Path is currently experiencing some issues with its private social network. The company sent out several Tweets (here, here, and here) alerting users of the problem, saying that “a small number” of users received spam messages. However, it stresses that no personal data has been compromised.
Hello Path users! We have identified an attack on our service, and are working to resolve the issue. (1/3)
— Path (@path) January 15, 2014
A small number of users have received spam messages as a part of this attack, but personal data has not been compromised. (2/3)
— Path (@path) January 15, 2014
We apologize for this interruption to our users, and want to thank those who brought this issue to our attention. (3/3)
— Path (@path) January 15, 2014
From what we know, it appears that this particular attack is sending private messages to Path users from strangers or fake users. It would appear to be the app’s version of phishing. From the company’s Tweets today, the problem was brought to its attention by users.
A reader sent us a couple of examples of what some Path users are receiving:
This is perhaps the first time that Path has experienced a spam attack like this and it comes just a week after the company closed a $25 million funding round led by Indonesia’s Bakrie Global Group, which itself has sparked some controversy.
Simply mentioning the word “spam” alongside Path can make some people simply shudder at the thought. Today’s attack isn’t doing anything to improve the perception of the app in the eyes of privacy advocates who spent most of 2012 and 2013 hounding the company over its sign-up tactics — the company has denied these claims repeatedly saying that any invitations delivered have been by permission.
Path currently has more than 23 million users. Company CEO Dave Morin said that the social network is active enough that there is more than 1.2 billion engagements each month.
We’ve reached out to Path for more information and will update if we hear back. Update: A Path spokesperson declined to comment, instead referring us to Path’s Tweets.
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