Yahoo says account information stolen may include names, email addresses, phone numbers, dates of birth, passwords and identity defying questions and answers. But some security questions and answers from the accounts may have also been taken.
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The Internet giant said today a “state-sponsored” hacker broke into its systems and stole users’ personal information.
The company added that an ongoing investigation indicated that unprotected passwords, payment card data, or bank account information were not stolen. In August, a hacker called “Peace” appeared in online forums, offering to sell 200 million of the company’s usernames and passwords for about $1,900 in total.
Yahoo on Thursday confirmed a large-scale data breach in which 500 million accounts have been compromised in what it believes was a state-sponsored hack. Find NJ.com on Facebook.
Yahoo confirmed a massive data breach Thursday that compromised an estimated 500 million users’ personal details.
Blumenthal said law enforcement and regulators “should investigate whether Yahoo may have concealed its knowledge of this breach in order to artificially bolster its valuation in its pending acquisition by Verizon”. The FBI said it was aware of the matter, and the US Secret Service was not immediately available for comment. It also said that the investigators haven’t found any evidence that the hacker is now in Yahoo’s network. The breach could also impact Yahoo’s $4.8 billion sale of its core business to Verizon.
Yahoo!, one of the most popular websites in the world, says it has almost a billion active monthly users and is no stranger to security breaches. “We will evaluate as the investigation continues through the lens of overall Verizon interests, including consumers, customers, shareholders and related communities”, the company said in a statement.
Yahoo encouraged users to review their accounts for suspicious activity, and change passwords and security questions.
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The latter is not out of the realms of possibility, and could happen if users shun Yahoo or file lawsuits against the company.
