26 Jul Google Groups Settings Error Exposes Hundreds of Companies’ Emails and Private Data
News last Monday reports that hundreds of Google Groups are unprotected, exposing private messages with personal data. The issue was caused by a customer-handled settings error in the chat group’s platform.
Many companies use Google Groups for professional communication, enabling secure messaging between teams in a firm. However, when a user creates a chat group on a public setting instead of a private one, all those messages can be accessed publicly.
The incident clearly shows that simply overlooking a privacy setting can potentially expose massive amounts of data to anyone, including attackers. It is highly suggested that users check their Google Settings right away to ensure that it is set to private before initiating chats.
To date, those affected by the incident involve firms like Fusion Media Group, IBM’s Weather Company, video app SpotX, and helpdesk service company Frashworks.
Source: ZD Net
