eBay cyber-attack: Users urged to change passwords

eBay is urging users to change their passwords following a cyber-attack that compromised one of its databases.

The auction site said the database was hacked between late February and early March, and had contained encrypted passwords and other non-financial data.

eBay added that it had no evidence of there being unauthorized activity on its members’ accounts.

However, it said that changing the passwords was “best practice and will help enhance security for eBay users”.

The company has 128 million active users and accounted for $212 billion worth of commerce on its various marketplaces and other services in 2013.

A post on eBay’s corporate site said that cyber-attackers accessed the information after obtaining “a small number of employee log-in credentials”, allowing them to access its systems – something it only became aware of a fortnight ago.

“The database… included eBay customers’ name, encrypted password, email address, physical address, phone number and date of birth,” it said.

“However, the database did not contain financial information or other confidential personal information.

“Extensive forensics subsequently identified the compromised eBay database, resulting in the company’s announcement today.”

Although eBay also owns the PayPal money transfer service, it said that the division’s data was stored separately, encrypted and that there was no evidence that it had been accessed.

It added that any members who used the same login details used on eBay for other sites should also update them.

eBay has not provided any information about the kind of encryption it used.

One expert said there was still a concern that the hackers might be able to make use of their haul.