Facebook confirmed that the earlier through figure of 50 million estimated for data breach of its users was not accurate. The social media platform put the estimate at 30 million in what is being identified as one of the worst security breaches for the company.
However, the company also confirmed that sensitive personal information of at least half of the accounts that were breached had been stolen by hackers and acknowledged that this could put the users at serious risk because the stolen data included phone number and email address, some of the most recent searches on Facebook, location history and the device types that the users made use of to access the social media platform.
Facebook disclosed that the attach had taken place last month.
Among the other data that were stolen by the hackers – from about 14 million of Facebook users, included the last 10 places that Facebook user checked into, the current location in terms of city and the last 15 searches that they had made. For the rest of users who data was breached, the hackers managed to lay hands on the users’ name and contact details, said Facebook. Thge attackers did not manage to take any information of about 1 million users whose accounts had also been hacked. However, the largest social media company assured that no financial details of the users were compromised including credit-card numbers of the users.
While no real motive behind the attack was ascertained by Facebook, it assured that there it found no trace of evidence that could link the hack to the forthcoming mid-term elections in the United States in November.
Users of Facebook can confirm whether their data had been stolen by visiting the Help Center of the platform. The company said that those users who data have been hacked out would be advised by Facebook about how to protect themselves from suspicious emails and a host of other threats which they might face because of the stolen data.
Facebook has so far found no evidence that the attackers gad attempted to use the stolen data for nefarious activities nor of such data being put up on the dark web.
Facebook warned that those users whose data gas been breached should be cautious about unwanted phone calls, text messages or emails from sources that they do not know and any attempts to make use of their email address and phone number to send spam messages or attempts to phish for other information. The company also warned the users about any messages or emails being circulated to be have been sent Facebook, the company said.
According to Facebookm no third-party apps and Facebook apps such as Instagram and WhatsApp were breached. While messages received or exchanged by Facebook page administrators may have been accessed by hackers, Facebook confirmed that to getting access any private messages had not been possible for the hackers.
(Source:www.usatoday.com)
However, the company also confirmed that sensitive personal information of at least half of the accounts that were breached had been stolen by hackers and acknowledged that this could put the users at serious risk because the stolen data included phone number and email address, some of the most recent searches on Facebook, location history and the device types that the users made use of to access the social media platform.
Facebook disclosed that the attach had taken place last month.
Among the other data that were stolen by the hackers – from about 14 million of Facebook users, included the last 10 places that Facebook user checked into, the current location in terms of city and the last 15 searches that they had made. For the rest of users who data was breached, the hackers managed to lay hands on the users’ name and contact details, said Facebook. Thge attackers did not manage to take any information of about 1 million users whose accounts had also been hacked. However, the largest social media company assured that no financial details of the users were compromised including credit-card numbers of the users.
While no real motive behind the attack was ascertained by Facebook, it assured that there it found no trace of evidence that could link the hack to the forthcoming mid-term elections in the United States in November.
Users of Facebook can confirm whether their data had been stolen by visiting the Help Center of the platform. The company said that those users who data have been hacked out would be advised by Facebook about how to protect themselves from suspicious emails and a host of other threats which they might face because of the stolen data.
Facebook has so far found no evidence that the attackers gad attempted to use the stolen data for nefarious activities nor of such data being put up on the dark web.
Facebook warned that those users whose data gas been breached should be cautious about unwanted phone calls, text messages or emails from sources that they do not know and any attempts to make use of their email address and phone number to send spam messages or attempts to phish for other information. The company also warned the users about any messages or emails being circulated to be have been sent Facebook, the company said.
According to Facebookm no third-party apps and Facebook apps such as Instagram and WhatsApp were breached. While messages received or exchanged by Facebook page administrators may have been accessed by hackers, Facebook confirmed that to getting access any private messages had not been possible for the hackers.
(Source:www.usatoday.com)
