eBay Recommends Users Change Passwords in Wake of Data Breach

Popular Online Auction Site Acknowledges Passwords and Other Information Compromised

eBay is encouraging its customers to change their passwords, after admitting it suffered a data breach in late February. 

In a post on its website, the online giant says it has no knowledge of users’ financial information having been stolen or misused, despite the theft of names, addresses, phone numbers, telephone numbers and birth dates.  Unlike basic user information, financial information is encrypted.

The company says it discovered the breach two weeks ago.  While eBay has an estimated 145 million users, it did not disclose how many were affected by the breach.  eBay says there is no evidence that its subsidiary online payment system, PayPal, had been hacked.

This is only the latest in a series of high-profile attacks that hit retailers Target, Nieman Marcus and others, as well as AOL last month.

Better Business Bureau recommends eBay customers not only change their eBay passwords, but ensure they don’t use the same password for other sites as well. 

You can find additional tips on ID theft protection, scams and how to protect yourself from them at http://www.bbb.org/connecticut.

-By Howard Schwartz, Executive Communications Director, Connecticut Better Business Bureau

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