Hackers Breach Women-Only Dating Safety App, Exposing User Images and Data
A security hack on a dating safety app has placed thousands of women's images and comments at risk, raising privacy concerns.
A recent cyberattack on the US-based women's dating safety app, Tea Dating Advice, has led to unauthorized access to sensitive user data, including images, posts, and comments. The app, designed to empower women by allowing them to perform background checks on potential partners and share concerning behaviors, has reportedly been compromised since its launch in November 2022. The company acknowledged that approximately 72,000 images, some containing photo identification for verification, were accessed, opposing their own privacy policies which promise immediate deletion after use. The breach, affecting users who registered before February 2024, has prompted Tea to engage cybersecurity experts to mitigate potential risks. Despite claims of fast action and strong privacy controls—such as blocked screenshots—the app revealed that an additional 59,000 images related to posts and messages from over two years ago were also breached. The incident underscores the ongoing challenges in balancing user safety and privacy in the realm of online dating, with critics raising concerns about potential defamation and invasion of privacy for men discussed in these forums. The company is committed to safeguarding its community while navigating these complex issues.
A security hack on a dating safety app has placed thousands of women's images and comments at risk, raising privacy concerns.
A recent cyberattack on the US-based women's dating safety app, Tea Dating Advice, has led to unauthorized access to sensitive user data, including images, posts, and comments. The app, designed to empower women by allowing them to perform background checks on potential partners and share concerning behaviors, has reportedly been compromised since its launch in November 2022. The company acknowledged that approximately 72,000 images, some containing photo identification for verification, were accessed, opposing their own privacy policies which promise immediate deletion after use. The breach, affecting users who registered before February 2024, has prompted Tea to engage cybersecurity experts to mitigate potential risks. Despite claims of fast action and strong privacy controls—such as blocked screenshots—the app revealed that an additional 59,000 images related to posts and messages from over two years ago were also breached. The incident underscores the ongoing challenges in balancing user safety and privacy in the realm of online dating, with critics raising concerns about potential defamation and invasion of privacy for men discussed in these forums. The company is committed to safeguarding its community while navigating these complex issues.
