Check Point Research CPR recently analyzed several popular dating applications with over 10 million downloads combined in order to understand how safe they are for users. As dating apps traditionally utilize geolocation data, offering the opportunity to connect with people nearby, this convenience feature often comes at a cost. CPR discovered that the Hornet app sends precise coordinates to the server. Nevertheless, they claim to protect user locations by randomizing the distance displayed in the application, making it, in their opinion, impossible to determine the exact location. However, dating app usage is not the case. At the time of our research, the measures taken by Hornet were insufficient to protect user coordinates, allowing for the determination of user locations with very high accuracy. Following the responsible disclosure process, we attempted to contact the Hornet team, providing them with the results of our research. Just before this publication, we reexamined the Hornet application. Since the specified responsible disclosure deadlines have passed, we are publishing the results of our research. This information can range from very precise location details such as a specific address or location coordinates derived through GPS Global Positioning System to less precise location data obtained via IP address, Wi-Fi, cellular networks, or Bluetooth beacons. Geolocation technology, while beneficial, presents several risks, especially when it comes to privacy and security within apps. These include potential privacy breaches from unauthorized data access, unintended sharing of location data with third-party entities, risks of tracking and surveillance, and security vulnerabilities like location spoofing. This information could be exploited by stalkers, burglars, or other malicious actors. In Hornet and similar applications, users in the search results are sorted in ascending order of distance. If we find two users in the search results who allow the display of their distance, and the target user is located between them in the search results, we can determine the dating app usage distance to the target user as an average value of two known distances:. Figure 1 — Estimating the approximate distance to the user based on known distances to neighbors. However, the presence dating app usage users near the target is not a necessary condition. To determine the distance to the user, it is required to register an additional account, the coordinates of which can be controlled. You can determine the dating app usage between two users by iteratively dividing dating app usage range in half and positioning an additional account at the midpoint. By analyzing the search results and refining the search based on the presence of the target user, progressively narrowing down the distance between the target and the additional account, we can achieve the desired precision. Figure 2 — Technique for determining the distance to the user using the positioning of an auxiliary account. We used two-step trilateration: first, we performed trilateration using two reference points to obtain two possible candidate locations intersection points of the circles. Then, we used the distance information from the third reference point to select the correct solution. For example, this could be a small town. Around this area, we randomly generated 30 sets of reference points in a ring with an inner radius of 5 km and an outer radius of 10 km. As a result of trilateration for each group of reference points, we obtained a set of possible coordinates for the target point. The maximum error in geolocation was meters, and the minimum was only 2 meters. We calculated the mean value of latitude and longitude for all points. The distance between the mean value and the target point appeared to be 24 meters. Being able to determine the approximate location, we generated reference points at a distance of 1 to 2 kilometers around the region where the target was supposed to be located. Applying our method, we obtained many estimates of the target location. The geolocation errors were distributed almost uniformly, with a minimum of 1. We also calculated the average latitude and longitude for the results. The resulting average point was less than 5 meters away from the target point:. Figure 3 — The final location estimate has an error of less than 5 meters. By repeating the experiment many times for different target points, we consistently obtained location accuracy within 10 meters. When it comes to dating applications, exposing user geolocation poses significant risks to privacy.
People who use dating apps are twice as likely to enjoy consuming sports content than the average American. This measure can effectively safeguard user privacy and thwart the sharing of personal data with external entities. By repeating the experiment many times for different target points, we consistently obtained location accuracy within 10 meters. Alle News. DAX Xetra-Orderbuch Ad hoc-Mitteilungen Nachrichten Börsen Aktien-Empfehlungen Branchen Medien Nachrichten-Archiv RSS-News von FinanzNachrichten. Witting said the number of users tapping the newsfeed, comments and videos rose 37 percent in the year to May.
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Kommentarbereich Hinge or bumble. Revealing how dating apps are powerful. Check Point Research (CPR) recently analyzed several popular dating applications with over 10 million downloads combined in order to. had a few dates via tinder, bumble and hinge. Can we resist some of the problematic aspects of swipe culture? Young romance seekers in China flock to a new breed of dating services designed to fill the gaps left by existing apps like Tinder and. if i had to choose, i would choose. found my gf via Hinge. Is love on dating apps even possible?We also calculated the average latitude and longitude for the results. Instead, they crave the friendships and social groups they have been starved of over the past year. Roughly 9 percent of Americans have at least one dating app installed on their mobile phone, according to a Start. Following the responsible disclosure process, we attempted to contact the Hornet team, providing them with the results of our research. Push Mitteilungen. Dating apps are downloaded more often by men than women-in Start. Key Findings Techniques like trilateration allow attackers to determine user coordinates using distance information Despite safety measures, the Hornet dating app — a popular gay dating app with over 10 million downloads — had vulnerabilities, allowing precise location determination, even if users disabled the display of their distances. Research December 10, Ad hoc-Mitteilungen :. Methodology for determining distance In Hornet and similar applications, users in the search results are sorted in ascending order of distance. The geolocation errors were distributed almost uniformly, with a minimum of 1. EURO STOXX Can we be friends? Meistgelesene News. Since the specified responsible disclosure deadlines have passed, we are publishing the results of our research. This measure can effectively safeguard user privacy and thwart the sharing of personal data with external entities. We developed a method that allowed us to achieve location accuracy within 10 meters in reproducible experiments The Hornet developers have implemented new measures to minimize potential risks, which have resulted in a decrease in location accuracy to 50 meters. For example, this could be a small town. Fordern Sie jetzt unseren neuen kostenlosen Spezialreport an und erfahren Sie, welche 3 Biotech-Aktien durchstarten und zu Ihrem Börsenerfolg in beitragen könnten! Zahlreiche Biotechnologie- und Pharmakonzerne haben sich unter anderem dem Kampf gegen Tumorerkrankungen verschrieben. Erweiterte Suche. You can determine the distance between two users by iteratively dividing the range in half and positioning an additional account at the midpoint. Wir empfehlen Interessenten und potenziellen Anlegern den Basisprospekt und die Endgültigen Bedingungen zu lesen, bevor sie eine Anlageentscheidung treffen, um sich möglichst umfassend zu informieren, insbesondere über die potenziellen Risiken und Chancen des Wertpapiers. Applying our method, we obtained many estimates of the target location. If we find two users in the search results who allow the display of their distance, and the target user is located between them in the search results, we can determine the approximate distance to the target user as an average value of two known distances:. We calculated the mean value of latitude and longitude for all points. Being able to determine the approximate location, we generated reference points at a distance of 1 to 2 kilometers around the region where the target was supposed to be located. In Hornet and similar applications, users in the search results are sorted in ascending order of distance. HANG SENG. As dating apps traditionally utilize geolocation data, offering the opportunity to connect with people nearby, this convenience feature often comes at a cost. Sponsored Content.
