17 January 2014 22:52:00 AEDT 1 MIN READ

Snapchat - Security Breach Affects Millions of Users

 

snapchat Image credit: Snapchat.com

Hackers collected and published a database listing the usernames and phone numbers of approximately 4.6 million Snapchat users.

Snapchat is a popular photo messaging app, developed by two Stanford University students Evan Spiegel and Robert Murphy. Snapchat allows users to take photos and short videos and send them to other Snapchat users for a limited time before the images disappear.

According to a report by Barbara Ortutay, the hackers published the usernames and phone numbers on a website called Snapchatdb.info. The website has since been suspended.

Snapchat were warned of the vulnerabilities by security experts a week prior to the breach. The group that published the warnings released two exploits on December 25 for two issues that Snapchat failed to address even after they were initially alerted in August 2013.

It raises concerns for the company and its image particularly after reportedly turning down a $3 billion buyout offer from Facebook.

Zak Dehlawi, a senior security engineer, reviewed the findings of the study and stated “Any application that uses cryptography should undergo third-party code audits by security experts to identify security vulnerabilities”.

“Second, companies should also ensure that their back end APIs (application programming interfaces) are secure by undergoing third-party security audits and following strict coding guidelines.”

You can check your website for potential security breaches by using a service such as WebPure. Alternatively, seek out an expert security company that provides 24/7 protection and 100% uptime with continual monitoring and data encryption to ensure you are protecting your business and clients at all times.