Another Facebook data breach: Third-party apps left 540 million user records unsecured on Amazon servers
In latest blow to Facebook, 540 million user records exposed by third-party apps
Facebook is facing another major data breach scandal after cybersecurity researchers revealed that hundreds of millions of user records were publicly exposed on Amazon cloud servers by two third-party app developers. The data breach, which was first reported by UpGuard, a cybersecurity firm, on Wednesday, April 3, 2019, is one of the largest and most serious incidents involving Facebook user data in recent years.
In latest blow to Facebook, 540 million user records exposed by...
What happened?
The data breach occurred because two third-party Facebook app developers, Cultura Colectiva and At the Pool, failed to secure their Amazon Web Services (AWS) storage buckets that contained Facebook user data. AWS storage buckets are cloud-based repositories that allow users to store and access data online. However, if they are not configured properly, they can be accessed by anyone on the internet.
How did the data breach occur?
According to UpGuard, Cultura Colectiva, a Mexico-based media company, exposed 146 gigabytes of Facebook user data, including account names, IDs, comments, reactions, and other details about posts. The data set contained over 540 million records. UpGuard said it notified Cultura Colectiva and Amazon about the breach in January 2019, but no action was taken until April 3, 2019, after Bloomberg contacted Facebook for a comment.
Separately, At the Pool, an app that was designed to help people meet up for offline activities, exposed another database that contained information about user IDs, friends, photos, location check-ins, and even unprotected passwords for 22,000 users. The app shut down in 2014, but the data remained online until UpGuard discovered it and notified Amazon.
What kind of data was exposed?
The data exposed by Cultura Colectiva and At the Pool included personal information that could be used to identify and target Facebook users for spamming, phishing, or other malicious purposes. For example:
Account names and IDs: These are unique identifiers that can be used to find and contact users on Facebook or other platforms.
Comments and reactions: These are expressions of opinions and preferences that can reveal users' interests, beliefs, and sentiments.
Photos and location check-ins: These are visual and geolocation data that can show users' appearance, activities, and whereabouts.
Passwords: These are secret codes that can grant access to users' accounts and personal information.
How many users were affected?
It is not clear how many individual users had their data exposed by the two app developers. However, based on the size and content of the data sets, it is estimated that over 540 million Facebook users were affected by the breach. This represents more than 20% of Facebook's total user base of 2.3 billion monthly active users worldwide.
Why does it matter?
The data breach matters because it exposes Facebook users to potential risks of identity theft, fraud, harassment, or manipulation. It also damages Facebook's reputation and trust among its users and regulators, especially in light of its previous data privacy scandals.
What are the risks of data exposure?
Data exposure can have serious consequences for Facebook users who had their personal information leaked online. Some of the possible risks include:
Identity theft: Cybercriminals can use the exposed data to impersonate users and access their financial accounts, credit cards, or other services.
Fraud: Scammers can use the exposed data to trick users into revealing more sensitive information or sending money through phishing emails or fake websites.
Harassment: Spammers can use the exposed data to send unwanted messages or calls to users or their contacts.
Manipulation: Hackers can use the exposed data to influence users' opinions or actions through targeted ads or propaganda.
How does it affect Facebook's reputation and trust?
The data breach also affects Facebook's reputation and trust among its users and regulators who have been increasingly concerned about its handling of user data and privacy. The breach shows that Facebook has failed to prevent third-party app developers from collecting and misusing its user data without proper oversight or consent. It also shows that Facebook has failed to notify its users or authorities about the breach in a timely manner.
How does it relate to previous data breaches involving Facebook?
The data breach is not the first time that Facebook has been involved in a major data privacy scandal. In fact, it is one of several incidents that have plagued the social media giant in recent years. Some of the most notable ones include:
The Cambridge Analytica scandal: In March 2018, it was revealed that Cambridge Analytica, a political consulting firm that worked with the Trump campaign in the 2016 US presidential election, had obtained access to data from more than 87 million Facebook users without their consent through a quiz app developed by a researcher. The firm used the data to create psychological profiles of voters and target them with political ads.
The security breach: In September 2018, Facebook announced that an attack on its network had exposed information from nearly 50 million users. The attackers exploited a vulnerability in Facebook's code that allowed them to steal access tokens Here is the rest of the article. What can you do?
If you are concerned that your data was exposed by the Facebook breach, there are some steps you can take to protect yourself and your online accounts.
How to check if your data was exposed?
One way to check if your data was exposed by the Facebook breach is to use a website called haveibeenpwned.com. This website allows you to enter your email address and see if it was involved in any data breaches. If your email address was exposed by the Facebook breach, you will see a message that says \"Oh no pwned!\" and a list of breaches that included your email address.
