Data Exposed on Amazon Cloud Service: Facebook Has Messed Up Again

Data Exposed on Amazon Cloud Service: Facebook Has Messed Up Again

Facebook is in trouble again.

Facebook, the world's most popular social media platform, is again in trouble. The third-party Facebook app developers have uploaded the personal information of millions of Facebook users on publicly accessed cloud servers. The data which was meant to be protected was available for easier access for anyone searching the web.

This major data breach was uncovered by a cyber-security research firm UpGuard. According to the researchers of UpGuard, they have found the data of millions of Facebook users online that have been uploaded by a Mexican social media company known as Cultura Colectiva. The data included usernames, IDs, and activities of users on the platform and that too in the plain sight.

The personal data of Facebook users including their identities and personal photos were also found on another Mexico-based app, the Pool. This app was created for the sole purpose of helping people to meet with each other and is no more functional since 2014.

After the confirmation of data breach by the Mexican sites, UpGuard has sent notifications to both Cultura Colectiva as well as Amazon about the violations of data privacy. The notice was sent earlier in January but no action was taken by the said platforms after which the security team contacted Facebook on Wednesday.

As soon as Facebook was contacted about the violation, all the data on Amazon was secured instantly while the data on the Pool went offline silently. Though Facebook has taken immediate action it is still uncertain how many people have already accessed the information from cloud servers and how much of the data is used illegally.

This is not the first time Facebook is held guilty of handing over the data to third-party app developers. There were several instances in the past when Facebook data was found with various researchers and advertisers. Facebook is already under constant criticism since the 2016 election when the data of approx. 87 million Facebook users were accessed by Cambridge Analytica for Trump Election Campaign and this present major data breach by Mexico-based social media sites has further worsened the situation.

Facebook has recently revised its data protection policies and has assured that there will be no transition of users' data to any third party. They claim that they strongly prohibit the storing of Facebook data on any public platform and have taken immediate action when it came to their notice. But whether it is a mistake or intentional breach, this major data breach has made every Facebook user concerned about their data protection and social media security.

According to UpGuard, Facebook seems to be incompetent in controlling its vast network and needs to take some serious security measures for the protection of its users` data from any leakage and unauthorized use. People all over the world are curious about what will be the stance of the app developer over the situation? Whether they will be able to defend themselves? What is the future of Facebook?

About the Author

Anas Baig is a Security Journalist covers most of the Cyber Security & Tech news. He is a security professional and writer specializing in Science and Technology, with a passion for dinosaurs, archaeology, robots, cars and animals great and small.

Featured

  • From Surveillance to Intelligence

    Years ago, it would have been significantly more expensive to run an analytic like that — requiring a custom-built solution with burdensome infrastructure demands — but modern edge devices have made it accessible to everyone. It also saves time, which is a critical factor if a missing child is involved. Video compression technology has played a critical role as well. Over the years, significant advancements have been made in video coding standards — including H.263, MPEG formats, and H.264—alongside compression optimization technologies developed by IP video manufacturers to improve efficiency without sacrificing quality. The open-source AV1 codec developed by the Alliance for Open Media—a consortium including Google, Netflix, Microsoft, Amazon and others — is already the preferred decoder for cloud-based applications, and is quickly becoming the standard for video compression of all types. Read Now

  • Cost: Reactive vs. Proactive Security

    Security breaches often happen despite the availability of tools to prevent them. To combat this problem, the industry is shifting from reactive correction to proactive protection. This article will examine why so many security leaders have realized they must “lead before the breach” – not after. Read Now

  • Achieving Clear Audio

    In today’s ever-changing world of security and risk management, effective communication via an intercom and door entry communication system is a critical communication tool to keep a facility’s staff, visitors and vendors safe. Read Now

  • Beyond Apps: Access Control for Today’s Residents

    The modern resident lives in an app-saturated world. From banking to grocery delivery, fitness tracking to ridesharing, nearly every service demands another download. But when it comes to accessing the place you live, most people do not want to clutter their phone with yet another app, especially if its only purpose is to open a door. Read Now

  • Survey: 48 Percent of Worshippers Feel Less Safe Attending In-Person Services

    Almost half (48%) of those who attend religious services say they feel less safe attending in-person due to rising acts of violence at places of worship. In fact, 39% report these safety concerns have led them to change how often they attend in-person services, according to new research from Verkada conducted online by The Harris Poll among 1,123 U.S. adults who attend a religious service or event at least once a month. Read Now

New Products

  • AC Nio

    AC Nio

    Aiphone, a leading international manufacturer of intercom, access control, and emergency communication products, has introduced the AC Nio, its access control management software, an important addition to its new line of access control solutions.

  • FEP GameChanger

    FEP GameChanger

    Paige Datacom Solutions Introduces Important and Innovative Cabling Products GameChanger Cable, a proven and patented solution that significantly exceeds the reach of traditional category cable will now have a FEP/FEP construction.

  • Luma x20

    Luma x20

    Snap One has announced its popular Luma x20 family of surveillance products now offers even greater security and privacy for home and business owners across the globe by giving them full control over integrators’ system access to view live and recorded video. According to Snap One Product Manager Derek Webb, the new “customer handoff” feature provides enhanced user control after initial installation, allowing the owners to have total privacy while also making it easy to reinstate integrator access when maintenance or assistance is required. This new feature is now available to all Luma x20 users globally. “The Luma x20 family of surveillance solutions provides excellent image and audio capture, and with the new customer handoff feature, it now offers absolute privacy for camera feeds and recordings,” Webb said. “With notifications and integrator access controlled through the powerful OvrC remote system management platform, it’s easy for integrators to give their clients full control of their footage and then to get temporary access from the client for any troubleshooting needs.”