eBay tells users to change passwords after 'cyber attack'

The cyber attacks compromised the 233million users’ password, names, email addresses, phone numbers, and dates of birth.

13:45 22 May 2014

Online auction site eBay has instructed its 233million users to immediately change their password following a “cyber attack” that compromised a database of account information. The company admitted that the hackers have stolen users’ names, email addresses, home addresses, phone numbers and dates of birth. However, eBay gave an assurance that no financial information was accessed as these are stored separately in an encrypted format. 

 

In a statement, the company said: "The database, which was compromised between late February and early March, included eBay customers’ name, encrypted password, email address, physical address, phone number and date of birth.”

 

"However, the database did not contain financial information or other confidential personal information.

 

"Information security and customer data protection are of paramount importance to eBay Inc., and eBay regrets any inconvenience or concern that this password reset may cause our customers. We know our customers trust us with their information, and we take seriously our commitment to maintaining a safe, secure and trusted global marketplace.

 

"We believe we have shut down unauthorized access to our site and have put additional measures in place to enhance our security."