Twitter Inc. (NYSE:TWTR) has confirmed that a bug did indeed expose phone numbers and email addresses of users of its once popular video sharing platform, Vine. However, the giant social networking company insists it was not in any way hacked nor is the notification admission of a data breach.
Vine Security Scare
In an email sent to affected parties, the company says data from the accounts was exposed for less than 24 hours but no passwords were exposed. The microblogging site has since advised Vine account holders to be cautious about anonymous emails they receive from unknown senders going forward.
Twitters says that hackers won’t in any way be able to access the accounts of the affected Vine users given that no password was exposed in the security incident.
“In our investigation, we discovered that the email address linked to your account was exposed. We want to emphasize that this information can’t directly be used to access your account and we have no information indicating that it has been misused, “Twitter in a statement
Twitter is yet to confirm the number of users that might have been affected by the breach. The company is also remaining numb on how it discovered the bug. The company acquired the video app in 2012 as it sought to diversify its video offering.
Vine Online Archive
The breach comes months after the once popular social app was shut down. However, the company continues to maintain an online archive of Vine Videos with users still being allowed to view short looping video clips. While the app remains viewable from browsers, people can no longer upload new content the app having been repurposed into a camera app.
The fact that Twitter wants to maintain some of Vine’s resources means it might have to divert some resources to the app to prevent similar security breaches in future. The same will, however, raise questions as to whether the company is serious about shutting down the app as outlined early in the year.
Twitter stock was down by 0.86% in Friday trading session consequently ending the week at lows of $18.35 a share.