2014 Snapchat hack: Difference between revisions

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Snapchat#December 2013 hack

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+#redirect [[Snapchat#December 2013 hack]] {{R from merge}}
-{{Afd-merge to|Snapchat|Wikipedia:Articles for deletion/2014 Snapchat hack|Jan 29, 2014}}
-{{Infobox news event
-| title                    = 2014 Snapchat hack
-| image                    = [[File:Snapchat logo.png|140px]]
-| image_name               =
-| image_size               =
-| caption                  = [[Snapchat]] logo
-| date                     = {{start date|2014|01|01}}
-| time                     =
-| place                    = Globally
-| coordinates              = <!-- {{coord|LAT|LON|region:XXXX_type:event|display=inline,title}} -->
-| also known as            =
-| cause                    = [[Hacker (computer security)|Hack]]
-| first reporter           =
-| filmed by                =
-| participants             =
-| outcome                  = Approximately 4.6 million usernames and phone numbers leaked
-| reported injuries        =
-| reported death(s)        =
-| reported missing         =
-| reported property damage =
-| burial                   =
-| inquiries                =
-| inquest                  =
-| coroner                  =
-| suspects                 =
-| charges                  =
-| verdict                  =
-| convictions              =
-| publication bans         =
-| litigation               =
-| awards                   =
-| url                      =
-| website                  = http://snapchat.com/
-| notes                    =
-}}
-[[Snapchat]], a [[photo sharing|photo messaging]] mobile application, was hacked on December 31, 2013.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.theregister.co.uk/2014/01/02/snapchat_leak/|title=Snapchat: In 'theory' you could hack... Oh Crap, is that 4.6 million user's details?|work=[[The Register]]|accessdate=2014-01-03}}</ref><ref name="time">{{cite web|url=http://techland.time.com/2014/01/02/how-to-survive-the-snapchat-hack-and-others/|title=How to Survive the Snapchat Hack (and Others)|work=[[TIME]]|accessdate=2014-01-03}}</ref> The hack is said to have revealed parts of approximately 4.6 million usernames and phone numbers in a website named "SnapchatDB.info".<ref name="time" /><ref name="mercury"/><ref name="telegraph">{{cite web|url=http://www.telegraph.co.uk/technology/internet-security/10546626/Snapchat-hack-leaks-4.6m-users-details.html|title=Snapchat hack leaks 4.6m users details|work=[[The Daily Telegraph|The Telegraph]]|accessdate=2014-01-03}}</ref>
-Snapchat reportedly failed to fix an API security vulnerability that was publicly disclosed by Gibson Security, an Australian security firm on 27 August 2013.<ref>http://www.zdnet.com/snapchat-names-aliases-and-phone-numbers-obtainable-via-android-api-say-researchers-7000019992/</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://gibsonsec.org/snapchat/|title=Snapchat Security Disclosure|publisher=Gibson Security|accessdate=2014-01-03}}</ref> Gibson Security then made public the source code for their exploit on Christmas Day (in Australia, Christmas Eve in the US).<ref>http://www.zdnet.com/researchers-publish-snapchat-code-allowing-phone-number-matching-after-exploit-disclosures-ignored-7000024629/</ref><Ref>http://gibsonsec.org/snapchat/fulldisclosure/</ref> On December 27, Snapchat announced that it had implemented a number of mitigating features.<ref>http://techcrunch.com/2013/12/27/snapchat-phone-number-hack/</ref> Nevertheless they were hacked by anonymous perpetators,<Ref>http://techcrunch.com/2013/12/31/hackers-claim-to-publish-list-of-4-6m-snapchat-usernames-and-numbers/</ref> who said that the mitigating features were only "minor obstacles".<ref>http://news.cnet.com/8301-1023_3-57616434-93/overexposed-snapchat-user-info-from-4.6m-accounts/</ref> The hackers also sent a statement to the popular technology blog [[TechCrunch]], saying, "our motivation behind the release was to raise the public awareness around the issue and also put public pressure on Snapchat to get this exploit fixed".<ref name="mercury">{{cite news|url=http://www.mercurynews.com/business/ci_24836443/snapchat-security-breach-affects-4-6-million-user|title=Snapchat hack: Users wonder whether their snaps are safe|work=[[San Jose Mercury News]]|accessdate=2014-01-03}}</ref> Snapchat apologized a week after the hack.<ref>http://www.businessinsider.com/snapchat-hack-apology-2014-1</ref>
