An forecast 50 million Facebook user profiles were affected by a security falling out , the company confirmed in a blogposttoday . The breach could have allowed attackers to take over the accounts of affected users , as well as login into a vast number of external sites using Facebook ’s single sign - on feature . The full extent of the attack , however , remains unknown .
The rift , which the party says it attain on Tuesday , “ exploited a exposure in Facebook ’s computer code that affect ‘ View As ’ , a feature article that get people see what their own profile count like to someone else . ” presently the company ’s interior investigation “ is still in its early stages ” and no meter reading has been give as to who might be behind the attack or what user data ( if any ) was exfiltrated .
Login tokens have been reset for the 50 million account directly involve , as well as an extra 40 million write up that the “ aspect as ” lineament was used on within the past yr . The vulnerability allowing the exploit , agree to Facebook , “ stem from a change we made to our video recording uploading feature in July 2017 . ”
word of the security breach comes at a in particular vulnerable time for Facebook , which is currently face Union investigation and regulation over its role in theCambridge Analyticascandal . Early this class , it was revealed that the firm misused data from some 87 million Facebook users . Cambridge Analytica keep out down in Mayin the backwash of the privateness debacle .
In an email , Federal Trade Commissioner Rohit Chopra verbalize his alarm at the severance : “ These companies have a staggering amount of information about Americans . Breaches do n’t just violate our secrecy , they create tremendous risk of infection for our economic system and national surety , ” he said .
Chopra added , “ The cost of inaction is growing and we call for result . ”
In a press conference shortly after Facebook made the blog post , CEO Mark Zuckerberg delineate the breach as an “ attack ” and cite that those responsible for had set about to question Facebook ’s database for personal information about the those whose profile had their login token taken .
The “ view as ” characteristic has since been turned off , and Facebook ’s VP of Product , Guy Rosen , stated that the fellowship is working alongside law enforcement and the FBI to gather more information . Responding to motion from newsman , Rosen said , “ this is clearly a breach of trust and we take this very seriously . ” In a second conference call , Rosen clarified that these stolen token could have been used to lumber in to third - political party services that authenticate through Facebook .
In a assertion , Sen. Mark Warner , co - chair of the Senate Cybersecurity Caucus , said the breach was “ deeply concerning , ” call for a full investigation at once . “ Today ’s disclosure is a reminder about the danger posed when a small number of company like Facebook or the cite bureau Equifax are able-bodied to accumulate so much personal data about individual Americans without adequate security measures , ” he said .
Calling the breach “ another sobering indicator , ” Warner said it was metre for Congress to “ step up and take action at law . ” “ As I ’ve say before — the era of the Wild West in societal media is over , ” he added .
Update 1:55pm ET : Added affirmation from Sen. Mark Warner , Democrat of Virginia .
Update 4:55pm ET : Added statement from FTC Commissioner Rohit Chopra
Update 5:18pm ET : sum extra info from Facebook ’s 2nd metier briefing
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