Staying protected on OnlyFans: The bare reality

By now you’ve most likely heard of, or probably even use, OnlyFans. Launched in 2016, this subscription service for content material creators gained momentum over the course of the pandemic and now boasts a user base of more than 170 million people, 2.1 million of that are registered content material creators.

Whereas the positioning affords a house for every kind of content material, it’s largely related to NSFW materials. With regards to on-line privateness and safety, this alone raises the stakes considerably – as laid naked, for instance, by the hack of the infidelity website Ashley Madison in 2015 that also haunted many victims years later.

Certainly, do not forget that within the absence of correct precautionary measures, grownup leisure and on-line privateness don’t make for good ‘bedfellows’. The threats that stem from their doubtlessly poisonous ‘relationship’ run the gamut, from comparatively run-of-the-mill content material piracy all the way in which to revenge porn and large-scale information leaks and breaches.

Naturally, OnlyFans and its customers aren’t exempt from these dangers. Many content material producers have already expressed concern over leaked content, hacked accounts, the uploading of revenge porn, and even the theft of content material that’s downloaded by paying subscribers after which redistributed – usually for a payment – on other social media and messaging platforms.

For sure, if content material creators are in danger, subscribers are in danger, too. As a corollary, making certain the security and privateness of these working on this trade – and their followers – requires utmost warning and a focus. That’s why it’s important for customers to be cautious when sharing private data on-line, and to be cautious of stalkers, scammers and different ill-intentioned people.

What to look out for

Every OnlyFans creator affords their very own subscription plan in trade for letting customers entry their unique content material. Some even enable customers to subscribe without cost. However there’s a catch: Whether or not you’re signing up for a paid or free plan, the positioning requests that you just register and enter your fee card. At this level, the toughest a part of the registration course of is accomplished.

Whereas most pages have a month-to-month payment, free OnlyFans pages can collect massive audiences, and creators can nonetheless make some huge cash by including particular one-time pay-per-view content material that lots of customers will likely be keen to pay for.

• OnlyFans creators want to offer private data to arrange an account, together with authorized identify and checking account particulars. It should even be required to offer verification paperwork, equivalent to a photograph of a government-issued identification and a selfie holding the identical ID. These steps are crucial each for tax functions and to make sure that creators are paid legally. You will need to word that OnlyFans is aware of the id of all creators on the platform.
• OnlyFans subscribers might want to present an e mail deal with – and, no matter whether or not they need to subscribe to a paid or free account, not including a fee card isn’t an possibility.

In late 2021, it was reported that former OnlyFans workers nonetheless had entry to non-public data of each creators and subscribers who required technical help. And what data may be accessible to such workers? In its Privacy Policy, OnlyFans is very clear: Whereas the app doesn’t obtain “the fan’s” full fee card particulars, “In case you are required to offer your identify and e mail deal with to the fee supplier, then additionally they present us with that data.”

Furthermore, with a view to run the verification course of, creators should present handles to their social media profiles and may be requested to make public posts associated to their new account. Followers may additionally be requested to offer extra private data particulars, relying on the place they’re situated.

So how are you going to preserve your self protected on OnlyFans?

Content material creators

OnlyFans creators should present their actual banking particulars, identify and ID – not just for the verification course of, but in addition to receives a commission. So, you possibly can’t be absolutely nameless  – however you possibly can attempt to preserve some anonymity in your profile by utilizing secondary social media accounts that aren’t linked to any of your shut contacts.  You may additionally select to cover your face and keep away from displaying your location on the positioning.

We additionally really helpful utilizing a burner e mail deal with for establishing your account in case there may be ever a breach of non-public information at OnlyFans. Likewise, you may also use disposable fee playing cards for on-line use.

Remember, nevertheless, {that a} vicious attacker might try to hack your OnlyFans account via intelligent social engineering and even cyberbullying methods, resulting in customers merely handing over their passwords and different login information. It’s, subsequently, very important that you just stay cautious about responding with personal data to any unsolicited communication.

If a nasty actor have been capable of acquire unauthorized entry to a creator’s account, she or he might doubtlessly interact in plenty of malicious actions, equivalent to:

• Viewing the subscription-based content material that the account proprietor has posted
• Altering the account proprietor’s password and locking them out of their very own account
• Posting new content material to the account
• Deleting content material from the account
• Altering the account settings
• Including new banking particulars for withdrawing funds
• Viewing the account proprietor’s private data (equivalent to his or her identify, e mail deal with, and fee data)
• Utilizing the account to ship fraudulent messages to different OnlyFans customers

Content material creators and subscribers

No matter whether or not you’re a content material producer or a subscriber, there are a number of easy however efficient steps you possibly can take to safe your account and keep out of hurt’s approach. Most significantly, you need to:

Two-factor authentication is an additional layer of safety that’s designed to guard on-line accounts from unauthorized entry and is obtainable to all OnlyFans accounts. It requires {that a} code despatched to a cellphone or generated by an authentication app be entered along with the account password earlier than entry to the account is granted. This makes it far more troublesome for attackers to achieve entry to an account, even when they’ve the password.

Nevertheless, must you neglect your password, the way in which to recuperate it’s by requesting a code to your e mail. So, an attacker who has entry to your e mail account might entry the e-mail generated for password restoration after which take over your OnlyFans account.

Furthermore, you will need to word that whereas OnlyFans prevents account photographs from being stolen from Android units (i.e., by not permitting screenshots on such units), that is sadly not the case on Apple’s iOS, which nonetheless permits for screenshots – equivalent to those displayed on this blogpost.

Report any suspicious exercise

There’s at all times a danger of stalking, sextortion and doxing when sharing private data on-line, and the danger is particularly excessive when utilizing a platform like OnlyFans. Each creators and followers must do their half by reporting unintended exercise or any suspicious occasion (for instance, a 3rd get together requesting a hyperlink for password restoration, or partaking in any sort of bullying). Websites like PimEyes which use highly effective facial recognition software program are making it very straightforward for stalkers to seek out out data on content material creators, so it’s important that you just solely ever present your face if you recognize the dangers.

OnlyFans means that you can Block or Prohibit a profile. Whereas blocking will absolutely cease a selected profile from viewing yours, limiting will solely cease that profile from sending personal messages or replying to posts.

Lastly, in case you see dangerous content material or suspect a selected video or photograph has been stolen or posted with out the consent of a number of of the folks concerned, you may also report a profile.

Is OnlyFans protected?

The truth that many individuals use OnlyFans to monetize their saucy content material raises the stakes considerably – and never only for content material creators. It’s, subsequently, vital to know what chances are you’ll be getting your self into and how you can defend your self from the privateness and safety dangers this will entail. Certainly, and as with many different social media platforms and on-line companies, the important thing to staying protected is being conscious of the threats, managing the safety and privateness settings in your accounts and making use of cyber-hygiene fundamentals to attenuate the dangers.