Faizel Patel, Radio Islam News – 09-10-2018

Google says it’s shutting down the consumer version of its online social network after fixing a bug exposing private data in as many as 500,000 accounts.

The US internet giant says it will “sunset” the Google+ social network for consumers that failed to gain meaningful traction after being launched in 2011 as a challenge to Facebook.

AFP reports that a Google spokesperson cited “significant challenges in creating and maintaining a successful Google+ that meets consumers’ expectations” along with “very low usage” as the reasons for the move.

In March, a security audit revealed a software bug that gave third-party apps access to Google+ private profile data people meant to share only with friends.

Google says it’s unable to confirm which accounts were affected by the bug.

“We found no evidence that any developer was aware of this bug, or abusing the API, and we found no evidence that any profile data was misused.”

Google did not specify how long the software flaw existed, or why it waited to disclose it.

Twitter: @FaizelPatel143