Dating App Tea Exposes 72K User Images in Security Breach
▼ Summary
– Tea, an anonymous dating app for women, reported a data breach exposing 72,000 images, including 13,000 verification selfies and IDs.
– The breach affected only users who signed up before February 2024, with no emails or phone numbers compromised.
– Tea has hired cybersecurity experts, fixed the issue, and added extra security measures to protect user data.
– Hackers on 4chan allegedly shared stolen personal data and selfies from Tea after accessing an exposed database.
– The breach occurred as Tea gained viral popularity, topping Apple’s free app rankings at the time.
A popular dating app has suffered a significant security breach, exposing tens of thousands of user images in what appears to be a major privacy violation. The app in question, which allows women to anonymously review men they’ve dated, confirmed unauthorized access to approximately 72,000 photos from its platform.
According to the company’s statement, the compromised data includes 13,000 verification selfies and photo IDs alongside 59,000 images shared in posts, comments, and private messages. While sensitive details like email addresses and phone numbers reportedly remained secure, the breach still raises serious concerns about user privacy. The company clarified that only accounts created before February 2024 were impacted.
In response to the incident, the platform has brought in cybersecurity specialists to strengthen its defenses. “We’ve taken immediate action to resolve the vulnerability and enhance our security protocols,” a spokesperson said. Despite these efforts, reports indicate that some of the leaked images surfaced on online forums, with users allegedly sharing personal data obtained from an unsecured database.
Ironically, the breach occurred just as the app was gaining traction, recently topping Apple’s App Store charts. The timing highlights the growing risks associated with rapid platform growth and the importance of robust data protection measures in today’s digital landscape. Users are advised to remain cautious about the personal information they share online, particularly on newer or rapidly expanding platforms.
(Source: TechCrunch)
