Timeline Oddity Update
Update: We were testing a new application server tonight that didn't work right so we rolled it back. Lots of folks saw an error page while we were fixing the bug—which is a bummer.
Some folks experienced a more dramatic error which had them accidentally updating other people's Twitter—this is a more serious issue which crosses into the realm of security. We took this very seriously, acted quickly, and learned from our mistake.
We hope our error didn't put you out too much tonight. We're pulling together the team and analyzing how we made this mistake so we can avoid this error next time.
Users have reported some oddness in their Twitter timeline in the last few minutes—specifically, they're seeing updates they don't normally see. We're tracking this and working on a fix. We'll keep you posted.
While we're working on this, you might see the "Something is technically wrong" page. Thanks for bearing with us.
Some folks experienced a more dramatic error which had them accidentally updating other people's Twitter—this is a more serious issue which crosses into the realm of security. We took this very seriously, acted quickly, and learned from our mistake.
We hope our error didn't put you out too much tonight. We're pulling together the team and analyzing how we made this mistake so we can avoid this error next time.
Users have reported some oddness in their Twitter timeline in the last few minutes—specifically, they're seeing updates they don't normally see. We're tracking this and working on a fix. We'll keep you posted.
While we're working on this, you might see the "Something is technically wrong" page. Thanks for bearing with us.
26 Comments:
I wasn't just experiencing timeline oddities. The site kept logging me into other people's accounts.
Hey. Whenever I reload a page, I'm in a random account. Here's a video:
http://s3.jeremybanks.ca/crazytwitter.mov
I think it's a little more severe than you think. =P
Hi Guys,
I'm not sure if it's specific to my account or not, but it seems it's been "compromised": http://twitter.com/brianamerige
I didn't post http://twitter.com/brianamerige/statuses/764294579or http://twitter.com/brianamerige/statuses/764294569
Thanks for posting the notice on the blog about the issue. Quick notifications of problems and status are DEFINITELY appreciated.
Ouch... that's nasty.
It seemed a little weirder than just people "accidentally" posting to the wrong accounts. My friend's Twitter stream had a post about penis size that was definitely not from the account's owner!
As soon as I realized I was in someone else's account, I tried to log out. But each time I hit log out I would be randomly placed in another person's account. This happened about 5 times before I finally quit my browser and cleared my settings.
What a terrible breech of security. (Wonder if anyone was in my account tonight?)
Twitterrific was bombarding me with dozens of updates at a time, the growl notifications were covering half my screen. I figured the bug was on their end, not yours, and turned if off. I had no idea the problem was so serious. You guys might want to consider sending out an email or leaving a Tweet on everyone's page (if you can), I don't get the impression that many people check this page.
Jeremey, that video is all kinds of scary. And it really didn't seem to be just *any* account... people were getting random tweets from me left and right tonight (including one in Japanese), but no one else that I'm following appeared to be affected. Imagine driving along and your passenger checking his text messages to see five tweets from you from the past five minutes... when clearly you weren't sending them, since you were driving at the time.
Sh*t happens. I'm sure it's not easy running a site with the traffic of Twitter; good luck on the post-mortem.
So... you were testing a new server in a production environment?!? That's very cowboy of you. I think you've reached the point where you can't really afford to play fast and loose with your uptime. Your last downtime was very painful, and I'm going to seriously reconsider using twitter for some applications I've got in the pipeline if this is going to be a regular occurrence.
Among the other problems I'm now noticing is that after this issue, I've had to refollow certain people...
In my case I was having a had time adding friends..there's always an error that says I need to refresh my page.
not only was I in other people's tweets and couldn't log out, but I could go into account settings too.
NOT cool.
Is it bad when you can't unfollow someone? Way Weird.
Considering I've worked hard over the last 8 years to build my online identity, I was confused, at first, and angry thereafter to see an obscene update posted to my Twitter account. This server mistake borders on identity theft, and I hope you'll continue to take it very seriously.
Well, that explains the "TWITTER GONE CRAZY" post made after I went to bed last night.
Biz and Jack and Ev-
Would be nice for someone from Twitter to be in here answering some further questions posted here.
Especially troubling is the questions about *continued* testing of a new server in a production environment.
You guys *know* I love this place.
Thanx for your further time here.
-BarbaraKB
"So... you were testing a new server in a production environment?!? That's very cowboy of you."
I agree. That is just plain stupid. As a fellow software developer I am amazed at the frequency of very public screw ups at Twitter. I work on applications that are far less critical and visible than Twitter but if I screwed up as much as you I would be out of a job.
It is long past time for Twitter to obtain some adult supervision.
How is Twitter 'critical'?
@barbarakb try posting your questions and concerns at *get satisfaction*.
I hope that doesn't happen again...
Keep up the good work..at 3am in the morning when the phone rings, I know Twitter has it under control.
one side of the brain wants to scream, people, it's a website chatroom, relax.
the other side of the coin, is, we do have online identities and we do monitor them and take them seriously, as professional people and entrepreneurs. The "face" we present online is often one which can effect our way of earning a living, which is to say, it is something many of us take seriously.
I would say, twitter is a wonderful FREE service, That right there says a lot.
However, I would also venture that the folks at twitter mean that they learn from their mistakes, and I would venture to say that things I've seen on this page from a couple of you could have been said in a bit more understanding and tactful way.
Tone is hard to convey in CMC (http://jcmc.indiana.edu/) and it is very hard to discern the level of anger, frustration or other emotion from pure text.
we must be cognizant of this fact, and work extra hard to use wording which prevents us from sounding like assholes, when we are simply trying to convey opinion and relate concern.
all that out of the way, I think the synopsis is that management has learned that testing in a realtime setting is not a good idea and that the free service is just that, so use it at your own risk.
we should all seek some relativity in our lives if a bug on a free site on the internet is causing us to lose any sleep or become otherwise over-emotional.
Technology is prone to mishap. remember this, dearest humans, as we create a life for ourselves that is increasingly tied to technological advance. It's going to screw up, from time to time, it is an inherent and inevitable fact; it comes with the territory, be ready to have to pick up the pieces.
consider yourself to have been warned.
The timeline oddity is occurring again on my account. Other people's posts are showing up on my profile page and their's as well. Check @MightyMommy, @chrisbrogan, @loiclemeur to name just a few. This started happening after I received an unsolicted DM from ONA08.
Followers have DMed me to let me know that old posts of mine are showing up again fresh in their feeds.
@zenaweist
My last issue was a twitterfeed mess up. @Mario helped me resolve it.
Yeah, I noticed this. Wasn't sure what the problem was though. Not exactly what you'd call a teckie :)
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