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Snapchat database leak claims to contain 4.6 million phone numbers and usernames
Last week security researchers published a way to skim Snapchat's full database, and it appears someone did it before the vulnerability -- which, according to those researchers had been known for months -- was addressed. A website called SnapchatDB! has appeared posting SQL/CSV files that it claims contain the username and associated phone number for a "vast majority" of the service's users, with the last two digits of the numbers obscured. Snapchat eventually admitted that such a hack was theoretically possible, but said additional countermeasures and safeguards it's implemented would make that harder to do. That amounts to 4.6 million pairs, although actually downloading the files to actually use them or verify the claim seems impossible, presumably due to an overload of traffic. We don't know who is behind the website (its WHOIS record is hidden by WHOISGuard), but the homepage claims this release is happening to "raise awareness" of the fact that companies should be more careful with the private information of their users. As the site mentions, even the info included could be enough to figure out someone's phone number from their username (if it's also used publicly on Twitter, for example), especially problematic for those with unlisted numbers. They also have not ruled out releasing the uncensored database "under certain circumstances," so if you've ever used the service this may be something to keep an eye out for. Update: Developers Robbie Trencheny and Will Smeindlein have worked up a searchable database to see if your info is among those captured. It's accessible here, and searches by username, apparently based on the SQL file uploaded. Our friends at TechCrunch apparently found at least one writer's info in the database, although a Reddit user who grabbed the file suggests only certain area codes are affected.
Daily Roundup: Snapchat security exploit, judge okays NSA spying and more!
You might say the day is never really done in consumer technology news. Your workday, however, hopefully draws to a close at some point. This is the Daily Roundup on Engadget, a quick peek back at the top headlines for the past 24 hours -- all handpicked by the editors here at the site. Click on through the break, and enjoy.
Report: Snapchat exploits can steal your private info, expose you to spam
A group of security researchers has published a pair Snapchat security exploits, claiming the popular social startup has ignored requests to address them since August -- prior to any Facebook acquisition talk. The Gibson Security team is hoping that'll force the company to respond to the problems, which they say could pose serious privacy risks for both iOS and Android users. The first bug could help a hacker suss out private user details like phone numbers, while the second could be used to create masses of dummy accounts. Together, they could be used by spammers, or worse, stalkers, provided they roughly know the location of the target. Now that the code's out in public, anyone with technical know-how could exploit the bugs, which the team said could be fixed with "ten lines of code." If true, hopefully Snapchat will jump on them quick -- check the source for more. Update: Snapchat has responded, acknowledging that "theoretically" the phone number data exploit is possible, but claims it has implemented safeguards over the past year and "recently added additional counter-measures and continue to make improvements to combat spam and abuse."
Snapchat iOS update discreetly adds replay, filters and overlays for weather, time or speed
And suddenly, moments shared over Snapchat were a little less fleeting. The service is known for only allowing you to watch a shared image or video once, and only for a second, but the app's latest iOS update changes everything: now you can replay pictures or videos. The feature is hidden in the application's additional services menu (and comes with no explanation of what it does, exactly), but it allows users to replay old Snaps at the rate of one a day. While this doesn't quite make Snaps public, it does make them a bit more enduring. Users who tend to create Snaps of a more ...personal nature may want to think twice before sharing. The application's other updates are a bit less game changing. Users can now apply "Smart Filters" to their images, which overlay your Snaps with data including current weather, time, or the speed they're traveling, along with new visual filters (swipe from right to left to activate them) and text options. The app has even added a "front-facing flash," but don't get too excited -- it just flashes a bright white image on your smartphone's screen as you capture a poorly-lit selfie. Itching to update? Check out that iTunes link below.
