Twitter’s Security Meltdown Explained
As we reported this morning, there are currently a number of potentially sensitive internal Twitter documents floating around the Web, a result of the hacking of an employee’s account. Not surprisingly, Twitter has taken to its blog this afternoon to publicly address the issues stemming from the incident. The bottom line seems to be this: your Twitter accounts are safe, but there are a number of documents that Twitter would rather not have published publicly in other people’s...
As we reported this morning, there are currently a number of potentially sensitive internal Twitter documents floating around the Web, a result of the hacking of an employee’s account. Not surprisingly, Twitter has taken to its blog this afternoon to publicly address the issues stemming from the incident.
The bottom line seems to be this: your Twitter accounts are safe, but there are a number of documents that Twitter would rather not have published publicly in other people’s hands. But if you’re expecting something really juicy (like, how Twitter plans to make money …), you should probably prepare to be disappointed.
Here are the highlights:
On Google Docs security, which a number of readers commented on in our earlier story:
“This attack had nothing to do with any vulnerability in Google Apps which we continue to use. This is more about Twitter being in enough of a spotlight that folks who work here can become targets … This isn’t about any flaw in web apps, it speaks to the importance of following good personal security guidelines such as choosing strong passwords.”
On the security of Twitter accounts:
“It’s important to note that the stolen documents which where downloaded and offered to various blogs and publications are not Twitter user accounts nor were any user accounts compromised (except for a screenshot of one person’s account and we contacted that person and recommended changing their password). This was not a hack on the Twitter service, it was a personal attack followed by the theft of private company documents.”
On the contents of the stolen documents:
“Obviously, these docs are not polished or ready for prime time and they’re certainly not revealing some big, secret plan for taking over the world … Nevertheless, as they were never meant for public communication, publishing these documents publicly could jeopardize relationships with Twitter’s ongoing and potential partners.”
As we stated this morning, we don’t plan to publish any of the documents that leak out, but many of them are already readily available elsewhere if you care to search them out. Ultimately, it’s another embarrassing moment in Twitter’s torrid growth, but nothing that’s likely to bring the house down.
Reviews: Twitter
Tags: twitter
Read more here:
Twitter’s Security Meltdown Explained
Related posts:
this has been all over the place like the chrome os story. come on twitter you want us to believe that someone actually hacked a google app and got your documents for personal matters.. i think there is a bigger, hidden, part for this story that we will be hearing about soon.