Personal data you provided to dating apps (Scorpio! Dog lover!) is fed into an algorithm that suggests matches. Most companies don't allow sharing with third parties, but ...... it happens; a 2020 investigation found that Match Group, which owns Tinder, leaked users' political views, and in 2018 Grindr admitted to sharing users' HIV status.

We know you won't quit your love life, so here are some tips for keeping your personal life in check, courtesy of ProPrivacy's deputy editor Jo O'Reilly.

Don't put your full name, birthday, or place of employment on your dating profile. Use first names or nicknames instead.

Keep your dating profile and personal social media accounts separate. You may have a lot of personal information on these accounts that could be used by hackers or scammers.

Take your time before moving to a private messaging platform like WhatsApp. Scammers want to move to encrypted messengers where their actions are less likely to be monitored.

Do not put personal information on your public profile, such as the name of your pet or the high school you attended. This information makes it easier for hackers to guess your password. Hackers can also use that information to send you phishing emails.

Turn off or be discreet about your app's location settings. It is better to cast a wider net than to have a stranger identify where you live or work.

This article originally appeared in the Fall 2020 issue of Marie Claire.

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