Snapchat reportedly rebuffed $3 billion offer from Facebook
Facebook wants to own it all it seems: Instagram, Luma, Lightbox... that's not enough. With a host of video and photo startups already in its growing stable of acquisitions, word has it that Zuck and co. wanted to capture that Snapchat magic as well. According to the Wall Street Journal, Facebook went to the video messaging service with an offer of $3 billion in cash to join its growing social family. But it seems that Snapchat CEO and founder Evan Spiegel has no intentions of selling right now. Investors and potential buyers are lining up at his door cash in hand, but Spiegel believes the service can continue to grow, leading to an even bigger pay day when it comes time to sell out. At least according to the Journal's sources. Those same sources also say that this is the second offer Facebook has made for Snapchat. The social giant made an earlier attempt to purchase the company for $1 billion, the same price tag it put on Instagram, but was refused. Now the question is, will Mark Zuckerberg simply shift his crosshairs to another video messaging service, or will he come back in a few months time with even more cash on the table in an attempt to woo Spiegel into the fold.
Announcing Engadget's #ScaryGadget Costume Contest!
Tomorrow is Halloween, which means from offices to classrooms, to banks and the streets of your hometown, people will be donning all sorts of costumes. Sure, you could be like everyone on the block and dress like Miley Cyrus, or try to score discount burritos at Chipotle, but why not go for something even more creative? Here's our challenge for you, our creative and engaged readers. If you're dressing up as a gadget, app, or really anything that is a nod to technology, we want you to snap a picture and tweet it out or pop it on Instagram while mentioning us (@engadget) along with the hashtag #ScaryGadget. Maybe you'll dress up like the Snapchat ghost (before his face was officially removed), or as one of your favorite characters from Orange Is The New Black. Or maybe Microsoft's Panos Panay, complete with headset and Surface 2? Whatever route you choose, we'd like to see. We'll pick the best and over the next day will pop those onto our Instagram (yes, we have one of those now) and write up our favorites later in the week. The prize? Fame and notoriety as one of the most creative costume geniuses of our times.
Snapchat has given certain user messages to law enforcement agencies
Snapchat originally rose to popularity thanks to the false sense of security its timed photos provided. It wasn't long before intrepid code monkeys discovered that the app was actually storing photos it claimed to have deleted. That rather blatant oversight has since been corrected, but today the company has revealed that while viewed photos (or "Snaps," as they prefer to call them) are indeed lost forever, previously unseen Snaps can be viewed by certain Snapchat staff -- oh, and they've shared "about a dozen" with law enforcement agencies. In a lengthy blog post, Snapchat Trust & Safety Director Micah Schaffer detailed just who can access your photos and when. "Since May 2013, about a dozen of the search warrants we've received have resulted in us producing unopened Snaps to law enforcement. That's out of 350 million Snaps sent every day. Law enforcement requests sometimes require us to preserve Snaps for a time, like when law enforcement is determining whether to issue a search warrant for Snaps. Only two people in the company currently have access to the tool used for manually retrieving unopened Snaps, our co-founder and CTO, Bobby (who coded it), and me." Schaffer went on to explain that Snapchat's new "Stories" feature, which allows specific content to remain available for 24 hours, is subject to the same legal terms as the rest of the content on the service. So is this something you should worry about? Almost certainly not, unless you believe a law enforcement entity would actually have reason to monitor your 10-second photos. And if that's the case, you probably have bigger issues to worry about. [via The Verge]
Snapchat has passed 'about a dozen' unopened messages to law enforcement under search warrant
Think those unopened self-destructing Snaps disappear forever unseen, too? Guess again. After detailing the timeline for how and when user messages are deleted in the spring, Snapchat says that it has given law enforcement "about a dozen" unopened Snaps at the request of law enforcement search warrants since May 2013. In a blog post, trust and safety head Micah Schaffer says that the messages are only manually retrieved under these circumstances in compliance with the Electronic Communications Privacy Act (ECPA)and that only he and the CTO Bobby Murphy have the ability to do so in the 30-day window that the messages remain on the servers. Schaffer went on to say that although the timeline for deleting Stories varies from that of Snaps, Stories fall under the same disclosure process. Stories and the messages they contain can be "viewed repeatedly" for up to 24 hours before they're automatically deleted. So those selfies meant for two-second viewing aren't immune from a prying eye? Bummer.
