Twitter API hacked, user database being sold online

Re:Twitter API hacked, user database being sold online by guessmyname on Sunday December 25, 2022 @07:30AM (#34126673)

> Twitter doesn't require a phone number anymore. You can use it via the website or a mobile app.

You used the word ”anymore”.

Obviously, you are implying that Twitter required a phone number in the past, but because you did not specify the time of the change, we must assume. It could be that phone numbers are not required since an hour ago or a year ago.

Regardless, if it was a requirement, chances are high that a good portion of the 400+M users in this (supposed) data breach were encouraged to share their phone number with Twitter.

Not to dismiss your contribution but if you have to write ”anymore” I don’t see the point of your comment.

[ Parent | on HN ]

Re:Twitter API hacked, user database being sold online by mcny on Sunday December 25, 2022 @07:40AM (#34126733)

I don't know if something has changed recently but at least as of 2016 when I signed up for a new account, I got immediately placed on a suspicious user list and had to use a phone number to prove I was a human. It was just a prepaid cell phone number that I don't even remember anymore so I don't know how it helped anything but yeah.

I suspect twitter did this to pretty much everyone.

[ Parent | on HN ]

Re:Twitter API hacked, user database being sold online by partiallypro on Sunday December 25, 2022 @07:38AM (#34126714)

Twitter originally was done via SMS, that's why status lengths were limited to 140 characters. So, obviously you needed a phone number when it first started.

[ Parent | on HN ]

Re:Twitter API hacked, user database being sold online by evan_ on Sunday December 25, 2022 @07:40AM (#34126734)

It was never only sms though.

[ Parent | on HN ]

Re:Twitter API hacked, user database being sold online by mcny on Sunday December 25, 2022 @07:45AM (#34126759)

> Twitter originally was done via SMS, that's why status lengths were limited to 140 characters. So, obviously you needed a phone number when it first started.

This isn't what we are talking about. We are talking about requiring users to "prove they are human" by giving Twitter a phone number and then entering an authentication code that they text to that number.

It doesn't accomplish anything because I can get a new SIM card and a month of "unlimited" talk and text prepaid service for about USD 20(?). I didn't think of it much but looking back it is clearly a data grab.

[ Parent | on HN ]