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| Houseparty offers $1m reward for proof of sabotage | Houseparty offers $1m reward for proof of sabotage |
| (32 minutes later) | |
| The owner of video chat and game app Houseparty is offering a $1m (£810,750) reward for evidence the company was the victim of a commercial smear campaign. | The owner of video chat and game app Houseparty is offering a $1m (£810,750) reward for evidence the company was the victim of a commercial smear campaign. |
| Online rumours alleged that downloading the app led to other services such as Netflix and Spotify being hacked. | |
| The company said there was "no evidence" to back up those claims. | The company said there was "no evidence" to back up those claims. |
| Houseparty has become one of the most downloaded apps in several countries including the UK amid restrictions to stop the spread of coronavirus. | Houseparty has become one of the most downloaded apps in several countries including the UK amid restrictions to stop the spread of coronavirus. |
| According to Apptopia downloads of the app rose from an average of 130,000 a week mid-February to 2m a week in the middle of March. | |
| Online gaming firm Epic Games, which also makes Fortnite and Assassin's Creed purchased Houseparty from its creator in 2019. | Online gaming firm Epic Games, which also makes Fortnite and Assassin's Creed purchased Houseparty from its creator in 2019. |
| Epic Games has not said why it believes Houseparty were the victim of a smear attack but promised to pay the first person to provide evidence of this. | Epic Games has not said why it believes Houseparty were the victim of a smear attack but promised to pay the first person to provide evidence of this. |
| How it all started | How it all started |
| On Monday the company began fighting rumours on social media that the video chat app was the reason other apps were being hacked. | On Monday the company began fighting rumours on social media that the video chat app was the reason other apps were being hacked. |
| Several people posted on Twitter screenshots they claimed showed they were locked out of applications like Netflix, Spotify and even bank accounts after they downloaded Houseparty. | Several people posted on Twitter screenshots they claimed showed they were locked out of applications like Netflix, Spotify and even bank accounts after they downloaded Houseparty. |
| Houseparty does not access third-party apps like Netflix or Spotify, though it does ask for access to user's contacts and connections on Facebook and Snapchat. | Houseparty does not access third-party apps like Netflix or Spotify, though it does ask for access to user's contacts and connections on Facebook and Snapchat. |
| Those tweets were followed up by calls to delete Houseparty, and by claims that Epic Games was preventing users from removing Houseparty from their phones. | Those tweets were followed up by calls to delete Houseparty, and by claims that Epic Games was preventing users from removing Houseparty from their phones. |
| The company issued a statement denying those allegations. | The company issued a statement denying those allegations. |
| "We've found no evidence to suggest a link between Houseparty and the compromises of other unrelated accounts," a spokesperson for Epic Games said. | "We've found no evidence to suggest a link between Houseparty and the compromises of other unrelated accounts," a spokesperson for Epic Games said. |
| "As a general rule, we suggest all users choose strong passwords when creating online accounts on any platform." | "As a general rule, we suggest all users choose strong passwords when creating online accounts on any platform." |
| Houseparty risks | Houseparty risks |
| Houseparty, which allows users to have group video chats and play games virtually with friends, is not without its risk, however. | Houseparty, which allows users to have group video chats and play games virtually with friends, is not without its risk, however. |
| Privacy and parenting experts have warned about "gate crashers" entering conversation on the app. | Privacy and parenting experts have warned about "gate crashers" entering conversation on the app. |
| If a chat is left "unlocked" any user can enter it uninvited - or "gate crash" - as long as they are connected to someone in the chat. | If a chat is left "unlocked" any user can enter it uninvited - or "gate crash" - as long as they are connected to someone in the chat. |
| That has led to reports of inappropriate behaviour and even pornographic images being shown to unwitting users. | That has led to reports of inappropriate behaviour and even pornographic images being shown to unwitting users. |