Twitters admission that many user passwords (maybe all) where being stored in plaintext on an internal log. Doesn’t mean that account have been hacked or otherwise compromised. What it does emphasis is that social media may be a less secure place than most assume and more significantly those control social media are not vigilant or worse cavalier with “our” content (if you read the terms of service
The advice by twitter for all user to change their passwords is actually sound advice. Better still consider changing all your passwords, and deleting account you no longer use. Well I took my own advice here and started with twitter.
- Not all social media service yet offer the ability to download and archive of all you data, but twitter does, and BTW that will be archive in one big messy zip file. However before you delete any account consider if you want to retain your posts.
- In the case of twitter there is an almost greyed out link at the bottom of the delete account screen, which takes
you to the next screen “do you really want to do this…. Ahhh of course that’s why I selected deactivate…..
Damn its going to be a slow process and I have a 30day cooling off period. Well that’s nice!! (not) in point 3 no responsibility taken for other services linking to your post (and others copying and redisplaying your content, etc etc.)
I’m really not trying to bash twitter here, or jump on a twitter exit bandwagon, but free social media service could be and probably are being careless with our data.They might be as a way to attract ad revenue or just reckless use that makes it a desirable hack target for those less moral. Changing passwords is a sensible first step if you want to protect your data. It is also the right time to consider posting less personal details and/or deleting accounts.
If you like twitter you don’t have to panic yet and the verge does give some good advice on how to secure your twitter account.
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