Spotify updating Android app following security breach

Breach only affected one user so far, but Spotify is taking precautions to keep users safe

Spotify users on Android should be on the lookout for an updated version of the app, which will be coming over the next few days. In most cases, a new version of an app is usually a signal of something good for users. Unfortunately, this time the reason behind it is much more serious, and more sinister.

The new Spotify app for Android is coming, not because the company wants to debut a cool, new look or finally reveal some features that people have been waiting for, but because of a recent security breach, it was revealed in a blog post by CTO Oskar Stål on Tuesday.

In addition to enhanced security features, the new app will force users to also have to re-download their offline playlists. Also, as a precaution, the company says that it will be asking certain users to re-enter their username and password to log in over the coming days. 

"We apologise for any inconvenience this causes, but hope you understand that this is a necessary precaution to safeguard the quality of our service and protect our users," said Stål. "We have taken steps to strengthen our security systems in general and help protect you and your data – and we will continue to do so. We will be taking further actions in the coming days to increase security for our users."

Spotify did not say when the breach took place, or when the company became aware of it, but Stål says that an investigation was launched "immediately," as soon as they found out. So far, apparently one a single user has had their data accessed, and that did not include any password, financial or payment information.

While the company says that it is "not aware of any increased risk to users as a result of this incident," it is taking the above steps anyway, just to be on the safe side. The breach also apparently did not affect any users of the iOS or Windows Phone app, so they will not have to take any action to protect themselves at this time.

This is obviously not good news for Spotify; admitting to being vulnerable to hackers never is. But at least the company was able to nip it in the bud, unlike eBay, which revealed last week that it was hacked, and that the breach may have affected up to 145 million people, making it potentially one of the biggest breaches in Internet history.

That situation is so serious, in fact, that the Attorney Generals of at least three states have already opened investigations, and more are likely to join in, as is the United Kingdom.

Sadly, news of these types of security breaches have almost become old news, as a number of tech giants, including Twitter, Facebook, Zendesk, Apple, Microsoft, Evernote, Snapchat, Skype and Bitly have also gone through similar circumstances over the past year or so.

The alarm bells should be ringing right about now, and the Internet is going to really have to step up its game when it comes to keeping user information secure.

(Image source: cultofandroid.com)