Millions looking for love on Tinder risk being blackmailed by Vladimir Putin's legion of Russian hackers, warn spy chiefs

  • Russian leader's army of hackers could be capable of compromising accounts  
  • Millions using presume they are unrecognisable if profiles are anonymous
  • But a digital footprint left on the app and elsewhere helps hackers build profile
  • 'Don't put anything online you wouldn't want your mother to see', warns expert 

Tinder users looking for love are at risk of being blackmailed by Vladmir Putin's hackers, spy chiefs have warned. 

Millions using the popular dating app presume they are unregonisable if their profiles are anonymous.

But Russian hackers are capable of tracking users' electronic footprints on Tinder and other social media that helps them build up a user profile. 

The risk was highlighted in the 'threat report' this week, from the National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC). 

Russian president Vladimir Putin's legion of hackers are capable of tracking users' electronic footprints on Tinder and on other social media to help them build up a profile of the user  

Russian president Vladimir Putin's legion of hackers are capable of tracking users' electronic footprints on Tinder and on other social media to help them build up a profile of the user  

The risk was highlighted in the 'threat report' this week, from the National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC)

The risk was highlighted in the 'threat report' this week, from the National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC)

It warned: 'Attackers could use the data for a variety of malicious purposes.' 

Poor security as photos upload can be a potential exploit for hackers the attackers. 

Access tokens for Facebook, which can be seized by hackers, along with existing vulnerabilities in apps' message history - particularly on Android devices running outdated software, the NCSC said.  

The key message that is being put across to those looking online for love is 'don't put anything online about you...that you wouldn't want your mother to know'

The key message that is being put across to those looking online for love is 'don't put anything online about you...that you wouldn't want your mother to know'

Security expert Prof Anthony Glees told The Sun: 'People are giving away important and sensitive details by putting personal stuff on the internet. 

'This is pure gold for the Russians, Chinese and anybody who wants to exploit those facts.

'My advice is don’t put anything online about you, your sexual habits and preferences, that you wouldn’t want your mother to know.'

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