It’s become abundantly clear that SpeedDate.com’s security policy needs a complete overhaul if it is to overcome the serious breach it experienced on February 3, 2009. For approximately thirty minutes, though it could have been longer, access to user accounts required only a user name and no password.

By simply typing in a user name and clicking on “log in”, user accounts were seriously compromised as anyone could have, and did, gain access to accounts that were not their own. And by doing so, they were able to access the user’s email, account information and other personal information including their contact list.

All we can say is “Wow!”. And not in a good way.

Any internet dating or social network site is built on the information that the members supply, and that information is given on the premise that the information is secure. In SpeedDate’s case that premise has been sorely tested.

This is not the first time that controversy and criticism has come raining down on the company. Just over a year ago the company faced censure from Facebook after SpeedDate bought several non dating related Facebook applications and converted the users of the apps to SpeedDate application users without permission. The result was a temporary ban from Facebook.

Here’s a company that not only buys members through what can only be described as underhanded methods, but now treats its database as some sort of all you can eat buffet. If I were a SpeedDate member, I’d yank my membership and look for a site that treats my personal information securely.

Launched in late 2007, it didn’t take long for online speed dating’s Speeddate.com to generate controversy, and not in a good way! If you were one of hundreds of thousands of Facebook members who used the “Have You Ever”, “Would You Rather” or “Romantic Gifts” apps, you may remember feeling rather hijacked when you logged into Facebook last fall only to find that your participation in these apps meant that you were now signed up for Speeddate.com. Whether you wanted to be a member or not, there was no choice given ahead of time, and users were notified only after the change had been made. I can only imagine some of the discussions (aka fights) that resulted in relationships around the globe. I’m sure that more than a few people were handed their walking papers after their partners discovered their dating site membership! Hardly publicity of the good kind.

Speeddate.com is a serious competitor to woome.com, and like its opponent differs from traditional dating sites just as in person speed dating differs from regular dating. It won’t appeal to everyone, particularly those who appreciate the relative anonymity of traditional internet dating sites, people with limited computer access and/or skills, and those who don’t want to have to worry about having a bad hair day.

Their sign up process is simple enough and membership is free but, and it’s a BIG BUT, you’re only notified AFTER you’ve signed up for a “free” membership that there is in fact a two tier membership structure. The withholding of this information by companies and websites in general drives me crazy. I know you want members but I have to say that you’ll turn a lot of people off with this kind of nonsense. I for one cancelled my membership as soon as I found that premium memberships are pricey; $15.99/mo for 6 months, $19.99/mo for 3 months or $24.99 for one month. Payable via credit card.

Even then it’s not really clear what the exact differences are between free and premium memberships. There’s a list of benefits associated with a paid membership, but I’d like to see an easy to understand chart that compares the features available for both types.

The look and feel of the site is okay, but nothing special. Given that this site is just over a year old and is tapping into the supposed next phase of internet dating, that’s a disappointment. I’d expected something with a bit more edge.

Navigation is pretty easy, all areas of the site being readily accessible from your home page with the use of clearly labeled tabs. The search feature is seriously flawed. Geographically you can search worldwide, in your country, or near you. Which means that if you live in the States and want to speed date with people in Germany because you’ll be spending some time there next month, you’re out of luck. Similarly, you can’t filter by interest, ethnicity, religion, the list goes on. A major turnoff in my book. Without these filters, the speeddate.com matching system will parade an endless list of “dates” for you to either okay or reject. And that kind of defeats the whole purpose of speed dating doesn’t it? Which is to save time!

Besides being disappointed in the look of the site, the content of the site (besides the profiles) is limited to poorly moderated forums. After going through them I have serious doubts that anyone on the back end is even looking at these. Scores of unanswered questions to the site administrators, objectionable language and name calling seem to be the order of the day. Thanks but no, I graduated from Grade Two years ago!

Speeddate.com, an interesting idea with flawed execution.