News

Twitter Admits Data Breach Compromised Anonymous Accounts

Twitter has released an official statement admitting that it was unable to confirm the number of profiles exposed, but expects the figure to top 5.4 million.

Published

4 years ago

August 9, 2022

Nour Nasir

twitter admits data breach compromised anonymous accounts

Twitter has released a statement acknowledging that in December 2020, a coding error resulted in a data breach of user information. A hacker exploited the flaw before it was discovered and subsequently patched in January 2022.

The vulnerability allowed malicious actors to submit an email address or phone number to verify if it was associated with an existing Twitter account. Hackers could then access the associated account ID, linking the information together.

A researcher uncovered the coding flaw through Twitter’s Bug Bounty program. The social media giant claimed that the vulnerability hadn’t been exploited before engineers were made aware of the issue. However, a hacker who contacted the website Bleeping Computer disputed the official narrative, claiming to have gained access to over 5.4 million user accounts via the flawed code and offering to sell the data for $30,000.

After reviewing the compiled database, Twitter responded with an official statement:

“Because we can’t verify every account that may have been affected, we’re releasing this alert because we’re particularly concerned about people using pseudonymous accounts who may be targeted by the state or other actors. If you use a pseudonymous Twitter account, we realize the hazards that an occurrence like this might bring and we profoundly regret that this happened.”

Also Read: Report Highlights $7.45 Million In Damages From Data Breaches Across The Middle East

Owners of accounts that have been compromised due to the data breach will be notified by direct message from Twitter, with the company advising those who wish to remain anonymous online not to associate a publicly available email or phone number with their account.

Because two or more individuals have already purchased and gained access to the leaked data, users should be wary of targeted phishing scams trying to gain access to login credentials. Although no passwords were revealed during the initial breach, Twitter advises all users to adopt two-factor authentication for an extra layer of security.

News

LUVED Is A New Curated Preloved Marketplace For The UAE

Sellers keep 100 percent of every sale and AI can build a listing in five seconds — though the app’s smartest tools are still coming.

Published

1 day ago

June 16, 2026

Joanna Melki

luved is a new curated preloved marketplace for the uae

Secondhand shopping has become mainstream in the UAE, but the experience is still scattered across resale sites, social media and informal group chats. LUVED, a mobile-first marketplace that launched in Dubai this month, is betting it can pull that activity into one place — and that the thing buyers and sellers actually want is not more inventory, but trust.

The app trades in what it calls circular luxury: preloved fashion and lifestyle pieces across men’s, women’s and children’s categories, bought, sold or given away peer to peer. Its main pitch is economics, with sellers keeping 100 percent of every sale under a zero-commission, fast payout model, while buyers are promised vetted pieces at lower prices.

Where LUVED is staking its reputation is verification. Sellers pass a KYC check, and items run through a two-layer authentication system powered by Entrupy that pairs instant AI screening with human expert review for high-value pieces. Authenticity certificates travel with each item, payments sit in escrow, and a buyer-protection package the company calls The Safety Net adds a 48-hour return window and dispute resolution. Door-to-door logistics removes the in-person meetups that make most resale deals awkward.

An in-app assistant called Luvbot — offering selling insights and demand-based recommendations — is soon to be introduced to the platform. Other features include autofill and dynamic pricing that lets users build a listing in as little as five seconds from three photos, plus a swipe-based feed, story-style drops and in-app chat in English and Arabic. Finally, a gifting layer, Luved & Gifted, lets users pass items to others inside the app rather than sell them.

Also Read: Logitech’s New Folding Mouse Is Designed For Work On The Go

“After moving to Dubai, I saw how difficult it was to sell or even give things away,” says founder and CEO Shaima Sibtain. The friction is real, and so is the competition. In resale, trust is won transaction by transaction — and that is the test LUVED has set itself.

The app is live on the App Store now, with Google Play to follow. The company also plans to expand across the region, which will be the real test for a marketplace staking everything on trust.