Twitter has sent an email to a number of its users to explain that their accounts may have been the target of “state-sponsored hackers.”
Coldhak, a Canadian non-profit, received a copy of the email and posted it to Twitter. The email explains:
“As a precaution, we are alerting you that your Twitter account is one of a small group of accounts that may have been targeted by state-sponsored actors.
“We believe that these actors (possibly associated with a government) may have been trying to obtain information such as email addresses, IP addresses, and/or phone numbers.”
The email adds that there’s “no evidence that they obtained your account information, but we’re actively investigating the matter.” It also points out that “your account may not have been an intended target.”
Twitter has warned users about security breaches in the past, but we think this is the first time that it’s suggested a compromise is ‘state-sponsored.’ It does, of course, prompt tantalizing speculation about which state might be responsible—though currently there are no details to provide any clues.
[Wired UK]
Image by Vdovichenko Denis / Shutterstock.com
