Twitter has warned its 330 million users to change their passwords after a glitch exposed some in plain text on its internal network.
The social network said an internal investigation had found no indication passwords were stolen or misused by insiders.
However, it still urged all users to consider changing their passwords "out of an abundance of caution".
Twitter did not say how many passwords were affected.
It is understood the number was "substantial" and that they were exposed for "several months".
Twitter discovered the bug a few weeks ago and has reported it to some regulators, an insider told Reuters.
Chief executive Jack Dorsey tweeted:
We recently discovered a bug where account passwords were being written to an internal log before completing a masking/hashing process. We”™ve fixed, see no indication of breach or misuse, and believe it”™s important for us to be open about this internal defect. https://t.co/BJezo7Gk00
— jack (@jack) May 3, 2018
The glitch was related to its use of "hashing", which masks passwords as users enters them by replacing them with numbers and letters, according to its blog.
A bug caused the passwords to be stored on an internal computer log before the hashing process was completed.
"We are very sorry this happened," Twitter said on its blog.
As well as changing passwords, users have been advised to turn on two-factor authentication service to help stop accounts being hacked.
Twitter's chief technology officer Parag Agrawal initially said the company did not have to reveal the information but believed it was the "right thing to do" - before correcting his "mistake".
Latest Stories
-
‘We are sorry but we need to stay calm’ – Andre Ayew on Black Stars recent form
2 mins -
Election 2024: Bawumia dares Mahama to two-man debate
8 mins -
Bawumia is a man of integrity and discipline unlike Mahama – Miracles Aboagye
13 mins -
Ejisu by-election: NDC is sponsoring Aduomi; don’t vote for him – Bawumia to NPP supporters
16 mins -
Freedom of speech must engender development
19 mins -
Ghana Hajj Board announces flight schedules for 2024 pilgrimage
26 mins -
T-bills: Interest rates increased for first time since January 1; government fails to meet target
2 hours -
Ghana retains 10th position with lowest fuel price in Africa
2 hours -
Mahama cuts sod for new Jakpa palace in Damongo
3 hours -
Will Ghana’s democracy stand the test of time in the 2024 elections?
5 hours -
Hindsight: Dreams fairytale run proved one thing; it is possible
6 hours -
God makes rulers, not you; you can’t choose your successor – Mahama to Akufo-Addo
7 hours -
Contributors own SSNIT, they must decide who becomes its Director-General – Austin Gamey
8 hours -
Move away from theory-based learning towards practical learning approaches – AUCC President to students
8 hours -
Haaland scores as Manchester City beat Nottingham Forest
9 hours