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Houseparty users claim app ‘has been HACKED’ – but creators deny breach – The Sun, Thesun.co.uk

Houseparty users claim app ‘has been HACKED’ – but creators deny breach – The Sun, Thesun.co.uk

RUMOURS that popular video-calling app Houseparty has been “hacked” are spreading like wildfire online – but its creators deny a breach.

The chat app has quickly become a viral hit in recent weeks, but terrified users are now deleting the app over fears Houseparty has been compromised.

 Houseparty is a wildly popular video chat app

Houseparty is a wildly popular video chat app

As the world goes into lockdown due to the coronavirus crisis, internet users have flocked to Houseparty.

The hit app lets friends and family make video calls, play games and hang out in a virtual “house party”.

However, large numbers of users on Twitter are reporting that they’ve had Spotify, PayPal and bank accounts hacked after downloading the app.

But the app’s owner Epic Games – the company behind popular games Fortnite and Gears of War – deny that a breach has taken place.

Users are claiming that Houseparty has been hacked, but There is little evidence so far

“We’ve found no evidence to suggest a link between Houseparty and the compromises of other unrelated accounts,” an Epic Games spokesperson told The Sun.

“As a general rule, we suggest all users choose strong passwords when creating online accounts on any platform.

“Use a unique password for each account, and use a password generator or password manager to keep track of passwords, rather than using passwords that are short and simple.”

Users are reporting major issues after downloading the chat app, however.

One user wrote: “BOYCOTT HOUSEPARTY, just found out that’s how my Spotify was hacked and how many others are being hacked on various things, disconnect snapchat and delete account.”

Another said: “Everyone who has the house party app I advise you to delete your account and delete the app as this is seemingly how fraud is happening and people’s emails etc are getting hacked.

“I know a lot of people will have this app.”

And one wrote: “DELETE HOUSEPARTY! My PayPal which was with the same email address has been hacked and money taken from my bank!

They added: “It’s happened to other people too.”

So has House Party been hacked?

The Houseparty app is being linked to account-hacking across multiple platforms, users say

Houseparty claims – an expert weighs in

Here’s what Javvad Malik, Security Awareness Advocate at KnowBe4, told The Sun …