Dating site hack reveals sexual secrets of 4 million users

Even deleted account holders at risk of exposure

Adult dating website hacked for data of nearly 4 million users (Adult Friendfinder)

A hacker has exposed the personal and sexual details of nearly 4 million users on one of the world-leading dating sites.

The details lifted from the database of Adult FriendFinder include the information of previous members who had previously deleted their accounts. The specifics of the illegally mined data are around sexual orientation, sexual preferences and even whether or not members of the service are already with partners but looking for extramarital affairs.

A Channel 4 News investigation traced the discovery to a forum where a hacker known as ROR[RG] posted the information which also includes names, email addresses, postcodes, dates of birth, computer IP addresses and just about everything else short of credit card details.

More than 7 million of Adult FriendFinder's 63-million-user worldwide community are British and, of 3.9 million accounts leaked, "dozens" are linked to UK government and armed service addresses.

The site, which bills itself as a "thriving sexual community", focuses on the physical and more erotic side of the online dating landscape. Security experts believe that the hacked addresses will be spammed en masse before the data is sifted through for any possible blackmail use.

"FriendFinder Networks Inc understands and fully appreciates the seriousness of the issue,” said Adult FriendFinder’s parent company.

"We pledge to take the appropriate steps needed to protect our customers if they are affected."