Gyazo Image-Sharing Service Hacked, Over 23 Million Users Affected

 

One thing most Second Life users like to do is share images. The regular way costs 10 Lindens per picture, the fee to upload a picture. So many turn to links of images they put on places on the Internet, such as Facebook or Discord. But those who don't have the software of such places won't see them. So many of them turn to Gyazo, an image sharing platform one doesn't need the software to see the links. Over time, it's become popular, with over 23 million users. 

 

But earlier this month, they were hacked. On Wednesday September 16, Helpfeel, the company behind Gyazo, issued the following:

Gyazo, our image-sharing service, was subject to unauthorized access by a third party, resulting in the unauthorized disclosure of user information and certain metadata associated with uploaded images.

We have blocked all access routes used in the incident and have completed remediation of the vulnerability that was exploited. We continue to prioritize measures to prevent further harm while investigating the scope and impact of the incident. 

 

 They would go on to say on Friday Sept 11, "a third party exploited a vulnerability in Gyazo’s image upload server to gain unauthorized access to our systems and execute arbitrary commands." They soon sensed something was wrong, and by the next morning had blocked the hacker. But the damage was done, "We have confirmed that approximately 23.62 million records containing data related to Gyazo users were disclosed without authorization." The information included user emails, passwords, user and device IDs, and more. Thankfully "no payment information, including credit card numbers, was disclosed." 

 

The company planned to email all users whose information was compromised, "To help prevent further harm resulting from this incident, we ask all Gyazo users to change their passwords. If you use the same or a similar password for Gyazo and any other services, we ask that you also change your passwords for those services." 

 

Also, "the hackers also obtained a list identifying private images, and the company cannot rule out that some were viewed." Service was suspended to all affected accounts.

 

"We sincerely apologize to all Gyazo users and other affected parties for the significant concern and prolonged inconvenience caused by this incident." 

 

Sources: Helpfeel, Bleepingcomputer.com . 

 

Bixyl Shuftan

 

Flickr Limiting Adult Images To Paid Accounts, Limits on Private Images

A number of Second Life residents, notably content creators, have plenty of images on the Flickr photo service. So some may be affected by a couple changes last week, announced in the Flickr blog.

Today we’re announcing some upcoming changes to our Terms of Service that will help us continue to preserve the art, expression, history, stories, and memories of all Flickr members for the next hundred years. These changes fall into two distinct buckets, and will affect Flickr free members.

The first change is that adult images, or "restricted or moderate content," will be limited to paid accounts, or Flickr Pro members. And those with free accounts can no longer upload them without risk of deletion. "Moderate" is defined as partial nudity, such as bare breasts and bottoms. "Restricted" is defined as full-frontal nudity and sexual acts. It's up to users to label pictures as such. If a Flickr moderator finds a picture they see as incorrectly labeled, an account 's rating may be changed so it's not defined as safe.

The second change has to deal with pictures that can't be seen by just anyone, but are restricted in who can view them, or "non-public photos." Flickr is now limiting free accounts to fifty pictures with restrictions on who can see them. Those who have more without upgrading to a paid account risk having pictures deleted.

We love being entrusted with your photos—but we love seeing them get discovered, added to groups, and submitted to photo competitions even more. We’d never turn you away if you just want a safe place to store a lifetime’s worth of images, you’ll just need a Pro membership to do so.

Flickr Pro costs $8.25 USD per month, or $6 a month when billed annually ($72 a year), or $5.54 a month with a two year plan ($132.96 for two years).

Bixyl Shuftan
 

Burn2 Pictures

 

For those of us who missed Burn2, or want to see the scenes again, while the builds may have come down, there are still the pictures that were taken. Among the photographers was Wildstar Beaumont, who not only took many and put them on his Flickr page, but the pictures were well done.

Click Here to see Wildstar's Burn2 pictures for this year.

Suggested by Gemma Cleanslate
 

Interview with JolieElle Parfort

 

JolieElle Parfort is a real-life artist whom shows her works here in Second Life. She describes herself as being one all her life. Her most recent way of doing art is to take photos and using digital tools to make them into painting-like images. Recently, Newser reporter Kayly Iali interviewed her about how she became an artist and how she came to the virtual world.

Read Kayly's interview in People.

Never Give Up Japan

A project to show support for our friends in Japan has been created by SL residents Clubkenjin Loon and Nekonuko Nakamori. “Never Give Up Japan” is at JAPAN DREAM KENJIN MALANDI , MALANDI (101, 119, 146).

Loon and Nakamori are making a Wall of images to show support and give hope to the people of Japan after the devasting earthquake of March 11. The images are being created by other Second Life residents and posted on the open squares. When the card is filled, Clubkenjin Loon (director of "Girls in the Sky") will make it into a movie and present it to the Japanese people to show our concern.

Images can be contributed by using the LM above. Fly close to an open space, click on the center and drag an image to it. There is also a kiosk on the LM site where Linden Bears for Japan can be purchased.

Grey Lupindo