The non-public information of tens of hundreds of customers of woman-only courting security app Tea has been leaked, together with passports, selfies, and driver’s licenses.
Based in 2023, Tea allowed ladies to alternate details about males of their space within the pursuits of security. The app has had an upsurge in reputation as of late and reached the highest of the App Retailer rating this week. It not too long ago claimed to have over 4 million customers worldwide. The app has obtained reward from some quarters, but additionally criticism from commentators who consider it might be used maliciously.
In response to a report by 404 Media, customers on the notorious nameless imageboard 4chan posted hyperlinks to an uncovered cloud database hosted on Google’s cell app improvement platform, Firebase. Customers allegedly then searched by way of the illicit information, posting customers’ selfies and identities. In a single screencap captured by 404 Media, one consumer claimed to have downloaded over 3,000 photos.
(Credit score: Tea Relationship Recommendation)
In an official assertion, Tea confirmed that roughly 72,000 photos had been uncovered. This included 13,000 selfies and items of picture ID submitted for account verification, in addition to 59,000 photos from customers’ posts, feedback, and direct messages. The app clarified that the impacted information was from two years in the past, so latest sign-ups to the app could not have been impacted. No telephone numbers or e-mail addresses are thought to have been compromised.
(Credit score: 404 Media)
The customers on 4chan allegedly stated the consumer information was saved on what is named a “public bucket,” a storage container whose contents are accessible with out requiring authentication or authorization. 404 Media claims that the bucket that was linked by 4chan customers was the identical storage bucket they uncovered within the app’s supply code, although Tea has not formally addressed these claims.
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“We now have engaged third-party cybersecurity specialists and are working across the clock to safe our techniques,” the corporate stated. “Presently, we have now carried out further safety measures and have fastened the info problem.”
The notorious imageboard has been implicated in quite a few excessive profile examples of hacked private info being leaked to the general public over the a long time. Approach again in 2014, it hosted photos of a number of Hollywood celebrities on account of what gave the impression to be a serious safety bug in Apple’s iCloud. The web site suffered a serious hack of its personal earlier this yr, going offline for 2 weeks on account of a “catastrophic” cyberattack that uncovered its supply code.
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About Will McCurdy
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I’m a reporter overlaying weekend information. Earlier than becoming a member of PCMag in 2024, I picked up bylines in BBC Information, The Guardian, The Instances of London, The Each day Beast, Vice, Slate, Quick Firm, The Night Commonplace, The i, TechRadar, and Decrypt Media.
I’ve been a PC gamer because you needed to set up video games from a number of CD-ROMs by hand. As a reporter, I’m passionate concerning the intersection of tech and human lives. I’ve lined all the things from crypto scandals to the artwork world, in addition to conspiracy theories, UK politics, and Russia and international affairs.
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