{"id":4825,"date":"2010-02-09T15:59:47","date_gmt":"2010-02-09T05:59:47","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/power-up.space\/?p=4825"},"modified":"2010-02-09T15:59:47","modified_gmt":"2010-02-09T05:59:47","slug":"bitdefender-offers-safety-tips-for-online-dating-this-valentine%e2%80%99s-day","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.impulsegamer.com\/wordpress\/?p=4825","title":{"rendered":"BitDefender Offers Safety Tips for Online Dating This Valentine\u2019s Day"},"content":{"rendered":"

Australia and New Zealand <\/em><\/strong>\u2013 9<\/strong> February 2010<\/strong><\/em> \u2013 BitDefender\u00ae<\/sup><\/a>, an award-winning provider of innovative anti-malware security solutions, today cautioned online daters about the increased security risks associated with looking for love online this year and their unique susceptibility to identity theft and online scams.<\/p>\n

While there are many respectable and reliable e-dating services, online daters should be extremely careful when choosing the best service to meet their needs. Before subscribing, users should always search for positive testimonials and Website reviews, as well as the advice of a trustworthy person who has already used the service. BitDefender also advises against subscribing to a dating service discovered via spam e-mails, which could result in identity theft or becoming the recipient of additional spam.<\/p>\n

\u201cFinding the perfect match on Valentine\u2019s Day via an online dating service sounds like a dream come true, but it can quickly turn into a nightmare,\u201d said Catalin Cosoi, BitDefender\u2019s senior antispam researcher. \u201cTo avoid falling victim to cybercrimes, online daters should only use sites with explicit privacy policies, ensuring that their anonymity will be protected and no private information will be revealed without their consent.\u201d<\/p>\n

Starting out with an online dating service, users should always provide as little detail as possible and employ nicknames or aliases in lieu of real names. If possible, they should create and use an alternative email account, ensuring the security of their personal account and work information. Users should never reveal sensitive private data such as a home or work addresses, phone numbers or Social Security numbers.<\/p>\n

\u201cEven the most trivial information — like your mother\u2019s maiden name or first pet\u2019s name — can be exploited by cybercriminals. Many of these details may seem unimportant, but they can serve as password recovery hints for email addresses or online banking accounts. Moreover, online daters must be careful never to share financial data, such as bank accounts, credit card numbers or PINs\u201d added Cosoi.<\/p>\n

Additional e-threats this Valentine\u2019s Day may also include:<\/p>\n