Twitch resets passwords following apparent breach

March 24, 2015 | 15:57

Tags: #breach #complexity #insecurity #password #security #streaming

Companies: #amazon #twitch

Amazon-owned game-streaming service Twitch has warned that attackers unknown 'may have' accessed account information on some of its users, forcing users to choose new passwords using an entropic rating system.

Acquired by Amazon last year for $970 million, Twitch is one of the most popular game-streaming services around. Its technology can be found on desktops, laptops, game consoles and even tablets, and its most popular users can earn a healthy living from broadcasting their shenanigans over the internet - or, for others, attempt to raise funds for charity.

Its users have been asked to reset their passwords, however, following Twitch's discovery that 'there may have been some unauthorised access to some Twitch user account information.' Details of exactly what details were accessed and for how many users have not been provided, but the company has responded by expiring all passwords and stream keys as well as disconnecting links between the Twitch service and YouTube and Twitter.

The new passwords, chosen when a user logs in for the first time following the reset, uses an entropic rating system to judge the 'quality' of the password. This process, described as 'non-intuitive' by Twitch itself, has brought the site in for some criticism and a newly-implemented strong password requirement has been dropped to an eight-character minimum following outcry from its users regarding the new complexity requirements.
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