Facebook bug reveals information of six million contacts

Six million Facebook users have been victims of a Facebook bug which has exposed their personal details to other people.

The social media networking site have admitted that information such as a phone number or email address has been given out ‘once or twice' and that they were ‘upset and embarrassed' by the error. The email said that the bug was related to a technical cock up via their Download Your Information (DYI) tool. This lets the end user get an archive of their timeline activity. It was connected to the feature which recommends who to add as a friend.

People using the tool who unexpectedly snagging extra contact information for friends of friends, or extra contact information for current Facebook friends.

Facebook have issued details explaining that there was no evidence yet that the bug has been exploited by malicious sources.

The blog said “For almost all of the email addresses or telephone numbers impacted, each individual email address or telephone number was only included in a download once or twice,” said the blog.

“This means, in almost all cases, an email address or telephone number was only exposed to one person.

“Additionally, no other types of personal or financial information were included and only people on Facebook – not developers or advertisers – have access to the DYI tool.”

The problem has been fixed, and Facebook have since been contacting those people who have been affected by the bug.

Kitguru says: Lets hope it wasn't exploited by unsavory characters.

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