Google says ISP glitch exposes Gmail data in Kuwait

A glitch with an ISP in Kuwait has allowed at least one Gmail user to access other peoples' Gmail accounts, Google said on Wednesday.

A Gmail user in Kuwait reported to CNET News.com over the weekend that he had been having trouble for most of the day logging into his account. More troubling though, he was able to see other people's private information, including scores of personal e-mail messages, "keycodes for some embassy gate" as well as user names and passwords, Abdulaziz Al-Shalabi wrote to CNET News.com. "Most likely, other strangers are taking a look at my own personal stuff as I type this."

He said he had inadvertently logged into more than 30 other accounts and supplied about two dozen screen shots as proof. Al-Shalabi said the problem was fixed by Wednesday.

An ISP in Kuwait is having a caching problem on its servers that is affecting Gmail users there, as well as eBay accounts, said Google spokesman Jason Freidenfelds. Google has contacted the ISP and is supplying a workaround for Gmail, he said. Freidenfelds said he did not know which ISP it was or how widespread.

An eBay spokeswoman did not immediately return a phone call seeking comment.

I'll be updating the story as I get more information.