Google+ is no more after being shut down by Google following hundreds of thousands of users’ data being exposed.
The breach happened back in the spring, but Google chose not to reveal this to users according to the Wall Street Journal.
As part of its response to the news, the world’s most popular search engine announced new data privacy measures that include permanently shutting down all consumer functionality of Google+.
This puts the final nail in the coffin of a product that was supposed to challenge Facebook, though social media users won’t be too upset at the loss as it was widely seen as being the company’s biggest failure. Seriously, if you actually had and used a Google+ account, we’d love to hear from you!
The failed attempt at social networking has long been a thorn in the otherwise successful search engine’s side with everyone from online influencers to casual social networkers complaining about its functionality and how the service was forced on creators once Google took over YouTube.
A software glitch gave potential access to private Google+ profile data between 2015 and March this year. This is, of course, a very serious issue, so jokes about Google+ aside, if you were someone who had a profile, do make sure you’ve updated passwords and checked that none of your sensitive information has been compromised.
You might not be able to find us on Google+, but you can follow our adventures on Twitter, Facebook and Linkedin.
For more information on how we can help you with your social media presence, click here.