Careem, popular ride hailing service, just announced that all of its customers’ data was hacked. The information comes after almost four months of the actual hack, which the company says happened on January 14, 2018.
In a ‘security information’ update the company said that almost 14 million customers in all regions were affected by the data breach
Dear Customers, we have identified a cyber incident that took place in January 2018 involving unauthorized access to the system we use to store data. Our wider security protocol keep passwords encrypted and credit card details on a separate system. pic.twitter.com/rkcpf671ct
— Careem (@careem) April 23, 2018
“On January 14th of this year, we became aware that online criminals gained access to our computer systems which hold customer and captain account data. Customers and captains who have signed up with us since that date are not affected”, wrote the company in its official statement.
The hack included customers’ phone numbers, names, email addresses and location data, according to the company
Our priority has been to protect the data and privacy of our Customers and Captains. Since the discovery, we've worked to understand what happened, who was affected, and what was needed to strengthen our network. We wanted to ensure we had the most accurate information first.
— Careem (@careem) April 23, 2018
According to the company passwords and credit card information was not affected by the hack because as per their security protocols, “your password is encrypted and your credit card details are stored on a separate system”.
So, if you’re affected by the hack (which you most likely are), here’s what you can do to protect yourself
According to Careem, customers can take certain precautionary measures in order to ensure their safety. The company says it is working with cybersecurity experts to ensure safety of customers’ data but additionally customers can take some precautionary measures that include the following:
- Implement good password management by updating your Careem password, as well as other accounts on which you use similar details. Use a strong mix of characters, and try not to use the same password for multiple sites.
- Remain cautious of any unsolicited communications that ask for personal information or refer to a web page asking for personal information
- Avoid clicking on links or downloading attachments from unfamiliar emails
- Continue to review bank account and credit card statements for suspicious activity – if you see anything unexpected, call your bank.
So this means that while your credit card information isn’t hacked, as per the company, there still is a chance that it may be compromised so you need to be vigilant.
In the statement the company apologized to its customers for being unable to ensure their security and vowed to continue to strengthen its security measures
Careem is headquartered in Dubai with operations in around 80 cities in 13 countries in the Middle East, North Africa, and South Asia.
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Cover image via: reuters.com