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Evaluating Privacy & Security of Online Dating Applications with a Focus on Older Adults

Naheem Noah ; Supriya Thakur ; Jason Beck ; Sanchari Das (2024) — 2024 IEEE European Symposium on Security and Privacy Workshops (EuroS&PW)

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DOI: 10.1109/eurospw61312.2024.00081 (opens in a new tab)

Type:   Proceedings Article
Country:   United States
Tags:   Accessibility, App Permissions, Dangerous Permissions, Data Collection, Dating Applications, Mobile Security, Older Adults, Online Dating, Online Dating Platforms, Privacy, Privacy And Security, Romance Scams
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Synopsis

            
This study combined a review of 38 peer-reviewed papers on online-dating privacy and cybersecurity with a static security and privacy assessment of 13 widely used dating apps, including four aimed at older adults. Only 10 reviewed papers addressed older adults, two examined mobile security or data-privacy management, and none offered solutions tailored to that group. The app assessment identified 78 dangerous Android-permission requests across the evaluated apps and concerns involving location, access permissions, and third-party data use. EliteSingles received the highest MobSF security score and low risk, while Grindr and Tinder received the lowest scores and high risk. Google Scholar-only searching, 13 apps, inaccessible apps, and static analysis limit coverage and real-world behavioral conclusions.

          

        
                  

            
Identified Gaps

            
Research rarely examines older adults’ online-dating privacy and security. Of 38 reviewed papers, only one addressed older adults’ online-dating privacy and security, two addressed their mobile-security management, and none focused on their perceptions of dating-app privacy and security. Application analysis is also scarce: seven papers conducted it, with only one focused on older adults. The paper further identifies an overlooked need to study older adults’ accessibility challenges in dating apps.

          

        
                  

            
Methods

            
The authors conducted a Google Scholar literature review using privacy, security, online-dating, older-adult, and digital-literacy terms. They forward-searched, screened abstracts and full texts, selected 38 papers meeting stated relevance criteria, and performed thematic analysis collaboratively. They also assessed 13 highly downloaded dating apps, including four aimed at older adults. Using non-interacting dummy accounts, they reviewed privacy policies and account data requirements. They conducted static app analysis with MobSF, exported reports, and examined security scores, risk levels, and requested dangerous Android permissions.

          

        
                  

            
Limitations

            
The literature review was limited to 38 peer-reviewed conference publications retrieved through Google Scholar and may have missed relevant work indexed in databases such as SpringerLink. The application assessment covered only 13 apps, including four designed for older adults. Some relevant older-adult dating apps, including 40 Plus Senior Dating and FlirtMatures, could not be accessed on Google Play, limiting coverage.

          

        
                  

            
Future Work

            
Conduct semi-structured interviews with older adults and crowdsourced surveys via Amazon MTurk and Prolific. Extend application coverage to dating apps unavailable on the Google Play Store, including 40 Plus Senior Dating and FlirtMatures.

          

              

    
    

        
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