Snapchat introduces 'Stories' picture feeds that last 24 hours
Snapchat has announced the next evolution of its self-destructing picture service. In a blog post, the company described a new "Stories" feature. Stories pumps Snapchat up into a full-fledged social network by creating a picture feed for each user. Any snaps posted to your picture feed will be live for 24 hours before they self-destruct. Additionally, posters can see which of their friends have viewed their pictures. From Snapchat's blog: We're introducing Snapchat Stories. A totally new way to share your day with friends -- or everyone. It's fun and ephemeral, just like Snapchat. Snapchat Stories add Snaps together to create a narrative. When you add a Snap to your Story it lives for 24 hours before it disappears, making room for the new. Your Story always plays forward, because it makes sense to share moments in the order you experience them. Your Story never ends and it's always changing. The end of your Story today is the beginning of your Story tomorrow. And each Snap in your Story includes a list of everyone who views it. Previously, Snapchat users simply took photos and sent them to friends where the photo would self-destruct within seconds of viewing. Snapchat is a free download.
Snapchat's new Stories feature provides an evaporating recap of your day
Already wildly popular amongst younger users, picture sharing app Snapchat is launching the next phase of its app today, and for the first time it's bringing a feature to its iOS and Android apps at the same time. Snapchat's claim to fame has always been that it shares images or short videos from one person to another, that disappear after viewing instead of living on in infamy (our early Tweets are a constant source of embarrassment). Now, the new Stories feature gives each user a feed similar to those on Instagram, Facebook, Twitter or Tumblr that all of their friends (instead of just one) can check out, but with a familiar hook -- the Snaps disappear after 24 hours. Another interesting element is that, like Path, it also displays a list of who viewed each Snap. In a blog post, the company touts the ephemeral nature of the feature, noting that "The end of your Story today is the beginning of your Story tomorrow." To some, the service's reputation is only for how it helps the Anthony Weiners of the world, but the introduction of Stories may change that -- and introduce more competition for other social networks where users are wary of how long even casual posts could live to haunt them. The feature hasn't popped up on either app store yet, for now you can check after the break for a few videos showing the stories users might tell -- if they were in one of those bands the young folks are listening to.
Snapchat Micro will bring disappearing messages to Samsung's Galaxy Gear
There seems little doubt that much of the Galaxy Gear's success or failure will hinge on the selection of apps that arrive on smartwatch. Samsung is making a strong push for third-party software (even in the face of limited device storage), courting a big cross section of developers at places like Path and eBay for its wearable. Popular messaging app Snapchat will also be hitting the device in the form of Snapchat Micro. As you'd expect, the app harnesses the Gear's 1.9-megapixel camera to send self-destructing images. The company's founder told Techcrunch, "Our team is constantly looking at ways to reduce the time between our experience of a moment and our ability to share it." Walking around with a camera on your wrist is certainly one way to go about it.
Samsung Galaxy Gear apps include Path, Pocket, RunKeeper and more
Samsung's Galaxy Gear smartwatch will launch with 70 native apps, and it turns out that there's quite a few heavy-hitters in that bunch. Path is available to share photos taken from the Gear's wriststrap; Pocket users, meanwhile, can have Gear read saved articles out loud. And fitness apps will definitely be in vogue -- RunKeeper, MyFitnessPal, Phigolf and others have embraced Samsung's vision. There are too many other apps to list them all, although we've noticed big-name titles like Snapchat in the mix. If you're planning to pick up Samsung's wristwear in the next few weeks, there won't be any shortage of things to do with it. Follow all of our IFA 2013 coverage by heading to our event hub!
Snapchat Android update adds transparency, still lacks 'bad judgment' filter
The latest version of Snapchat's Android app cleans up its interface and adds gesture-based navigation controls. Everything from conversation view and the contact list received a once over making it feel more like a platform-native app, even though it's more than a blush similar to the last iOS update. Perhaps the biggest fix is the new shutter button, which is a clear bubble instead of a big blue bar. Now nothing's obscuring your view of a poor snap decision.
