Home
Apps
Apps News
SwiftKey Suspends Sync Services After Some Users Report Privacy Breach

SwiftKey Suspends Sync Services After Some Users Report Privacy Breach

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

Highlights

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

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

Several SwiftKey keyboard app users reported they saw different mobile numbers and email addresses as suggestion despite never syncing them. Users have taken to Reddit to post their frustration. One of the users claimed that the app started showing suggestions in German language when the device was set to English UK pack. The user 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 user 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 terms, 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 users 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).

Comments

For the latest tech news and reviews, follow Gadgets 360 on X, Facebook, WhatsApp, Threads and Google News. For the latest videos on gadgets and tech, subscribe to our YouTube channel. If you want to know everything about top influencers, follow our in-house Who'sThat360 on Instagram and YouTube.

Further reading: Apps, Microsoft, SwiftKey, SwiftKey Keyboard App

Ketan Pratap

Email Ketan

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 passion for the great ...More

What's Troubling Athletes Arriving in Rio? No Pokemon Go

Alphabet, GlaxoSmithKline Partner on Life Science Unit

SwiftKey Suspends Sync Services After Some Users Report Privacy Breach

Related Stories