Friend.tech denies data breach with API clarification
Friend.tech counters claims of a 100k user data breach, emphasizing data was accessed from their public API, not a security lapse.
In a statement on X, Friend.tech clarified that the data was accessed through scraping their public API, not a security breach.
The company likened the situation to someone claiming a hack after viewing a public Twitter feed. They emphasized that the accessed data was always publicly available via their API.
The crux of the controversy revolves around the connection between public wallet addresses and Twitter usernames, facilitated by Friend.tech’s API. This feature assists users in linking Twitter accounts with wallet addresses. The scraped data, according to Friend.tech, only contains this public info.
In the crypto community’s response, Banteg, a developer associated with Yearn Finance, who made the dataset public, stated, “101,183 people have given friend.tech access to post as them.” Banteg later clarified that their message was misinterpreted.
Spot On Chain, a blockchain analytics startup, pointed out that the Friend.tech API does provide access to some data that isn’t typically visible. The potential to inspect wallets created by individuals was highlighted as a potential risk.
What is Friend.tech
Friend.tech, a decentralized social platform, gained significant traction in the crypto world shortly after its beta launch. It provides a space where users can tokenize their social connections, giving privileges like private messaging and interaction rights.
The platform operates on Coinbase’s new layer-2 network, Base. By transforming social relationships into tradable commodities, users can sell “shares” of themselves, adding a new dimension to blockchain-based social interaction. This innovation has been attributed to Pseudonymous developer Racer, who previously delved into decentralized social media with TweetDAO and Stealcam, which later transformed into Friend.tech.
Since its launch, the platform has witnessed staggering statistics, with over $5.9 million earned in fees. Ot even doubled the volume of established NFT marketplaces like OpenSea on certain days.
