Twitter Security Breach: What We Know About the 2020 Hack
The Immediate Aftermath of the Attack
Twitter confirmed there is “no evidence” that attackers obtained user passwords following Wednesday’s massive security breach, which forced the platform to lock down verified accounts to prevent further malicious tweets.
In an official thread posted Thursday, Twitter stated:
- “We have no evidence that attackers accessed passwords”
- “Currently, we don’t believe resetting your password is necessary”
- Accounts that attempted password changes in the past 30 days were proactively locked
- Most users can now reset passwords, though some high-profile accounts remain locked
How the Hack Unfolded
The attack became public in real-time when prominent accounts began tweeting cryptocurrency scams. Among the compromised profiles:
- Major corporations (@apple, @binance)
- Tech billionaires (@billgates, @jeffbezos, @elonmusk)
- Accounts collectively representing 90 million followers
A public cryptocurrency wallet linked to the scam showed over $100,000 in transactions within hours.
Twitter’s Internal Systems Compromised
Twitter later confirmed this was a “coordinated social engineering attack” targeting employees with system access. Key revelations:
- Hackers gained control of an internal admin tool
- The FBI has opened an investigation
- At least one hacker (“Kirk”) confirmed accessing the system
The Critical Unanswered Question: Were DMs Accessed?
Senator Ron Wyden highlighted Twitter’s failure to implement promised encryption for direct messages (DMs) since their 2018 meeting with Jack Dorsey. Wyden warned:
“If hackers gained access to users’ DMs, this breach could have a breathtaking impact, for years to come.”
Twitter declined to answer critical questions about:
- Evidence of DM access by hackers
- Current protections against unauthorized access (including by employees)
- Plans for end-to-end encryption implementation
Why This Matters for Users
While passwords appear safe, the potential DM vulnerability raises serious concerns about:
- Private communications exposure
- Corporate accountability for security promises
- Platform trustworthiness for sensitive conversations
As investigations continue, users should remain vigilant about suspicious activity and consider the limitations of Twitter’s current security measures.
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