Bitly Warns About Compromised Accounts, Disconnects Facebook & Twitter For All Users

Bitly, a popular link shortener used by many in the marketing industry, issued a warning late Thursday that accounts may have been compromised. The company has taken steps to minimize any damage, and is asking users to reset accounts for added security.

In its announcement, Bitly says that there’s no indication that any accounts have been accessed without permission, but “users’ email addresses, encrypted passwords, API keys and OAuth tokens” may have been compromised. Those credentials are what Bitly uses to allow connections between its user accounts and third-party sites (like social networks) where Bitly links are often shared. For that reason, the company has automatically disconnected all users’ Facebook and Twitter accounts and is asking users to do more:

We are recommending all Bitly users make these changes. Please take the following steps to secure your account: change your API key and OAuth token, reset your password, and reconnect your Facebook and Twitter accounts.

Bitly’s blog post offers specific instructions how to do that. The company also says that it has “taken proactive measures to secure all paths that led to the compromise and ensure the security of all user data going forward.”

About The Author

Matt McGee

Matt McGee is the Editor-In-Chief of MarTech Today. His news career includes time spent in TV, radio, and print journalism. After leaving traditional media in the mid-1990s, he began developing and marketing websites and continued to provide consulting services for more than 15 years. His SEO and social media clients ranged from mom-and-pop small businesses to one of the Top 5 online retailers. Matt is a longtime speaker at marketing events around the U.S., including keynote and panelist roles. He can be found on Twitter at @MattMcGee. You can read Matt's disclosures on his personal blog. You can reach Matt via email using our Contact page.