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Google+ shutting down four months early following latest data leak

In October this year we wrote that Google+ was coming to an end, with the social media platform containing a significant security flaw that allowed developers to have access to the data of users.

In the wake of that discovery the company decided to shut down Google+, with it scheduled to happen in August of 2019.

That date has since been pushed up by four months as Google has discovered yet another similar security flaw in the platform that could compromise the data of an estimated 52.5 million users.

It has thus prompted the firm to ramp up its shutdown timetable to April of 2019.

As for the recent discovery, Google explains in a blog post that it was found following an update that was issued in November that affected the API of the platform in particular.

As such the firm has given Google+ users 90 days in order to get their respective ducks in a row, before API access becomes restricted.

“We discovered this bug as part of our standard and ongoing testing procedures and fixed it within a week of it being introduced. No third party compromised our systems, and we have no evidence that the app developers that inadvertently had this access for six days were aware of it or misused it in any way,” writes David Thacker, VP of product management for G Suite.

With regard to the vulnerability, Thacker adds that those account which were affected by the data leak will be notified in the coming days and weeks, with Google said to be carrying out its own investigation into how this recent leak occurred.

“We have begun the process of notifying consumer users and enterprise customers that were impacted by this bug. Our investigation is ongoing as to any potential impact to other Google+ APIs,” concludes Thacker.

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