Private messages from share Twitch users were temporarily downloadable

Twitch has announced that “a small percentage” of users were subject to a glitch that allowed unauthorized users to download their private message history. Twitch has set up a website where users can check if they are engaged.

Twitch’s Messages feature has been out of use since May of this year because the technology is said to be obsolete. The website is working on “new ways to connect with others on Twitch,” according to the Messages page. Until November 1, users can download an archive of their entire chat history. Due to a bug, some of those archives would have included the chats of other users.

Twitch tells Polygon, among others, that it has notified affected users and that they will see which messages may have fallen into the wrong hands. The site also says it has “taken steps to prevent this from happening again.” It is not stated exactly how long the site has let the data leak.

The biggest danger that probably threatens here is that users’ address details fall into the wrong hands. Twitch streamers regularly participate in raffles where they give away prizes to viewers, but they have to let them know where the package should be sent. Via twitch.tv/messages/archive, the site will let you know if a user has been affected.