Researchers found almost 1.5 million photos from dating apps online. Many of these photos are private and explicit. These pictures were not protected by passwords, making them easy for hackers to see and use. Anyone with a link could access the photos from five apps made by M.A.D Mobile, including BDSM People and LGBT apps like Pink and Translove.
About 800,000 to 900,000 people use these services. M.A.D Mobile learned about this problem on January 20 but did not fix it until the BBC contacted them. They fixed the issue but did not explain how it happened.
Aras Nazarovas, a hacker, found this problem by looking at the app’s coding. He was surprised that he could see the private pictures without a password. Some pictures were sent in messages, and others were deleted by moderators.
Nazarovas warned that this situation is very risky for users. Hackers could use these photos to extort people, especially in countries that are not safe for LGBT individuals. M.A.D Mobile thanked him for finding the problem but did not explain why it took so long to fix.
Vocabulary List:
- Explicit /ɪkˈsplɪsɪt/ (adjective): Stated clearly and in detail leaving no room for confusion or doubt.
- Access /ˈæksɛs/ (noun/verb): The means of approaching or entering a place; to obtain or retrieve information.
- Extort /ɪkˈstɔːrt/ (verb): To obtain something especially money through force or threats.
- Moderators /ˈmɒdəreɪtərz/ (noun): Individuals who oversee a discussion or forum and ensure rules are followed.
- Coding /ˈkoʊdɪŋ/ (noun): The process of writing instructions for computers often in programming languages.
- Risky /ˈrɪski/ (adjective): Full of the possibility of danger failure or loss.
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