Categories: SecurityVirus

Kardashian Fans At Risk From Insecure App, Websites

Fans of reality television’s favourite family may want to check their passwords following the news that an app dedicated to the Kardashian clan has been compromised.

Up to 800,000 users of an ‘exclusive’ app which promised to offer all the hottest and latest news Kim, Khloe and Kendall et al may be at risk.

That’s according to HotforSecurity, which found that one of the app’s users was able to access the names and email addresses of thousands of other subscribers.

Flawed

Nineteen-year-old web developer Alaxic Smith, who said he downloaded the app ‘out of curiosity’, found that when he logged into the website dedicated to Kylie Jenner with his own username and password, he was able to access the names and email addresses of 663,270 of her signed-up fans.

Smith also found that the apps were designed with an open and unsecured API, meaning that he was able to create and destroy users, photos and videos. And this wasn’t just true of Kylie Jenner’s website, but also those of her siblings Kim Kardashian, Khloe Kardashian and Kendall Jenner.

Smith says he has reached out to Whalerock Digital Media, the firm behind the Kardashian clan’s apps, and advised them on the problem can be fixed. The company later told TechCrunch that it had closed its API, and that Smith was only able to access “a limited set of names and email addresses.”

“Our logs further indicate no one else had access and that no passwords nor payment data of any kind was exposed. Our highest priority is the security of our customers’ data,” Whalerock said.

The flaw marks the second time a Kardashian has put her fans at risk, after naked photos of Kim Kardashian were among those leaked in the celebrity iCloud photo scandal of last winter.

Are you a security pro? Try our quiz!

Mike Moore

Michael Moore joined TechWeek Europe in January 2014 as a trainee before graduating to Reporter later that year. He covers a wide range of topics, including but not limited to mobile devices, wearable tech, the Internet of Things, and financial technology.

Recent Posts

Russia Accused Of Cyberattack On Germany’s Ruling Party, Defence Firms

German foreign minister warns Russia will face consequences for “absolutely intolerable” cyberattack on ruling party,…

3 days ago

Alphabet Axes Hundreds Of Staff From ‘Core’ Organisation

Google is reportedly laying off at least 200 staff from its “Core” organisation, including key…

3 days ago

Apple Announces Record Share Buyback, Amid iPhone Sales Decline

Investor appeasement? Apple unveils huge $110 billion share buyback program, as sales of iPhone decline…

3 days ago

Tesla Backs Away From Gigacasting Manufacturing – Report

Tesla retreats from pioneering gigacasting manufacturing process, amid cost cutting and challenges at EV giant

4 days ago

US Urges No AI Control Of Nuclear Weapons

No skynet please. After the US, UK and France pledge human only control of nuclear…

4 days ago