Ebay urges users to change passwords after hack attack

May 22, 2014 | E-commerce and E-retailing, Regulation

Ebay has asked its users to alter their passwords following a cyberattack that compromised the online marketplace’s database. The database, which was compromised between late February and early March, included eBay customers’ names, encrypted password, email address, physical addresses, phone numbers and dates of birth. However, the company says extensive tests carried out on its […]

Ebay has asked its users to alter their passwords following a cyberattack that compromised the online marketplace’s database.


The database, which was compromised between late February and early March, included eBay customers’ names, encrypted password, email address, physical addresses, phone numbers and dates of birth.
However, the company says extensive tests carried out on its networks confirmed the breach had not resulted in any unauthorised activity for its users or compromise of their financial data.
Ebay said it was “best practice” for users to change their passwords as it would “help enhance security for eBay users”.
The company owns PayPal added it has seen no evidence of unauthorised access or compromises to personal or financial information for PayPal users as the data is stored on a separate, encrypted network.
EBay users are expected to be notified via email later today to change their passwords.
In a statement on its PayPal Forward site, the company says that “extensive forensic research has shown no evidence of unauthorised access or compromise to personal or financial information for PayPal customers.”
Despite this, it has also recommended users who use the same password on other sites to change them as well.
Read the official announcement here