Now, Amazon's 'technical error' leaks customers' data: Details here
What's the story
On Wednesday, a number of Amazon customers received an ominous mail from the e-commerce giant, one informing them about a data leak.
The company told these customers that their names and emails had been "inadvertently disclosed" by its website.
It didn't provide specific details but noted that the issue stemmed from a "technical error" and that it has been fixed.
Here's more.
Details unclear
How Amazon exposed this information?
Despite multiple requests, Amazon has been tight-lipped about this "technical error" or how it occurred in the first place.
In the email notification, the company told customers it is not a result of their action and there is no need for them to change passwords.
Meanwhile, in a statement to The Verge, it just clarified that its systems or website had not been breached.
Details
Also, the scale of the leak remains unclear
Not going into technical details is one thing, but in this case, Amazon has not even detailed the scale of the case.
The company has neither revealed the number of users whose information has been leaked on its website nor the areas that have been affected.
Scattered Twitter reports suggest users all over the world, particularly across Europe and US, have been impacted.
Security concern
Is there any security concern from this breach?
The information exposed may allow hackers to carry out phishing attacks or gain control over accounts, according to The Verge.
But again, it is not even clear if the information leaked was accessed by anybody or for how long was this 'technical error' active.
Such level secrecy, as ZDNet.com/article/amazon-leaks-users-email-addresses-due-to-technical-error/">ZDNet reports, may not fare well with privacy watchdogs in the EU.
Twitter Post
Here is Amazon's email to affected customers
Good morning, @AmazonHelp. Not to be rude, but if the email below is legit, it is unsatisfactory. For how long was my email address exposed? To whom was it exposed? The whole world? How did it wind up exposed? Could anyone seeing it also see orders linked to that email address? pic.twitter.com/xkamRjhNDB
— Dissent Doe, PhD (@PogoWasRight) November 21, 2018
Do you know?
And, this is not the first case of email leak
It is worth noting this is not the first case of email leak from Amazon. Last month, the e-commerce giant sent a pretty similar notification, except in that case, the emails were being sold by an employee, who has since been fired from the company.