Google+ to be Shut-down Even Earlier in Light of Security Bugs
Earlier reports stated that initially, Google planned to shut down Google+ in August 2019. However, since then it has recently come to light that the personal information of at least 50 million people was compromised due to a security bug shipped with the November update. It is of note that even Google’s initial plans of shutting down the platform in August 2019 were due to the fact that a security bug had compromised the data of 500,000 people.
In the midst of another security issue, Google has come out to say that the consumer version of Google+ will be discontinued within 90 days. This falls around April 2019, a good four months earlier than the prior date. In a blog post, Google announced that the shutdown of all Google+ API’s has been expedited so that plans can fit within this timeframe.
The vulnerability caused by this bug revealed information like names, birth dates, email addresses, and work history. It was clarified that sensitive data like national identification numbers or financial information were not compromised. The bug itself was active for roughly a week from November 7th till the 13th, wherein the app developers inadvertently had access to the information outlined above. Google made it clear on their blog that app developers haven’t misused any of this data and no third parties have hacked their systems.
The problem apparently stemmed from a flaw in the software update to the API (application programming interface). API’s are commonly used for the purpose of integrating users’ data and information into different platforms such as apps and devices. Google has gone on record to say that the bug was identified amidst a routine review and that they were able to resolve the issue within a week.
Some reports have indicated that Google has been aware of the security problems afflicting Google+ for the past 2 years, however due to fears of a regulatory investigation they didn’t address the problem. They intended to afford users with more control over permissions, however the persistent security problems have led to the platform being shut-down altogether.
The consumer version of Google+ will soon be stopped, though it will continue to be available for businesses. Google has also mentioned that they want to assist users with transferring their data as they migrate from the social platform. Google Support also has a guide posted, with instructions on how to properly delete your Google+ profile.