Tuesday 31 December 2013

Computer security group alleges Snapchat software flaw

The popular cellphone app Snapchat is facing some security risks.

The app allows the exchange of pictures and videos for only a few seconds before disappearing.

Back in August, computer security group Gibson Security released a report pointing out flaws in Snapchat's application programming interface (API)

The group says the flaw could potentially be used to "build a database of Snapchat usernames and phone numbers, connecting names to aliases easily, and with further work connecting social media accounts to entries."

This last week Gibson Security published a full disclosure of what they found four months ago.

Snapchat responded on their website Friday afternoon: "Theoretically, if someone were able upload a huge set of phone numbers, like every number in an area code or every possible number in the U.S., they could create a database of the results and match user names to phone numbers that way."

They also stated they have put in more safeguards to make number collection more difficult to do.

KRTV also asked viewers on Facebook about what they thought about the potential breach. Several pointed out that sharing personal information on the internet brings the risk of having that info stolen.

According to the Pew Research Center's Internet and American Life Project, at least a fourth of cell phone owners between the age 18 and 29 use the app.

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