Thursday, April 30, 2026
Sci/Tech - LEVEL1

“Privacy Breach: 1.5M User Images Leaked from Kink and LGBT Dating Apps”

By aimee yang
“Privacy Breach: 1.5M User Images Leaked from Kink and LGBT Dating Apps”

Researchers found almost 1.5 million photos from dating apps online. Many of these photos are private and explicit. These pictures were not protected by passwords, making them easy for hackers to see and use. Anyone with a link could access the photos from five apps made by M.A.D Mobile, including BDSM People and LGBT apps like Pink and Translove.

About 800,000 to 900,000 people use these services. M.A.D Mobile learned about this problem on January 20 but did not fix it until the BBC contacted them. They fixed the issue but did not explain how it happened.

Aras Nazarovas, a hacker, found this problem by looking at the app’s coding. He was surprised that he could see the private pictures without a password. Some pictures were sent in messages, and others were deleted by moderators.

Nazarovas warned that this situation is very risky for users. Hackers could use these photos to extort people, especially in countries that are not safe for LGBT individuals. M.A.D Mobile thanked him for finding the problem but did not explain why it took so long to fix.

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Vocabulary List:
6 words · tap to reveal
ON

Accent

Explicit/ɪkˈsplɪsɪt/adjective
Stated clearly and in detail leaving no room for confusion or doubt.

Access/ˈæksɛs/noun/verb
The means of approaching or entering a place; to obtain or retrieve information.

Extort/ɪkˈstɔːrt/verb
To obtain something especially money through force or threats.

Moderators/ˈmɒdəreɪtərz/noun
Individuals who oversee a discussion or forum and ensure rules are followed.

Coding/ˈkoʊdɪŋ/noun
The process of writing instructions for computers often in programming languages.

Risky/ˈrɪski/adjective
Full of the possibility of danger failure or loss.
Vocabulary Learning

How much do you know?

What was the total number of photos found from dating apps online?
500,000
1 million
1.5 million
2 million
Which of the following apps made by M.A.D Mobile were affected by this issue?
Fitness Tracker
BDSM People
Food Delivery
E-Learning
When did M.A.D Mobile learn about the problem with the photos?
January 1
January 15
January 20
February 5
How did Aras Nazarovas find the problem with the photos?
Received a tip from a friend
Looked at the app's coding
Paid for access to the photos
Reported by a user
What was the potential risk highlighted by Nazarovas for users of these apps?
Identity theft
Extortion
Spam emails
Credit card fraud
Who finally contacted M.A.D Mobile to prompt them to fix the issue?
FBI
CIA
BBC
Interpol
The photos found were adequately protected by passwords.
The apps affected by this issue were only related to fitness tracking.
M.A.D Mobile resolved the issue promptly upon discovering it on their own.
Some of the photos discovered had been deleted by users themselves.
Nazarovas raised concerns about potential harm, especially in LGBT-unfriendly countries.
M.A.D Mobile publicized the specific cause of the photo leak after fixing the issue.
M.A.D Mobile learned about the issue on January .
Nazarovas saw private photos without needing a .
M.A.D Mobile thanked Nazarovas for finding the problem but did not explain why it took so long to it.
Hackers could potentially use the exposed photos to people.
This question is required
aimee yang
aimee yanghttps://esl-news.com

Test Your Understanding

Start Quiz
Vocabulary List:
6 words · tap to reveal
ON
Accent
Explicit/ɪkˈsplɪsɪt/adjective
Stated clearly and in detail leaving no room for confusion or doubt.
Access/ˈæksɛs/noun/verb
The means of approaching or entering a place; to obtain or retrieve information.
Extort/ɪkˈstɔːrt/verb
To obtain something especially money through force or threats.
Moderators/ˈmɒdəreɪtərz/noun
Individuals who oversee a discussion or forum and ensure rules are followed.
Coding/ˈkoʊdɪŋ/noun
The process of writing instructions for computers often in programming languages.
Risky/ˈrɪski/adjective
Full of the possibility of danger failure or loss.
Vocabulary Learning

How much do you know?

What was the total number of photos found from dating apps online?
500,000
1 million
1.5 million
2 million
Which of the following apps made by M.A.D Mobile were affected by this issue?
Fitness Tracker
BDSM People
Food Delivery
E-Learning
When did M.A.D Mobile learn about the problem with the photos?
January 1
January 15
January 20
February 5
How did Aras Nazarovas find the problem with the photos?
Received a tip from a friend
Looked at the app's coding
Paid for access to the photos
Reported by a user
What was the potential risk highlighted by Nazarovas for users of these apps?
Identity theft
Extortion
Spam emails
Credit card fraud
Who finally contacted M.A.D Mobile to prompt them to fix the issue?
FBI
CIA
BBC
Interpol
The photos found were adequately protected by passwords.
The apps affected by this issue were only related to fitness tracking.
M.A.D Mobile resolved the issue promptly upon discovering it on their own.
Some of the photos discovered had been deleted by users themselves.
Nazarovas raised concerns about potential harm, especially in LGBT-unfriendly countries.
M.A.D Mobile publicized the specific cause of the photo leak after fixing the issue.
M.A.D Mobile learned about the issue on January .
Nazarovas saw private photos without needing a .
M.A.D Mobile thanked Nazarovas for finding the problem but did not explain why it took so long to it.
Hackers could potentially use the exposed photos to people.
This question is required

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