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Google is shutting down Google+ after it exposed user data and neglected to tell anyone

If a social network that no one uses gets breached and no one uses it, does it make a sound?

Apparently Google+ users weren’t the only ones not paying attention to the social network. According to a report in the Wall Street Journal, Google discovered a “software glitch” earlier this year that allowed third-party developers access to some 500,000 private profile data since 2015, including “full names, email addresses, birth dates, gender, profile photos, places lived, occupation and relationship status.”

That’s a lot of exposed data. And to make matters worse, Google found out about it in the spring and decided not to tell anyone, reports the Wall Street Journal. The paper says the search giant said in a memo that it kept the breach private to avoid public and regulatory scrutiny. Google told the Journal that it considered “whether we could accurately identify the users to inform, whether there was any evidence of misuse, and whether there were any actions a developer or user could take in response, (and) none of these thresholds were met here.”

More here: https://www.pcworld.com/article/3311468/google-plus/google-plus-shutting-down-exposed-data.html

 

 

I didn't use Google+, but hiding the breach is NOT a good look.

I read this today and it came as a surprise for the breach but not one for Google+.  Google tests with live audiences. Apple Betas and Betas before going live.  Google gets rid of things that don't work quickly.