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Sandra Rossi with Computerworld Australia wrote a great article which I thought was an interesting read. It deals with the invention of a Russian “flirt-bot” or spyware that is able to gather personal information from unsuspecting singles.

Talk about an instance of technology gone bad. This “flirt-bot” named CyberLover is able to initiate and conduct conversations with unsuspecting humans in chat rooms, notably online dating sites. Developed in Russia, the creators of CyberLover claim it is able to simultaneously establish a new relationship with up to 10 different people inside of 30 minutes.

CyberLover is pre-programmed with a series of questions to ask its unsuspecting users. It is than able to digest the responses it receives and develop follow up questions. As the conversation progresses, CyberLover begins to ask more detailed and pointed questions.

Sample questions that CyberLover may ask include:

• “Where can I send you a Valentine’s Day card?”

• “What’s your date of birth? I’m planning a surprise for your birthday?”

While seemingly innocent questions to answer, you have just provided CyberLover with both your home address and your date of birth. Both are vital details for someone looking to commit identity theft.

CyberLover also has the option to invite its prey to a personalized web page. This page can be set up to load additional spyware or malware onto the unsuspecting person’s computer.

CyberLover is then able to keep all of the information it gathers on each user in a data base. This data base could be passed onto various people with bad intent, and you could open yourself up to identity theft. The potential downside to a tool like this could be enormous.

CyberLover is only reported in Russia right now targeting various Russian websites, but its creators have mentioned a mid February 2008 release to other parts of the world.

How can you prevent yourself from becoming a victim?

The first thing to keep in mind when discussing anything online is to make sure you keep all of your vital information to yourself. Never give anyone in a chat room your real name, your home address, your date of birth, your real email, or your phone number. It’s not something you need to provide the first time you “meet” somebody online.

If you are in a chat room and you feel like you’re hitting it off, set up another time or form of communication. Tell them you’ve got to run, but ask them to send you an email through the dating service. CyberLover is designed to work over a chat format, but it’s not capable of sending you an email.

If you’re not using a dating service, make sure not to give your primary email address, but a secondary account you have set up with one of the free services like hotmail, yahoo, or gmail.

Most importantly, use your common sense. If it doesn’t feel like the right thing to do, in most cases it isn’t. You can only protect your vital information one time. Once it’s compromised, there isn’t much you can do.

To read the original story, please visit Computerworld Australia.

For anyone who thinks that online dating is a passing trend, I just bumped into an article that shows its popularity increasing.  The study was based out of Great Britain by the dating agency Parship, and it makes two fantastic claims.

• “Nearly eight million Britons used some form of online dating service in 2007, compared to 5.4 million who used a mixture of offline and online services in 2005.”

• “Over 53 per cent of singles intend to use the internet to meet someone in the future, rising to 65 per cent of 36 to 40 year-olds.”

These statistics are incredible, and it shows that people don’t attach a stigma to using online services.  In fact, these statistics show that your network or pool of available matches is much larger than relying on the traditional method of hoping for a chance encounter.

The increased use of technology is the driving force behind this.  People use email, text messaging and instant messaging while at work.  We log onto the internet to get almost all of our news, and we use the internet to do research when we’re in the market to buy something. People are comfortable using these mediums of communication, and online dating is just another extension of that.

Singles are increasingly aware that using an online dating service will drastically reduce the amount of time it will take to find that someone special.  It gives you the benefit of “meeting” someone online without having to go through the time and expense of a traditional date.

You also are able to “meet” many different singles as well.  You can have ongoing discussions and/or emails with multiple singles at once.  This is not considered “cheating” in online circles.  Once you’ve had a chance to get to know a little bit about a person, you can set about arranging that first face-to-face meeting.

The savings in time is well worth the small investment involved with joining a dating site.  For $15-$25 per month, online dating sites offer real value for singles.  Whether you are a single mother who only has time for herself once the children are in bed or a working professional who is constantly away on business, online dating provides you the perfect platform for meeting that someone special on your own schedule.

To read the original article, click here.

Welcome to section thirteen of my Online Dating Quick Start Guide.  Yahoo!  You’ve made it to the end and you’re now getting ready for the big moment where you’re going to meet face to face.  Yikes!

You’ve been using an online dating service and you’ve found someone you would really like to meet.  Before you get started, there is one big note of caution.

Online dating sites DO NOT do background checks on their customers.  Please don’t assume that because a person has a profile on a dating site that the site has “pre-qualified” them and validated their background.

Here are some best practices for you to follow before setting up your first meeting.

• Make contact by phone.

Although you’ve developed a comfort level with this person by exchanging plenty of emails and instant messages, it’s important to have a few phone conversations with the person before meeting.  Hearing their voice adds a new dimension to a relationship.  It will give you an idea on the cadence they speak in, as well as if there are any awkward pauses when they respond to your questions. If they have a voice that grates on your nerves, this may also be a sign that this person isn’t a good match for you.

• Use your cell phone number, not your home number.

Your safety is better protected on your cell phone.  People are able to pull up your name, address, and directions to your house just by knowing your phone number.  To illustrate my point, go to Google.com and enter in your home phone number.  You’ll notice it will pull up your name, your address, and a link to Google Maps to show how to get to your house.  If you’re uncomfortable with this information being posted on Google, click on the search result and there is a link to unsubscribe your information.

• Do not have them pick you up at your house or your place of work.

• Meet in a public place and keep it low key.

Meet at Starbucks or a local diner for a cup of coffee.

• Lunch is great.

Lunch works well because it comes with a time limit.  People need to get back to the office, so you have a built in excuse to leave if things aren’t going as planned.

• Avoid meeting for cocktails.

Alcohol does different things to different people, not always for the better.  People’s personalities tend to change with each cocktail they drink.  Someone who’s shy may turn into the life of the party, but you’re hoping to see the person as they really are.

• Bring your cell phone, and make sure it’s charged.

• Tell a friend or family member your plans.

Give them the name of the person you’re meeting, their cell phone number, and the place you’ll be meeting.  Tell them your whereabouts in case things go really wrong.

• Have your friend give you a call to check on you.

My suggestion is to have your friend call at a point when the date should have ended.  For example, if you’re meeting for lunch at noon, and you expect the lunch to last one hour, have your friend give you a call at 1:30 to make sure you’re safe.

• Don’t invite them back to your house.

If the date goes well, you will be making plans for another day shortly after that.

I’m not trying to paint a picture of doom and gloom.  In fact, almost all of the singles you meet will be normal well-adjusted individuals.  These are just some guidelines to follow to protect yourself against some of the crazy people that may be lurking out there.  It’s better to be safe than sorry.

That’s the end of my Quick Start Guide.  Thanks for following.  If you haven’t done so yet, please check out my recommendations on the best online dating sites to use.

Cheers,

Mac