However, this method only works if your email address was among the 2.5 million records that contained emails in the Facebook breach. If your email address was not exposed, but your phone number or other information was, you will not see any results on haveibeenpwned.com.
Another way to check if your data was exposed by the Facebook breach is to use a website called The News Each Day. This website allows you to enter your phone number and see if it was included in the Facebook breach. If your phone number was exposed, you will see a message that says \"Your phone number was leaked\" and some details about the breach.
How to protect your data and privacy on Facebook?
If your data was exposed by the Facebook breach, or if you want to prevent future breaches from affecting you, there are some steps you can take to protect your data and privacy on Facebook. Some of these steps include:
Changing your password: You should change your Facebook password regularly and use a strong and unique password that is not used for any other account. You can also use a password manager to generate and store secure passwords for you.
Enabling two-factor authentication: You should enable two-factor authentication on your Facebook account, which adds an extra layer of security by requiring a code or a confirmation from another device when you log in from a new location or device.
Reviewing your privacy settings: You should review your privacy settings on Facebook and adjust them according to your preferences. You can control who can see your posts, profile information, friends list, and more. You can also limit how Facebook uses your data for advertising and other purposes.
Managing your app permissions: You should review the apps and websites that have access to your Facebook account and revoke any permissions that are not necessary or trustworthy. You can also delete any apps or websites that you no longer use or recognize.
How to report any suspicious activity or fraud?
If you notice any suspicious activity or fraud on your Facebook account or other online accounts, you should report it as soon as possible. Some of the ways you can report suspicious activity or fraud include:
Contacting your bank or credit card company: If you suspect that someone has used your financial information to make unauthorized transactions, you should contact your bank or credit card company immediately and alert them of the situation. They can help you freeze your account, cancel any fraudulent charges, and issue a new card.
Filing a complaint with the FTC: If you suspect that someone has used your personal information to commit identity theft, you should file a complaint with the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) at identitytheft.gov. They can help you create a personal recovery plan, provide you with resources and guidance, and alert you of any updates on your case.
Reporting it to Facebook: If you suspect that someone has hacked into your Facebook account, posted something without your permission, or impersonated you, you should report it to Facebook at facebook.com/hacked. They can help you secure your account, remove any unwanted content, and block any imposters.
Conclusion
The Facebook data breach of 2019 is one of the largest and most serious incidents involving user data in recent years. It exposed hundreds of millions of user records on Amazon cloud servers by two third-party app developers who failed to secure their data. The data breach poses various risks for Facebook users who had their personal information leaked online, such as identity theft, fraud, harassment, or manipulation. It also damages Facebook's reputation and trust among its users and regulators who have been increasingly concerned about its data privacy practices.
If you are worried that your data was exposed by the Facebook breach, or if you want to prevent future breaches from affecting you, there are some steps you can take to protect yourself and your online accounts. You can check if your data was exposed by using websites like haveibeenpwned.com or The News Each Day. You can also protect your data and privacy on Facebook by changing your password, enabling two-factor authentication, reviewing your privacy settings, and managing your app permissions. Finally, you can report any suspicious activity or fraud on your Facebook account or other online accounts by contacting your bank or credit card company, filing a complaint with the FTC, or reporting it to Facebook.
FAQs
Q: When did the Facebook data breach occur?
A: The Facebook data breach occurred in 2019 due to a vulnerability in Facebook's code that allowed third-party app developers to access user data without proper consent. However, the breach was not discovered until April 2019 when cybersecurity researchers found the data exposed on Amazon cloud servers.
Q: Who was responsible for the Facebook data breach?
A: The Facebook data breach was caused by two third-party app developers who collected and stored user data on Amazon cloud servers without securing them properly. The app developers were Cultura Colectiva, a Mexico-based media company, and At the Pool, an app that shut down in 2014.
Q: What kind of data was exposed by the Facebook data breach?
A: The data exposed by the Facebook data breach included personal information such as account names, IDs, comments, reactions, Here is the rest of the article. photos, location check-ins, and passwords for some users.
Q: How many users were affected by the Facebook data breach?
A: It is estimated that over 540 million Facebook users were affected by the data breach, which represents more than 20% of Facebook's total user base of 2.3 billion monthly active users worldwide.
Q: How can I check if my data was exposed by the Facebook data breach?
A: You can check if your data was exposed by the Facebook data breach by using websites like haveibeenpwned.com or The News Each Day. These websites allow you to enter your email address or phone number and see if they were included in the data breach.