We all love the owl, don't we? This cute little Duolingo mascot who encourages us to learn languages every day. But how would you feel if you found out that this little symbol of education had drawn you into an unsafe web? That's exactly what happened, and that's why you should be concerned about it.
What exactly was leaked?
Before we go into detail, let's understand what's at stake. Duolingo, the world-famous language learning app, has been the target of a malicious hacker attack. And no, it wasn't about kidnapping the owl! The stolen data included both public and hidden information - from names to email addresses to your progress in the app.
How could they do that?
Bleepingcomputer found that the data was collected via an exposed application programming interface (API). That sounds technical, right? Just think of an open window in a house. If the window is open, everyone can look in and see what you are doing. And in this case, they really could see EVERYTHING.
The call of the premium user
The worst part? Not all Duolingo users are the same. Some who pay for the premium version may be particularly targeted by cybercriminals. Personalized phishing attacks could soon land in your inbox. So next time, think twice before clicking on a link that looks too good to be true.
Duolingo responds – but is it enough?
Duolingo confirmed in January that it was aware of the data leak and was working on it. But is that enough? In times when data protection is a hot topic (does anyone remember the big Facebook leak of 2021?), companies should be more proactive and transparent.
Am I affected? How can I find out?
There's a handy web app called Have I Been Pwned where you can check whether your data has been affected. Don't worry, your passwords are safe. But let's be honest, email addresses and usernames can be just as valuable, especially to sophisticated phishers.
The price of progress
If we remember the huge Facebook data breach in 2021, we know that such incidents are not without consequences. Data protection authorities could be keeping an eye on Duolingo, and the company could find itself in legal trouble.
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Source:
Bleeping computer
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