Tencent QQ Group Data Leaked, 1.2 Billion QQ Accounts Affected

Tencent QQ Group Data Leaked, 1.2 Billion QQ Accounts Affected
Nov 29, 2013 By eChinacities.com

QQ is China’s most widely used tool for instant messaging. Black Cloud, a famous Chinese security monitoring platform, published a report on November 20 stating that the data associated with groups on Tencent QQ had been leaked through an accessible link that provides for a fast download through a Thunder torrent. This data leak involves about 7,000 QQ groups and some 1.2 billion duplicate QQ accounts. From one’s QQ account, one is able to determine the sex, age, and associated social network information from which to procure a lot of personal information.

The Tencent company has responded that an information leak did occur on QQ Groups, but that the leak had happened back in 2011; the problem had been fixed promptly on time, and did not affect normal operations for its users.

Source: Xinhua Net

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Keywords: Tencent QQ Group Data Leaked QQ Accounts Affected information leak QQ instant message

4 Comments

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Diceaurora

I believe the best way to stay secure is to not allow any program to remember your password. Use a commercial virus, spyware,, mal-ware, and ad-ware defender. Scan Pc for threats at least once a week. Stay away from internet tool bars for your browser. They do more harm than good.

Dec 06, 2013 23:15 Report Abuse

sammah

I am not suprised. Nothing is safe on the web if you use Google, Gmail, hotmail, Skype, wechat, etc

Dec 01, 2013 07:15 Report Abuse

coineineagh

I'm sure the staff members who leaked it made a pretty penny on the sale. I mean 'accidendal' leakage of confidential info by a single 'rogue'. QQ has plently of privacy problems as it is. I believe this story was concocted to excuse the ridiculously obvious intrusions nowadays. I had random links appearing in private chats with my wife back when I first used the messenger, and I don't believe the internet in China respects my privacy any more than the slack-jawed gawkers on the streets who call me by the name "Waaa" do.

Nov 29, 2013 20:41 Report Abuse

Robk

I agree. I doubt this "leak" is even a one time incident. I think as soon as you put your info on most chat programs in China... they are automatically "leaked". That's why I say NO Chinese software on my computer.

Nov 30, 2013 12:45 Report Abuse