6 May 2010

Facebook glitch exposes chat messages

9:15 am on 6 May 2010

Facebook temporarily shut down its online chat feature after a software glitch let people's friends in the online community see each others' private chat messages.

In a message posted on its website Facebook said the chat feature was unavailable as it worked to fix a bug.

To look at the usually walled of information Facebook users had to manipulate a "preview my profile" feature in a particular way, according to Facebook.

It said it fixed that issue and took down the chat feature as soon as it became aware of the problem.