A spokesperson for Tea confirmed a significant data breach to Reuters on Saturday, revealing that unauthorized access to their systems had occurred. This breach has resulted in the exposure of approximately 72,000 images, which include personal content such as 13,000 selfies and photo identifications submitted for account verification purposes. Additionally, around 59,000 images from posts, comments, and direct messages were compromised.
In light of this incident, Tea has engaged third-party cybersecurity experts to assist in addressing the breach. The company stated, “We are working around the clock to secure our systems.” Fortunately, the spokesperson emphasized that no emails or phone numbers were compromised during this breach. It's important to note that only users who signed up before February 2024 are believed to be affected.
The Tea app is designed with a mission to ensure that women never have to compromise their safety while dating. The platform allows women to share their experiences and insights about potential partners in a manner reminiscent of Yelp-style reviews. Users go through a verification process before they can anonymously share information regarding men they are interested in, creating a safer dating environment.
Recently, the app has witnessed a surge in popularity, announcing on Instagram that over two million users have requested to join the platform in just a few days. This rapid growth underscores the increasing demand for safer dating options, particularly among women.
As the situation evolves, Tea remains committed to ensuring the safety and security of its users. If you're concerned about your data security or the implications of this breach, stay informed and consider reviewing your account settings and privacy options.
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