What's This?
2014-01-01 20:45:08 UTC
Two developers have created a tool that helps Snapchat users check if their account was compromised following a massive leak of information that included usernames and phone numbers.
Will Smidlein and Robbie Trencheny built "GS Lookup - Snapchat" on Wednesday to "help the public quickly understand if they were affected so that they could take the appropriate actions," Smidlein told Mashable in an email.
Approximately 4.6 million Snapchat usernames and phone numbers leaked online Tuesday night after anonymous hackers posted them on a website called SnapchatDB.info, which is now suspended. Visitors to the site were able to download the information as an SQL dump or CSV file.
"My biggest fear with leaks like this are that malicious [tech-savvy] people have access to the SQL file, but a 'normal' consumer doesn't necessarily understand what that means," Smidlein said, adding that neither he nor Trencheny were involved in the SnapchatDB leak.
At the top of GS Lookup, which has a simple black-and-white interface, visitors will see, "Are you part of the recent 4.6 million Snapchat user leak? Let's hope not." Below that, users can enter their username in a text-entry box, and click a red button labeled "lookup." (The default name included in the text-entry box is Snapchat CEO Evan Spiegel.)
If your account is not compromised, here's what comes up:
If your account is compromised, the tool notifies you, and generates your phone number (without the last two digits):
Although Smidlein said GS Lookup was "one of the first" tools available to help Snapchat users check the status of their accounts, other tools with the same purpose have been popping up, including Snapcheck.org.
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Mashable composite; homepage image: iStockphoto, jenyk; logo: Snapchat
Topics: Apps and Software, hacking, leak, snapchat, Tech, tool
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