Cyber alerts on anti-vax date site

A new dating site for unvaccinated singles which asks applicants to hand over their personal information is run by a man convicted of a violent attack on a police officer.

Anthony Pinna outside his Liverpool apartment block on Monday. Pinna was charged with rioting, assaulting a police officer and various Covid and drug offences in August. Picture: Liam Mendes

A dating site for unvaccinated singles that asks applicants to hand over their personal information is run by a man convicted of a violent attack on a police officer at an anti-vax rally in Sydney earlier this year.

The PureMatch website, which describes itself as “Australia’s first unvaxxed matching site”, was launched in November by Liverpool tradie Anthony Pinna, who also has convictions for rioting and supplying prohibited drugs.

The site targets anti-vaxxers and conspiracy theorists who believe in the “New World Order”, but cyber security experts have strong warnings for those considering handing over private data.

In November, 26-year-old Pinna was convicted of punching a policeman in the head at an illegal protest in July.

Court documents obtained by The Australian say during the assault, the victim was alone and surrounded by a large number of aggressors as he tried to arrest a demonstrator.

“Due to the violent actions of the accused, this person has evaded custody.

“The accused struck (the) senior constable to (the) rear of (the) head, causing him to fall to the ground. This act highlights the violent nature of the accused and his hatred of police,” the documents state.

Pinna is currently appealing the convictions.

Anthony Pinna leaving Liverpool Police Station. Picture: Seven News

When police executed a search warrant at a two-bedroom apartment in western Sydney he shared with his mother, they found magic mushrooms and anabolic steroids in a safe.

Robert Potter, a cyber security expert and co-CEO of Internet 2.0, says there could be cyber security risks with websites that collect personal information.

“There are no terms and conditions on the website. There’s no indication as to how this business is going to use that data once you’ve given it to them,” Mr Potter said.

Pinna has been advertising the website since November 20.

“If they’ve taken ‘IT’ (vaccination), will that harm me if things get intimate?” he asks prospective daters.

According to infectious diseases expert Raina MacIntyre, the simple answer to that question is no.

“The harm is likely to be the other way because a person who hasn’t been vaccinated is at high risk of getting infected,” Professor MacIntyre said.

Pinna also states SSL encryption – a basic form of encryption on the internet for safeguarding sensitive data – would not be ­implemented during “pre-­registration”, though it appears to have been implemented since.

Pinna will face court again on Wednesday in a bid to overturn his convictions.

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EDITOR’S NOTE: Since this article was originally published, Anthony Pinna’s convictions have been annulled as he was convicted in absence after failing to appear before the court. He is still facing the serious charges referred to in this article and the matter will be heard before a Magistrate at a one-day hearing in July 2022. His bail conditions currently state he is prohibited from leaving his home unless for work, to attend medical or legal appointments. He is prohibited from drinking alcohol or taking drugs unless prescribed and must present to a door upon request of a Police Officer.