Uber has just revealed that a data breach within the company occurred after a group of hackers accessed the personal data of more than 57 million accounts, as well as the names and driver's licence numbers of more than 600,000 drivers in the US. The incident took place since October 2016 which may have worried millions of riders around the world.
The stolen information included the names, mobile phone numbers and email addresses registered on the ride-sharing service's app. Uber's external forensics experts believe that there has not been "any indication that trip location history, credit card numbers, bank account numbers, Social Security numbers or dates of birth were downloaded."
Also read: Uber driver or user? Forget privacy, 57m data stolen
It took Uber a year and a month before informing the public of the data security incident the company suffered from. Nevertheless, Uber has noted that they took the necessary steps to safeguard the data, completely cut off further unauthorised access and strengthen its data security. Below are Uber's answers to some frequently asked questions:
Am I affected?
Uber has guaranteed that personal data of its users are safe and that there has been no reported misuse of their information so far. In a blog post, Uber said: "We do not believe any individual rider needs to take any action. We have seen no evidence of fraud or misuse tied to the incident. We are monitoring the affected accounts and have flagged them for additional fraud protection."
What are suspicious account activities?
If you think your account has been compromised, the following activities may be the green light for you to act:
- Trip requests on your account you didn't make
- Completed trips on your account you didn't request or take
- Phone calls or text messages from drivers about pickup when you did not request a trip
- Receipts for trips on your account that you don't recognize
- Account changes that you didn't make
- Password or email attached to your account updated without your knowledge
Should I reset my Uber account password?
Uber highly recommends resetting your Uber account password for security purposes. To do this, go to Help > I can't sign in or request a ride > I forgot my password. Continue by following given instructions on the screen to create a new and unique password.
I'm affected. How do I report?
Riders are encouraged to keep tabs on their linked credit card and other accounts for any issues. If any suspicious account activity, inform Uber via the Help Centre. To do this, go to Help > Account and Payment Options > I have an unknown charge > I think my account has been hacked.
