On January 18, 2023, PayPal announced that it had suffered a data breach that exposed the personal information of 34,942 users. The breach was caused by a credential stuffing attack, in which hackers used stolen login credentials from other websites to try to access PayPal accounts. The hackers were successful in accessing the accounts of 34,942 users, who had their names, addresses, Social Security numbers, and other personal information exposed.
What is a Credential Stuffing Attack?
A credential stuffing attack is a type of cyberattack in which hackers use stolen login credentials from other websites to try to access other accounts. Hackers often obtain stolen login credentials from data breaches that occur on other websites. Once they have obtained the stolen login credentials, they can use them to try to access accounts on other websites, such as PayPal.
How Did the PayPal Data Breach Happen?
The PayPal data breach was caused by a credential stuffing attack. Hackers used stolen login credentials from other websites to try to access PayPal accounts. The hackers were successful in accessing the accounts of 34,942 users, who had their names, addresses, Social Security numbers, and other personal information exposed.
What Information Was Exposed in the PayPal Data Breach?
The personal information that was exposed in the PayPal data breach includes:
Names
Addresses
Social Security numbers
Individual tax identification numbers
Dates of birth
What Can You Do If Your Information Was Exposed in the PayPal Data Breach?
If your information was exposed in the PayPal data breach, there are a few things you can do to protect yourself:
Place a fraud alert on your credit report.
Monitor your credit report for any unauthorized activity.
Change your passwords for all of your online accounts.
Be careful about what information you share online.
What Is PayPal Doing to Protect Users?
PayPal has taken steps to secure the affected accounts and is offering two years of free identity monitoring to affected customers. PayPal is also working with law enforcement to investigate the breach.
Conclusion
The PayPal data breach is a reminder that no online account is completely secure. It is important to take steps to protect your personal information, such as using strong passwords and being careful about what information you share online. If you believe that your information may have been exposed in a data breach, you should take steps to protect yourself, such as placing a fraud alert on your credit report and monitoring your credit report for any unauthorized activity.
