This past Tuesday, Spotify announced that its systems had been hacked. As a result, one Android user’s information was compromised. Not taking any chances, the company has asked Android users to upgrade to avoid future attacks. The attack did not impact desktop, Apple, or Windows users. If you are an Android user and you also use Spotify, here’s what you need to do.

Steps to Take

Right now, you won’t be able to access or use your current Spotify app. That app has been disabled for all Android users. What you have to do now is to open and download a new app called ‘Spotify Music.’ Once that app has been opened, you must re-download any music that was part of your original app. In addition to installing and adding music to the new app, users must also get rid of the old app completely.

Since Spotify doesn’t want to take any chances with future hacks, the new app will help you get rid of the old app step by step. The fact that Spotify is taking such huge precautions tells us that the hack wasn’t a minor one. This wasn’t simply a case of one user not being careful with his or her password and other details. While Spotify still claims that the attack only impacted one user, the threat is real enough for the company to send out a brand new app for Android users to download.

A String of Attacks

eBay announced just a few days ago that the auction site had undergone attacks of its own. This recent string of attacks leads me to believe that hacks are becoming more common, and that Android users are more susceptible to these kinds of threats. Why Apple and Windows users weren’t impacted by the Spotify attack remains to be seen, but that’s the news on the case for now.

Since there are so many attacks happening lately, it’s best to consider updating all of your apps, changing passwords where necessary, and maybe changing account information when it comes to sites like eBay and other online sites that store your details (including credit card and other details that should remain under wraps). While Spotify could not do anything to prevent the aforementioned attack, this is a warning to businesses that store user details to keep that information safe.

Giving Up Your Details

A lot of apps now store personal information. My advice is to find out which apps are keeping your name, address, phone number, and credit card details on file, and figure out whether or not you want that app to store this information. Chances are that you have more than one app that you no longer use, but those apps still hold the keys to your vital details. If that’s the case, it’s time for a cleanup.

If you do have an Android device and use Spotify, it’s a good idea to download and install that new app now – you can’t use the old app anymore anyway.