Google+ to shut down

Search engine and tech giant Google announced it will be shutting down its unpopular social media service, Google+, after a data breach was highlighted during a security audit back in March, 2018.

The bug allowed for 438 outside developers to access 1/2 million Google+ users’ private data, such as full names, email addresses, pictures, profile info, bird dates and location. Rather than coming publicly about it, Google immediately tried to upload a patch to fix the bug and kept it under wraps for “fear of a regulatory backlash,” according to VICE news.

No abuse of users’ data by the developers has been found and/or reported, which is great news for those who hold Google+ accounts. Google said the shutdown will be a "wind-down" which is set to end in August, 2019.