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SwiftKey Suspends Sync Services After Some s Report Privacy Breach

SwiftKey Suspends Sync Services After Some s Report Privacy Breach 3k2t1p

By Ketan Pratap | Updated: 1 August 2016 12:18 IST

Highlights

Several s reported unexpected predictions
SwiftKey says majority of its s are not affected by the issue
Microsoft acquired SwiftKey earlier this year

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SwiftKey keyboard app has been leaking email addresses and mobile numbers of some s, and as a countermeasure, the Microsoft-owned firm has turned off its cloud sync service. w406c

Several SwiftKey keyboard app s reported they saw different mobile numbers and email addresses as suggestion despite never syncing them. s have taken to Reddit to post their frustration. One of the s claimed that the app started showing suggestions in German language when the device was set to English UK pack. The wrote on Reddit, "I'm getting someone else's German predictions with only English (UK) pack installed. I have never typed German in my entire life." The after realising the fact that his SwiftKey predictions may be visible to a third person said, "It's bad enough to lose a trilingual dictionary built over almost 4 years. Now I'm also worrying about someone getting all my suggestions."

The SwiftKey team has taken to its blog post to detail the issue and wrote, "This week, a few of our customers noticed unexpected predictions where unfamiliar , and in some rare cases emails, appeared when using their mobile phone. We are working quickly to resolve this inconvenience."

"While this did not pose a security issue for our customers, we have turned off the cloud sync service and have updated our applications to remove email address predictions. During this time, it will not be possible to back up your SwiftKey language model," the company added. The team also claimed that the "vast majority of SwiftKey s are not affected" by this issue.

To recall, the London-based SwiftKey back in February had announced that it had been acquired by Microsoft for a sum of $250 million (roughly Rs. 1,702 crores).

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Further reading: SwiftKey Keyboard App

Ketan Pratap

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Ketan Pratap is the editor at Gadgets 360 - with over 12 years of experience covering the technology domain. With a breadth and depth of knowledge in the field, he's done extensive work across news, features, reviews, and opinion pieces. But what's truly inspiring about Ketan is how he spends his free time. He's often found gazing at snow-capped mountains from over 20,000 feet while sitting on the hood of his car, taking in the breathtaking beauty of nature. His ion for the great ...More