Dating apps often claim to protect your privacy by sharing only approximate distances to matches, like “2 miles away” on Tinder or “3 kilometers away” on Bumble. However, these measures are insufficient as researchers can easily triangulate exact locations using basic geometry. Even with attempts to add randomness, vulnerabilities remain.

In 2014, a cybersecurity firm tracked Tinder users’ locations in real-time, highlighting ongoing issues. Despite some improvements, apps like Grindr have faced criticism for exposing users to risks. The danger is real; stalkers and abusive ex-partners have exploited this data. To enhance security and privacy while using dating sites, consider a VPN service. A VPN app can mask your location and encrypt your data, making it a valuable tool for online dating.

To safely use dating sites in 2025, opt for the best VPN for dating sites. This allows you to set up a VPN on your router, ensuring your connection is secure and stable. By using a VPN for online dating, you can enjoy privacy features like double VPN and high-speed connections, making it easier to unblock dating sites and apps.

Your location data on dating apps is valuable in the data broker industry, where it is packaged and sold. Dating sites gather extensive information, including your age, preferences, and location, creating detailed profiles that attract advertisers. In 2020, it was revealed that apps like Grindr and Tinder shared sensitive user data with numerous advertising partners.

This data broker ecosystem allows your dating app location data to be combined with other information, forming shadow profiles that reveal more about you than you might expect. These profiles are bought by various entities, including political campaigns and even law enforcement.

Your dating app usage can indicate your home, workplace, and lifestyle. All this data can be sold without your knowledge, as most users don’t read privacy policies detailing data sharing practices. To protect your privacy, consider using a VPN router for dating sites, which provides a secure connection and helps in unblocking dating apps.

While individual app settings for privacy are important, they can be cumbersome and incomplete. A VPN router provides a more effective solution by creating a privacy shield for every device on your network. By using a VPN server, all your traffic—especially from online dating sites—automatically routes through the VPN, protecting your real IP address.

• Universal Protection: No need to enable protection for each app; every device benefits, including those that might leak location data.
• No App-Level Compromise: Even if a dating app accesses your GPS, the VPN masks your IP-based location, adding a crucial layer of privacy.
• Consistent Coverage: Unlike free VPNs that may disconnect, a router-level solution ensures stable, always-on protection.
• Multiple Devices, One Solution: Protect your phone, tablet, and laptop with a single router setup. All your dating apps are covered.
• Better Performance: Routers optimized for VPN use handle encryption efficiently, ensuring a smooth swiping experience on dating sites.
• Network-Wide Ad Blocking: Many VPN routers can include ad-blocking features, reducing exposure to tracking networks that collect dating app data.

With a VPN router, you gain control over your privacy, ensuring your data is protected before it leaves your home network.

Revealed Identities: In 2021, a priest was outed by Grindr location data, bought from brokers, leading to his resignation. This shows how anonymous data can be de-anonymized.

Tracking Survivors: Abusers have used fake profiles on dating apps to track survivors of domestic violence, monitoring their locations and endangering their safety.

Tinder Stalking: A case in New Zealand involved a man using Tinder to stalk a woman, exploiting the app’s distance feature to find her home and work locations.

Government Surveillance: Authoritarian regimes have targeted LGBTQ+ individuals by leveraging dating app data, using location tracking against users in oppressive environments.

Data Breaches: Many dating apps have suffered breaches, compromising users’ location data. The 2020 MobiFriends breach exposed millions, highlighting ongoing privacy risks.

These incidents reveal that users often assume privacy protections exist, unaware of the vulnerabilities inherent in dating sites. To enhance security and privacy, consider using a VPN router for dating sites, enabling you to connect to a VPN while using these platforms. Popular VPNs provide encryption and security features that help protect your data from prying eyes.