Epic Games has decided to offer the sum of one million dollars to anyone who can prove that the Houseparty app, which it owns, has hacked the accounts of its users from other apps.
The app, which offers video chat games, has gained popularity during the lockdown. It hit 2 million downloads last week. However, with its popularity, the risks have also increased, as the app has become a target for hacking campaigns, or so the company claims.
For the past two days, rumors have been circulating that Houseparty is hacking other users' accounts. Several Twitter have claimed that their Spotify, PayPal, and other bank accounts have been compromised after downloading the Houseparty app.
User Megan Cassidy posted a tweet urging people to uninstall the app, claiming it had led to hacking of bank accounts and other services. Screenshots of the same post have been circulating on Snapchat, Instagram, and other social media platforms, according to the New Statesman.
Another user said: “BOYCOTT HOUSEPARTY, I just found out that this is how my Spotify was hacked and how many others have also had their accounts hacked, log out of Snapchat and delete the account.”
The response of Epic Games and Houseparty
Initially, Epic Games denied these claims, claiming that no developer was able to prove that the breaches on other accounts were related to the installation of Houseparty.
Yesterday, it even posted a clarifying tweet on the matter. However, the developers now believe that this is simply a misleading tactic aimed at damaging the app's image.
However, if you discover something strange after installing the app on device , you can contact bounty@houseparty.com. If it is indeed a violation, you may be able to win a lot of money.
However, whether these are unfounded rumors or not, there is no doubt that the app collects a worryingly large amount of data from its users. Furthermore, its privacy policy does not comply with the security rules established by the European Union (GDPR). So these two reasons are enough to seriously consider forcing Houseparty off your device and finding an alternative.
