Symantec reveals that Facebook apps leaked user info
May 12th, 2011 - 12:24 am ICT by Aishwarya BhattNew York, May 11 (THAINDIAN NEWS) Computer security firm Symantec has reported that thousands of Facebook user accounts were leaked by third party apps. In a blog post, Symantec said as much as 100,000 Facebook user accounts might have been affected by the security lapse.
At the heart of the lapse is the privilege that Facebook grant to its app developers. Facebook grants temporary access of user accounts to third party apps. Symantec wrote on its blog on Wednesday that the “access tokens” as it is called gives third party developers open access to the data of users.
Facebook says they have carried out initial investigation and the result does not indicate that any data has been stolen. That might be the case because Symantec said most of the developers did not realize that they have the “access tokens.” Access tokens cannot be used after two hours.
Facebook maintains that user data has not been shared. In an email to CNN, the spokesperson for Facebook said the company has contract with its third party developers that prohibit them from sharing any user information. Nonetheless, the popular social network says they are working with Symantec to fix the security problems.
Facebook has more than 600 million users.
- Expert warns users 'to remove address, mobile number from Facebook' - Jan 17, 2011
- MySpace To Take Actions Against Application Developers Sharing Data About Users - Oct 25, 2010
- Experts devise 'defence' against Facebook spying - Dec 05, 2011
- Facebook Developers admit that they sold User Ids to data brokers - Nov 02, 2010
- 'See who viewed your profile' is latest Facebook scam - Nov 30, 2010
- Facebook Discovers That It's Developers Sold Confidential User Ids - Nov 02, 2010
- Facebook in row over moderation process - Mar 03, 2012
- Firewalls can help hackers break into Facebook, Twitter - May 22, 2012
- Facebook to launch own app store - May 10, 2012
- Internet firms spy on personal texts sent on smartphones - Feb 26, 2012
- Top US officials' gmail hit by Chinese phishing - Jun 02, 2011
- Facebook bug that allows personal data access, phishing repaired - Feb 06, 2011
- Now, group messaging apps on smartphones to connect 'real friends' - Mar 17, 2011
- Facebook Used By 100 Million Apple Users! - Aug 24, 2010
- MySpace reveals that it has leaked some personal data to advertisers - Oct 25, 2010
Tags: cnn, computer security, email, facebook, grants, initial investigation, news computer, open access, party apps, party developers, privilege, security firm, security lapse, security problems, spokesperson, symantec, third party, tokens, user accounts, user information