-==Public response ==
-Gibson Security spokesperson said, "I can understand [why they hacked Snapchat], and it's probably going to get Snapchat to do something, but I think it was too far, and they could have at least censored more of the phone numbers".<ref name="venture">{{cite web|url=http://venturebeat.com/2014/01/02/snapchat-confirms-leak-of-4-6m-usernames-doesnt-apologize/|title=Snapchat confirms leak of 4.6M usernames, doesn't apologize|publisher=VentureBeat|accessdate=2014-01-03}}</ref> Gibson Security, the firm that first pointed out the security flaw, said it was not a part of the hacking attempt.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.smh.com.au/it-pro/security-it/snapchat-hacked-leaking-46-million-usernames-and-phone-numbers-20140101-hv7b9.html|title=Snapchat hacked, leaking 4.6 million usernames and phone numbers|work=[[Sydney Morning Herald]]|accessdate=2014-01-03}}</ref> However, some Snapchat users posted to Twitter that they were not worried about the hack.<ref name="fox">{{cite web|url=http://www.foxbusiness.com/personal-finance/2014/01/02/snapchats-hack-what-users-should-do-now/|title=Snapchat's hack: What Users should do now|publisher=Fox Business|accessdate=2014-01-03}}</ref> Adam Levin, co-founder of Identity Theft 911, commented that any hacking attempt impacts people. He said it is important to know that any technology can be defeated, and one should look at things skeptically.<ref name="fox"/> According to [[Yahoo! Finance]]'s Jeff Macke, "Last fall Spiegel reportedly turned down as much as $3 billion from [[Facebook]] (FB) and $4 billion from [[Google]] (GOOG)", and thus—according to Macke—, after the hack "Evan Spiegel is looking like a guy who turned down $4 billion for a company that just lost its reason to exist. That being the case we’ve got an early leader for biggest loser of 2014."<ref>{{cite news|url=http://finance.yahoo.com/blogs/breakout/snapchat-hack-may-have-just-cost-the-company-founder--4-billion-155733225.html|title=Snapchat hack may have just cost the company founder $4 billion|publisher=[[Yahoo Finance]]|accessdate=2014-01-03}}</ref>
-== Response from Snapchat ==
-Snapchat issued a formal statement about the hack.<ref name="venture" /><ref name="inde"/> Evan Spiegel, the founder of Snapchat whose number was apparently present in the hacked database, tweeted that the company was currently seeking legal help.<ref name="inde">{{cite web|url=http://www.independent.co.uk/life-style/gadgets-and-tech/snapchat-hack-46-million-users-affected-9033983.html|title=Snapchat hack: 4.6 million users affected|work=[[The Independent]]|accessdate=2014-01-03}}</ref> In its response, Snapchat said that an updated version of its app would soon come out that could let users opt out of the "Find Friends" feature, that required their stored numbers so that other users could easily find them.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.engadget.com/2014/01/02/snapchat-hack-response/|title=Snapchat acknowledges hack, updated app  coming that lets users opt out of Find Friends|publisher=[[Engadget]]|accessdate=2014-01-03}}</ref> Other changes applied by Snapchat post the attack, to protect users and improve security, include the rate limiting suggested by security researchers last week.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://blog.snapchat.com/post/72013106599/find-friends-abuse|title=Snapchat- Find Friends abuse|publisher=[[Snapchat]] Blog|accessdate=2014-01-03}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://edition.cnn.com/2014/01/01/tech/social-media/snapchat-hack/|title=Millions of accounts compromised in Snapchat hack|publisher=[[CNN]]|accessdate=2014-01-03}}</ref>
-One particular phrase in the response reads "[...] that same group publicly documented our API, making it easier for individuals to abuse our service and violate our Terms of Use". This is an example of [[Security through obscurity]].
-== References ==
-{{reflist|2}}
-[[Category:Hacking (computer security)]]
-{{Hacking in the 2010s}}