4.6 million Snapchat usernames and phone numbers leaked

[Cosmos_i7]

The phone numbers and usernames of more than 4.6 million North American Snapchat users have been leaked online. SnapchatDB, an unofficial site run by an anonymous individual or group, allows open access to two files — one an SQL dump, one CSV text — that show details of the photo-sharing app's users alongside their location.

 

Those that download the information, it says, can try to "find phone number information associated with Facebook and Twitter accounts, or simply to figure out the phone numbers of people you wish to get in touch with."

 

Snapchat has been hacked and personal data has been leaked, we seem to be getting this a lot. I also feel like most people just don't care who has their data, because I think they may just say "oh well".

 

One final point I would like to make is this quote:

 Early explorers of the data have also reported the database is incomplete. Reddit users report that the area codes represented show that all affected users are based in North America, with only 76 of the 322 area codes in the United States appearing in the leaked database, alongside another two Canadian area codes.

So its unclear if its the truth or just being made up. The database cannot be accessed at the moment returning a 503 error. 

 

As I am from the UK I suppose it doesn't affect me or my friends. But I highly doubt that its secure for the rest of the world. Regardless this shows that security is a real issue.

 

Thoughts?

[CwGoh]

Not surprised, many companies don't give two toots about customer privacy. (Cough, looking at you bloody Adobe)

[AlwaysFSX]

Things like this are bound to happen anyways, that many users and probably next to no security because it's not on their list of priorities.

[eX.Drunk]

i saw this coming. A lot of people must have gotten the database by now

[Thibaudv]

This kind of defeats the whole purpose of snapchat; it's meant to be this safe way of sending pictures that then after a few seconds disappear from this world..

[James_AJ]

there were at least 4.6 MILLION people using Snapchat???

[rashdanml]

This kind of defeats the whole purpose of snapchat; it's meant to be this safe way of sending pictures that then after a few seconds disappear from this world..

You actually bought that?

[Cosmos_i7]

there were at least 4.6 MILLION people using Snapchat???

I guess so, my friends kinda made me get it. To be honest I think its a bit pointless and never use it. But I believe it is one of the fastest growing social networks if I'm not mistaken.

 

This kind of defeats the whole purpose of snapchat; it's meant to be this safe way of sending pictures that then after a few seconds disappear from this world..

True to an extent but this is about the usernames and phone numbers of users. It didn't really matter what the service provided.

 

What I don't understand is what do these guys plan to achieve? The users won't be convinced to leave because they use it so much and honestly don't care about who has their data, the sad truth.

If they were showing an exploit then why did they not just tell snap chat or leave it alone? If the only person who caused damage was the hackers trying to show security flaws then doesn't this defeat the purpose?

 

I'm all for showing security flaws and companies beefing up their defences, but I don't think this is how to do it. 

[Giddyguy]

Where is the downloadable database? I want to see if I or someone I know is a victim.

[b45op]

So I'm guessing but... no encryption? Anyway good thing I don't have a Snapchat account. 

[felixbearpig]

snapchat deletes photos once opend even then its not like they have your credit card number. the only thing to worry about is opening a snapchat and seeing a penis (if you arnt into that)

[Cosmos_i7]

snapchat deletes photos once opend even then its not like they have your credit card number. the only thing to worry about is opening a snapchat and seeing a penis (if you arnt into that)

Snapchat has your phone number which I think is quite personal.

[Cosmos_i7]

Where is the downloadable database? I want to see if I or someone I know is a victim.

The database in the original article had been deleted but you can check if your data was affected here: http://lookup.gibsonsec.org

[Artoine]

It's not impossible to think they sold it in my opinion

[Purple]

I checked the list, didn't see my user/phone.

 

meh

[qwertywarrior]

searching for linus ............