Slick, the Bengaluru-based social app aimed at teens and college students, has a documented history of data safety concerns. In February 2023, a security researcher found an exposed database containing the personal information of more than 150,000 users, including names, phone numbers, birth dates, and profile pictures, left unprotected online.
Key Takeaways
- A researcher found Slick’s database exposed online without a password in early 2023.
- TechCrunch counted more than 153,000 users, and other outlets reported about 150,000.
- The data included names, phone numbers, birth dates and profile pictures, and covered minors.
- Slick’s founder said the company fixed the exposure.
- Parents should review privacy settings on any social app.
What Happened With Slick’s Data Exposure
Slick launched in late 2022 as a social app letting users connect with friends and create anonymous compliment pools. Additionally, in early 2023, researchers discovered that a database tied to the app was left accessible without a password, exposing user records that included minors’ personal information. Consequently, this incident drew coverage from multiple technology and privacy outlets due to the sensitivity of the exposed data.
How the Company Responded
Public reporting at the time noted that Slick had not clearly detailed the full extent of the breach or the specific steps taken to prevent similar incidents going forward. Therefore, users considering the app should look for the company’s current privacy policy and any public statements about security improvements before deciding whether to use it.
Why This Matters, Especially for Younger Users
Since Slick’s user base includes teenagers, an exposed database containing names, birth dates, and photos of minors is a more serious concern than a typical data leak involving adult users only. Furthermore, parents and younger users should weigh this documented history carefully before creating an account.
General Safety Tips for Social Apps Like Slick
Avoid entering more personal information than necessary during sign-up, use a unique password not shared with other accounts, and review the app’s current privacy settings to limit what’s publicly visible. In contrast, treating any app with a documented data exposure history the same as one with a clean record isn’t a cautious approach.
Checking an App’s Current Safety Standing
Before installing any social app, it’s worth searching for recent news about the developer, checking app store reviews for repeated complaints, and reviewing what permissions the app requests during installation, since these signals can reveal ongoing issues beyond a single past incident.
What Parents Should Know About Youth-Focused Social Apps
Apps aimed at teenagers, like Slick, often collect more sensitive information than typical adult-focused platforms, including school affiliations and social connections, which raises the stakes when a security incident occurs. Consequently, parents should review any app’s privacy policy and account settings alongside their teen before allowing sign-up, rather than relying solely on age-based app store ratings.
How to Monitor for Future Issues
Setting up a Google Alert or periodically searching an app’s name alongside terms like “data breach” or “security” can help you stay informed about new incidents after your initial research. Furthermore, following technology news outlets that cover Indian startups can surface future coverage of an app’s security practices before problems become widespread.
Ultimately, no app is completely risk-free, so building good digital hygiene habits, like using unique passwords and reviewing app permissions, matters as much as the app’s own security track record.
If you or your teen ever suspect an account has been compromised, changing the password immediately and reviewing connected devices or sessions is a reasonable first response.
The Slick Data Exposure at a Glance
| Detail | What was reported |
|---|---|
| App | Slick, a Bengaluru-based social app aimed at teens and students |
| Issue | Database left online without a password |
| Users affected | About 150,000 to 153,000, depending on the source |
| Data exposed | Full names, mobile numbers, birth dates, profile pictures |
| Found by | Security researcher Anurag Sen, who alerted CERT-In |
| Company response | Database secured after TechCrunch contacted the founder |
What Parents and Users Can Do
It is unknown whether anyone else accessed the data before it was secured. Therefore, treat the exposed details as public. Change any password reused elsewhere. Additionally, tell teenagers not to share phone numbers or birth dates in public profiles. Review an app’s privacy settings and delete the account if you stop using it. You can report security problems to CERT-In.
Official Sources and Further Reading
Read the original reporting and report security issues: CERT-In, TechCrunch. TechJBS is independent and not affiliated with these organizations.
Frequently Asked Questions
Was user data actually leaked from Slick?
Yes. In February 2023, researchers found an unprotected database exposing personal information belonging to more than 150,000 Slick users, including minors.
Is Slick still available to download?
Availability can change over time, so check current app store listings and recent reviews for the most up-to-date status before downloading.
Should minors use social apps like Slick?
Given the documented data exposure involving minors’ information, parents should carefully review an app’s current safety track record before allowing younger users to sign up.
What should I do if my data was part of a leak like this?
Change your password on the affected app and any accounts using the same password, monitor for suspicious activity, and consider limiting personal details shared on similar apps going forward.
Was Slick hacked?
Reports describe an exposed database rather than a confirmed hack. It sat online without a password until the company secured it.
What should I do if my child used Slick?
Review the profile information, remove sensitive details, and delete the account if it is no longer used. Talk to your child about sharing personal data.
Is Slick safe today?
We cannot verify the app’s current security. Check the latest reviews and privacy policy, and share minimal personal information.
Looking for more app safety information? Browse our App Reviews section, check our Navi app safety review, or read Fix & Support articles.
