3 hookup sites that have never been part of a data breach
Here's an open secret: almost every major dating site and most of the internet's hookup sites have been victims of major data breaches at one time or another. In fact, some of them have even undergone multiple data breaches. We're talking full names, addresses, billing information, and in some cases extremely personal information about sexual preferences.
To be fair to these sites, their success paints a giant target on their backs. If you're a hacker, you're going to target the largest websites with the most users, because that's where your exploit is likely to return the most value for your (illegal) work. These big sites now spend millions of dollars on cybersecurity, hoping to stave off future attacks.
But then there are the hookup sites that fly under the radar, the sites that aren't yet large enough to attract the attention of malicious actors. If you're looking to experience the internet's hookup culture without exposure to the most popular sites, here are three solid adult dating sites that haven't experienced a data breach:
Friends with Benefits
Think of Friends with Benefits like a website version of Tinder or a slightly toned down version of AdultFriendFinder. Setting up an account is easy and requires very minimal personal information, so it's a great starting spot for people wary of sharing their data, but it's also vulnerable to bots and fake profiles, and you'll spend as much time weeding out the obviously AI-generated profiles as you will messaging people.
If you live in or near a large metropolitan area, Friends with Benefits can work for you, because that's where their users are most concentrated, and as of this writing, they have yet to have a data breach.
Guilty Affairs
We don't condone cheating on your partner or spouse, but it's a simple fact that a huge draw of online hookup sites is how much easier they make stepping outside of your relationship. Unfortunately, that also makes them a desirable target for hackers, who get not only your personal information but some excellent blackmail material ("You wouldn't want your wife to know…") — just think of the damage done to Ashley Madison users after more than 60 gigabytes of data were leaked.
If you're looking to explore some extra-marital fun but want to keep a low profile, Guilty Affairs is a good place to start. The interface is incredibly simple and easy to use, and doesn't require a ton of sensitive personal information before you can create an account and explore your options — there's nothing like their Roulette wheel of local singles to build excitement, for example.
Best of all, they're very transparent about their dedication to cybersecurity, with 256-bit encryption as standard and PCI DSS certification across all of their payment methods, so if you do decide to purchase tokens (called "Coins" on the site) to boost your profile or browse incognito, you can be assured of high levels of payment protection.
Senior Sizzle
Okay, granted, if you're not a bit advanced in years, a hookup site whose tagline is "intimate encounters over 50" might not sound that enticing, but there are a whole lot of single seniors out there looking to get frisky, and the site is well designed to help them find their "sizzle."
From a security standpoint, the site touts an in-house security team as well as "industry standard" efforts like firewalls and data encryption to help keep your personal information safe. And as of the time of this writing, they've been successful, with zero data breaches, which is no small feat given the site was first launched more than 20 years ago.
How to protect yourself from data breaches
While it's a good idea to audit your website choices before you sign up, ensuring they have a history of good cybersecurity practices, it's also important to realize that you have a major role to play in protecting your own data. Here are a few best practices to follow to ensure your online safety:
Limit your exposure. The less data you share with each dating website, and the less specific that data is, the better.
Sign up using a personal email. Never use your work email, and consider creating a backup email specifically for online dating signups.
Don't divulge personal information to unverified people. The person you're talking to might be a cute, fun single, but they could also be a chat bot or scammer eager to learn everything they can about you for nefarious ends. Save the detailed conversations for in-person meet-ups.