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Google+ bug exposes non-public profile data for 52 million users
Two months after disclosing an error that exposed the private profile data of almost 500,000 Google+ users, Google on Monday revealed a new leak that affects more than 52 million people. The programming interface bug allowed developers to access names, ages, email addresses, occupations, and a wealth of other personal details even when they were set to be nonpublic.
The bug was introduced in a release that went live at an undisclosed date in November and was fixed a week later, Google officials said in a blog post. During the time the bug was active, developers of apps that requested permission to view profile information that a user had added to their Google+ profile received permission to view profile information about that user even when the details were set to not-public. What's more, apps with access to users' Google+ profile data had permission to access non-public profile data that other Google+ users shared with the consenting user. In all, the post said, 52.5 million users are affected.
(Score: 3, Funny) by ikanreed on Wednesday December 12 2018, @04:19PM (5 children)
What is a "google+ user"?
(Score: 3, Informative) by BsAtHome on Wednesday December 12 2018, @04:25PM
That is bleeding edge technology, made by the chocolate factory, that collects more private data ripe for abuse. Apparently, they forgot to ask for payment while anybody could suck the database clean. That was an oversight. This will be rectified shortly. The near future access to all data will only be provided when the correctly measured monetary transfers are verified and routed through the proper tax-free circuit.
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Wednesday December 12 2018, @04:27PM (3 children)
"Touché" [google.com]
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Wednesday December 12 2018, @04:46PM
Clicked the link hoping for pictures of his wife nekkid. Alas, only pictures of naked penguins, naked fish, and naked octopussy. At least we know Linus' fetishes now.
(Score: 2) by ikanreed on Wednesday December 12 2018, @04:51PM (1 child)
You're not supposed to put how you want people to mod your post in your post. That's unfair. +5 insightful, informative.
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Wednesday December 12 2018, @05:28PM
Just because you shouldn't doesn't mean you can't.
(Score: 2) by Snow on Wednesday December 12 2018, @04:24PM (4 children)
There's 52 million Google+ users? Wow, colour me surprised.
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Wednesday December 12 2018, @04:36PM
not likely active users. more like all accounts on the current roles.
(Score: 2) by rigrig on Wednesday December 12 2018, @04:37PM (2 children)
Why? When they wanted it to take off just about every Google service came with a bunch of "You probably want to make a Google+ account to do <whatever you are doing>, click here to sign up" buttons.
No one remembers the singer.
(Score: 2) by iamjacksusername on Wednesday December 12 2018, @05:56PM
I had to make a Google+ account for something... In any case, it is associated with a gmail account that I have had forever. That's what I am mad about. I expect to see an uptick in phishing email sent from authenticated sources for the next few months.
(Score: 2) by captain normal on Wednesday December 12 2018, @06:00PM
Not only that, they pretty much force fed it to anyone with a g-mail account. Did the same with "Hang Outs".
The Musk/Trump interview appears to have been hacked, but not a DDOS hack...more like A Distributed Denial of Reality.
(Score: 4, Insightful) by ilsa on Wednesday December 12 2018, @04:42PM (3 children)
When are these companies going to start being held accountable for these fuck ups? If they want to hover in data like there is no tomorrow, they should be responsible for it. If they are unwilling to be responsible, they should not be allowed to carry on.
(Score: 2, Insightful) by Anonymous Coward on Wednesday December 12 2018, @06:06PM (2 children)
You want guarantees? Sign a goddamn contract.
Otherwise, caveat emptor.
If you're embarrassed by your poorly shaped body, quit walking around naked on your front porch.
(Score: 5, Funny) by maxwell demon on Wednesday December 12 2018, @08:26PM
You think if you stop walking, your body shape gets better? :-)
The Tao of math: The numbers you can count are not the real numbers.
(Score: 2) by ilsa on Thursday December 13 2018, @08:07PM
Typical Anonymous Cower talking out of their ass.
I have zero control of the data that Google hoovers in. Google does not give you the option to sign such a contract with them. If I had a lawyer write up such a contract, would _Google_ sign it? No, they wouldn't.
So what are my options then, dumbass? Sue a multi billion dollar company that has more lawyers than I have cells in my body?
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Wednesday December 12 2018, @07:50PM
After the generously donation of G+, by Goole, to Apache software foundation.
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Thursday December 13 2018, @02:13AM
Google users' data being stolen is like a thief getting robbed. Google coerced the data out of unfortunate users. Should never have given it to (((them))).
(Score: 2) by rob_on_earth on Thursday December 13 2018, @10:39AM
That would explain the amount of spam I have been getting the last few days on an email address I created for the sole purpose of activating a android phone 5 years ago.
I cannot believe I would have willingly signed up to Google+ even on the phone.