By — Joshua Barajas Joshua Barajas Leave your feedback Share Copy URL https://www.pbs.org/newshour/nation/hackers-stole-data-1-billion-yahoo-accounts Email Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Pinterest Tumblr Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Hackers stole data from 1 billion Yahoo accounts Nation Dec 14, 2016 5:47 PM EDT Hackers stole user data from more than one billion Yahoo accounts, the company confirmed Wednesday. Yahoo said an “unauthorized third party” hacked these accounts in August 2013 and is “likely distinct” from the hack the company disclosed back in September that affected 500 million accounts. That said, Yahoo believes the two separate hacks could have perpetrated by the same actor. “The company has connected some of this activity to the same state-sponsored actor believed to be responsible for the data theft the company disclosed on September 22, 2016,” Yahoo spokesperson Suzanne Philion said in a statement announcing the hack. Yahoo said the security breach may have included names, email addresses, telephone numbers, dates of birth, hashed passwords and, possibly, encrypted or unencrypted security questions and answers. The company added that it didn’t believe bank account information or payment card data were compromised in the hack. Yahoo said it was also notifying affected users to better secure their accounts by changing their passwords. WATCH: Hacking researchers kill a car engine on the highway to send a message to automakers A free press is a cornerstone of a healthy democracy. Support trusted journalism and civil dialogue. Donate now By — Joshua Barajas Joshua Barajas Joshua Barajas is a senior editor for the PBS NewsHour's Communities Initiative. He's also the senior editor and manager of newsletters. @Josh_Barrage
Hackers stole user data from more than one billion Yahoo accounts, the company confirmed Wednesday. Yahoo said an “unauthorized third party” hacked these accounts in August 2013 and is “likely distinct” from the hack the company disclosed back in September that affected 500 million accounts. That said, Yahoo believes the two separate hacks could have perpetrated by the same actor. “The company has connected some of this activity to the same state-sponsored actor believed to be responsible for the data theft the company disclosed on September 22, 2016,” Yahoo spokesperson Suzanne Philion said in a statement announcing the hack. Yahoo said the security breach may have included names, email addresses, telephone numbers, dates of birth, hashed passwords and, possibly, encrypted or unencrypted security questions and answers. The company added that it didn’t believe bank account information or payment card data were compromised in the hack. Yahoo said it was also notifying affected users to better secure their accounts by changing their passwords. WATCH: Hacking researchers kill a car engine on the highway to send a message to automakers A free press is a cornerstone of a healthy democracy. Support trusted journalism and civil dialogue. Donate now