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LinkedIn email addresses exposed by plug-in software | LinkedIn email addresses exposed by plug-in software |
(1 day later) | |
The email addresses of LinkedIn users can easily be exposed via a web browser add-on tool, it has been revealed. | The email addresses of LinkedIn users can easily be exposed via a web browser add-on tool, it has been revealed. |
Sell Hack is available as a free extension to the Chrome browser that, once installed, will pop up a "hack in" button on LinkedIn profiles. | Sell Hack is available as a free extension to the Chrome browser that, once installed, will pop up a "hack in" button on LinkedIn profiles. |
Users can then find the email address associated with the account even if they are not connected. | Users can then find the email address associated with the account even if they are not connected. |
LinkedIn said it was taking legal action over the plug-in and advised users to uninstall it. | LinkedIn said it was taking legal action over the plug-in and advised users to uninstall it. |
Since receiving a cease and desist letter from LinkedIn, SellHack has disabled the plug-in. "We are building a better product that does not conflict with LinkedIn's terms of service," it said on its blog. | |
Previously it had insisted that the tool was created for marketing professionals and that all data is publicly available. | |
On its website it said: "We just do the heavy lifting and complicated computing to save you time, We aren't doing anything malicious to LinkedIn." | On its website it said: "We just do the heavy lifting and complicated computing to save you time, We aren't doing anything malicious to LinkedIn." |
But the social network for professionals did not agree. | But the social network for professionals did not agree. |
"We are doing everything we can to shut Sell Hack down. On 31 March LinkedIn's legal team delivered Sell Hack a cease-and-desist letter as a result of several violations," a spokesman told the BBC. | "We are doing everything we can to shut Sell Hack down. On 31 March LinkedIn's legal team delivered Sell Hack a cease-and-desist letter as a result of several violations," a spokesman told the BBC. |
"LinkedIn members who downloaded Sell Hack should uninstall it immediately and contact Sell Hack requesting that their data be deleted." | "LinkedIn members who downloaded Sell Hack should uninstall it immediately and contact Sell Hack requesting that their data be deleted." |
He said that members should "use caution" before downloading any third-party extension or app. | He said that members should "use caution" before downloading any third-party extension or app. |
"Often times, as with the Sell Hack case, extensions can upload your private LinkedIn information without your explicit consent," he said. | "Often times, as with the Sell Hack case, extensions can upload your private LinkedIn information without your explicit consent," he said. |
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