Sexually explicit pictures, audio recordings and private conversations shared in dating apps, such as SugarD and Herpes Dating, have been exposed online. Security researchers discovered unprotected Amazon Web Services'buckets' with over 20 million files linked to hundreds of thousands of users. Although no'personally identifiable information' was visible, experts note that a determined hacker could reveal a user through photos and other available information. It is not known if the data was accessed by anyone else, but the team says there is enough to commit fraud, extortion and viral attacks on the apps' members. Sexual explicit pictures, audio recordings and private conversations belonging to users of dating apps, such as SugarD and Herpes Dating, have been exposed online.

It's painfully common for data to be exposed online. But just because it happens so often that doesn't make it any less dangerous. Especially when that data comes from a slew of dating apps that cater to specific groups and interests. Security researchers Noam Rotem and Ran Locar were scanning the open internet on May 24 when they stumbled upon a collection of publicly accessible Amazon Web Services "buckets." Each contained a trove of data from a different specialized dating app, including 3somes, Cougary, Gay Daddy Bear, Xpal, BBW Dating, Casualx, SugarD, Herpes Dating, and GHunt.