t be too quick to tell your whole life story or share your most personal information. If something makes you uncomfortable, leave the conversation. Remember that this information about you can be used to harass you (doxing).
• Be careful with the links. Be wary of links shared with you as they may lead you to fake sites or auto-download malware (malicious software) onto your device. To avoid this, use a security solution (such as Kaspersky Security Cloud) that protects your devices and scans the links and applications that are downloaded.