Snapchat 5.0 for iOS brings a swipe-based interface, in-app profiles
Snapchat is reportedly one of the biggest media sharing services outside of Facebook, so it's only fitting that the service's iOS app just got an equally big update. The 5.0 revamp switches to a cleaner, swipe-driven control scheme that leaves more room for all those short-lived pictures. It's likewise possible to peek at profiles within the app, reply through a double-tap and send images to address book contacts. We don't know if the new Snapchat will be enough to make Facebook worry about its sharing supremacy -- again, that is -- but it's likely worth hitting the source link for the update.
Blink brings text and group chat to the ephemeral messaging world
The success of Snapchat has shown that users like ephemeral messaging, the ability to send a single-use picture message to a friend which deletes itself seconds after being seen. But Snapchat only lets you send pictures. Enter Blink. Blink is the latest app to tackle the "this message will explode in five seconds" world of ephemeral messaging, bringing with it the addition of short-lived texts and group chats. Like its rival Snapchat, Blink allows you to choose how long a message will last before expiring. Images last one to 10 seconds, while texts can range from 10 seconds to five minutes. Users also have the option of making their texts permanent, meaning Blink could also serve as a useful replacement for users who have abandoned Facebook as their social media home. Future updates will bring video, audio notes, options for drawing and stickers. At the moment Blink is only available for iOS, though an Android app is in the works.
Snapchat users share 150 million photos daily
Speaking at the All Things D: Dive into Mobile conference in New York City today, Snapchat CEO Evan Spiegel revealed that the popular photo-sharing app is much more popular than anyone may have imagined. Specifically, Spiegel noted that Snapchat users send over 150 million photos through the service every single day. That figure was 50 million back in December 2012, indicating that Snapchat has enjoyed tremendous growth in a relatively short amount of time. In case you're unfamiliar with Snapchat, it's a photo-sharing service that lets users send photos back and forth sort of like MMS. The rub is that photos sent via Snapchat delete themselves 10 seconds after being delivered. Though the average Snapchat user may be too young to remember (the core users are between 13 and 25 years old), it comically harks back to the self-destructing messages in the 1980's cartoon Inspector Gadget. To put the 150 million figure into context, Instagram sees about 40 million photos taken every day. Of course, Facebook, threatened by the rapid rise in popularity of Instagram, purchased the company outright for $1 billion in April of last year. And while it's highly unlikely Facebook will be purchasing Snapchat, it has tried to emulate it. Facebook last December released Facebook Poke, a mobile app which allows users to send photos and videos and choose how long they want the recipient to be able to access it. Needless to say, Facebook Poke never caught on and hasn't done much to stop the wildly impressive growth of Snapchat. Now if you haven't used Snapchat, you may be wondering what all the fuss is about. After all, iOS users can easily take a snapshot of the screen in order to save any photo before it self-destructs, right? Well, yes. To that end, Snapchat has incorporated functionality wherein a user will be alerted when a photo recipient takes a screenshot. That, of course, won't do anything to delete the photo in question, but purports to be an effective deterrent against users trying to save photos meant to disappear into the ether. Lastly, Spiegel noted that the app currently boasts more users on iOS than on Android. If you're intrigued, you can check out the app over here on iTunes.
Facebook's Poke app becomes unpopular in a hurry
If Facebook thought its Poke app would quickly dominate the timed messaging scene and make Snapchat a thing of the past, its plan appears to be off to a rocky start. As Mashable reports, after debuting in the No. 1 slot on the iOS free apps list, Poke has experienced a precipitous drop in popularity, and is now more than 700 spots back after just one month. Both apps allow users to send messages to their Facebook friends, which automatically delete after a set time. Unfortunately for Facebook, Poke doesn't really do much to set itself apart from Snapchat, and the app doesn't appear to have resonated with its intended user base. Poke is still in version 1.0, so it's possible that the company has some new and exciting features in the way to revive its already waning popularity. But even if Facebook lets it fade into obscurity, we can chalk it up to a learning experience.
