Britons share their Houseparty horror stories about uninvited guests crashing their video chats – as privacy campaigners warn of genuine threat of intruders accessing personal spaces
- Houseparty app has seen huge success as UK enters its seventh day of lockdown
- Users create open chat rooms in app where people can drop in on their contacts
- Because of this, some users reported unwanted callers checking in uninvited
- Privacy warned people to take precautions to ensure their privacy is protected
By Jemma Carr and Rory Tingle For Mailonline
: : 38 BST, (March) :
Britons have shared their Houseparty horror stories about uninvited guests logging into their video chats, as privacy campaigners warned users to take precautions to protect against intruders.
Houseparty allows users to create open chat rooms where people can drop in on their phone book,
Twitter user Edan Simpson wrote: ‘Today, whilst having a beer in the bath, I was on Houseparty with a friend and her boss literally entered our chat as I was naked and drunk to say ‘HI THERE’ then leave and I’m still computing it. ‘
Other Houseparty users said they had received notifications from their exes inviting them to connect while another, Jack Soden, complained about an ‘uninvited random’ in one of his chats ‘who’s not taking the hints’ .
Users of hugely-popular video call app Houseparty have flocked to social media to share their horror stories of unwanted callers ‘dropping in’ to private chats
Houseparty allows users to create open chat rooms where people can drop in on their phone book, Snapchat or Facebook contacts’ calls, unless the chatroom is’ locked ‘by one of the participants Houseparty has seen huge success as much of the world remains under strict isolation to slow the spread of coronavirus, including in Britain where people are only allowed to leave their homes for one daily exercise session, vital goods or medical attention. How to keep your Houseparty chats private
When you start a chat, click on the padlock at the bottom of the screen to ensure uninvited guests cannot enter.
You can read the app’s privacy police here , which gives information about privacy settings.
The document also includes an email address if you have any further privacy questions.
The app allows anyone to join a chatroom without permission if they are friends with one of the people on the group .
Campaigning charity Internet Matters warned this could threaten youngsters by allowing other users to enter their private chats. It warned parents to make their children aware of the importance of ‘locking’ their chats to stay safe.
The charity also warned that despite a age rating it It is easy for younger users to sign up due to the lack of an effective age verification process.
‘Some of the language and images Houseparty uses may be impressionable to very young children, particularly those that are vulnerable , ‘it advised. ‘It’s important to monitor what your child is using the app for and who they are communicating with.’
Several Houseparty users have complained on Twitter about people coming into their chats invited.
Seyi Akiwowo said: ‘Yesterday a guy’s ex came into our Houseparty chat and locked the room. It was MAD ‘
Meanwhile, Rosie Collins dropped into her friend Erin’s chat with her mother and shared the resulting screenshot .
Rosie Collins dropped into her friend Erin’s chat with her mother and shared the resulting screenshot
It came as privacy specialists at Farrer & Co – the firm used by the Queen – publicly issued guidance that hackers and criminals can exploit flaws in Houseparty’s systems to access highly sensitive data.
Farrer associate Thomas Rudkin said people should consider using safer encrypted platforms such as Facetime and WhatsApp – though all have risks.
‘With video conferencing apps, there are also always concerns about how hackers and criminals might exploit them,’ said Mr Rudkin.
‘While Houseparty has extensive restrictions on who can join chats, risks may arise due to people making contacts on Facebook and then being asked to connect with them on Houseparty.
‘Houseparty (like many US tech platforms) has extensive data collection rights in its privacy policy, to include “information submitted via the services”. ‘
Another Twitter user complained about ‘uninvited randoms’ dropping into his Houseparty conversations
However, other security experts have reassured users the app is safe.
Cybersecurity and privacy researcher Lukas Stefanko told Forbes : ‘I analysed the app’s permissions usage and since the app provides video chats with your friends it is logical that requested permissions are necessary.
‘I haven’t found any shady misusing of them by the app.
‘The app does not provide a lot of in-app options and settings, which creates less scenarios for exploiting security issues.’
MailOnline has contacted Houseparty for comment.
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