Best VPN for GRINDR
Originally launched in 2009, Grindr revolutionized the online dating industry thanks to its geo-social features that enable gay, bisexual, trans and queer people to meet others in their area. While many other options have appeared throughout the years, Grindr is still very popular and millions of users around the world rely on it to find people near them for a date. The problem is that the app could put the privacy and safety of users at risk, which is particularly dangerous for those who live under oppressive regimes where homosexuality is considered illegal. With a simple hack, it is possible to track someone’s location using Grindr. A technique known as triangulation allows to trace individual users and according to security experts, the location details that the app provides are very accurate. This raises high concerns considering that there are reports that indicate that Grindr, has been used in Egypt to locate and monitor gay men, who once identified, face imprisonment.
Although Grindr enables users to disable location-based sharing, this option is only available in the app’s user interface. Apparently, the user’s location is still sent to Grindr’s servers, which means that the information could still be accessed by others using a direct query. To make things worse, Grindr was aware of the issue, but at the time, the only solution that it offered was to disable the option to show distance in Settings, as well as the option to track location. Security experts carried out research showing that using detailed location data, it is possible to create an accurate profile of someone and to keep track of their movements.
The information obtained from Grindr can be used to find out the identity of someone who uses the app, which is a major privacy concern, not to mention that in some cases, it could even put users’ safety at risk. That being said, Grindr has taken some steps to help users to protect themselves. For instance, in countries where the LGBTI community can face attacks and arrest such as Egypt, Nigeria and Russia, the location tracking feature is disabled by default. However, there are still security issues that allow users to be tracked with a high level of accuracy in other countries. This is why in order to protect your privacy and security when you are using Grindr, it is advisable to use a VPN service.
When you use a VPN, your IP address is masked, which means that others won’t see your actual location and won’t be able to trace you easily. A VPN also encrypts your traffic, which -prevents your ISP, the government and other parties from finding out what you do online. In some countries, like Indonesia, Grindr is blocked, which is another reason for using a VPN. Since a VPN allows you to connect to servers in other countries, you can bypass restrictions and get access to websites and apps that are not available in your location. Using a VPN along with a geo-spoof app can help you to bypass the blocks and to keep your privacy protected. The below VPN services are designed to offer a high level of security to protect your data and at the same time, they let you get around restrictions so that you can access the content that you want anonymously and securely.
VPN Services that can unblock Grindr in countries like Indonesia and UAE
ExpressVPN
ExpressVPN is one of the most trusted providers in the industry thanks to the high level of security supported and its strong commitment to privacy. ExpressVPN has servers in over 90 countries and it uses military grade encryption to protect your internet traffic. Another advantage of using ExpressVPN is that it offers fantastic speeds that allow you to bypass restrictions and enjoy access to the content that you want, without hassle. They don’t keep logs of your online activities and you can connect up to three devices at the same time.
NordVPN
Since NordVPN is a zero logs provider based in Panama, where mandatory data retention laws are not applied, it is one of the preferred solutions for users who want a high level of protection for their data. NordVPN has servers in over 50 countries and apart from offering strong security, it also allows you to bypass restrictions anywhere you are. If Grindr is blocked in your country or in your office network, you can connect to a NordVPN server and defeat the blocks. NordVPN offers advanced security features and it allows you to connect to up to six devices at the same time.
CyberGhost
Here is another provider that works very well with Grindr as it provides superb protection to keep your identity hidden and your internet traffic secure. CyberGhost strives to offer a high quality service that is not only secure, but also fast. The provider earned a lot of popularity thanks to the free service that they used to offer. While that option is no longer available, CyberGhost has remained in the top list of VPNs due to the high quality of its premium service. No logs are kept of your activities and you can connect to over 3000 servers around the world.
Surfshark
Surfshark is also recommended as an additional layer of security for Grindr users. It provides high encryption, as well as great speeds that will allow you to bypass blocks and enjoy access to Grindr and other popular apps. Surfshark’s network continues growing but at the moment, they have servers in over 50 countries, giving you enough options to bypass restrictions and hide your real location. Surfshark doesn’t keep logs of your activities and it supports convenient features to enjoy online freedom and keep your privacy safe, no matter where you are.
VyprVPN
VyprVPN is one of the best vpn for Grindr as it runs its own network of servers so it is capable of offering consistent speeds and reliable performance. They also have unique technology that will allow you to bypass restrictions, no matter where you are. Their exclusive Chameleon protocol will allow you to defeat restrictions effectively because it disguises VPN traffic. This means that even if you are in a network that block VPNs, you will be able to get around the blocks. VyprVPN has servers in over 70 global locations. It is another great option for Grindr.
How to download Grindr if it’s blocked
Depending on your location you may not be able to download Grindr from the app store.
For users with an Android phone you need to download the apk for the app from an alternate location to the play store. The APK for grinder is available here.