MEO
MediumIn 2020, MEO faced a data breach exposing sensitive consumer information, discovered in 2023.
- Records exposed
- 8,227 records
- Breach date
- Breach Dec 24, 2020
- Last update
- Updated Apr 24, 2023
What data was exposed?
Fields reported as compromised in this breach record.
Why does this breach matter?
In-depth analysis of the breach and its implications.
In December 2020, the New Zealand-based face mask company MEO experienced a data breach compromising 8,227 customer records. This dataset, which included sensitive consumer information such as names, email addresses, passwords (stored as MD5 WordPress hashes), phone numbers, physical addresses, purchases, and usernames, was subsequently discovered in 2023. Despite multiple attempts to report this breach, the company did not respond.
Impact Analysis
Understanding the scope and consequences of this breach.
- User Impact
- Individuals' personal and authentication data was exposed, potentially leading to identity theft and unauthorized access.
- Business Impact
- MEO's reputational damage and lack of response to the incident suggest operational oversight in handling cybersecurity.
- Affected Sectors
- Healthcare
- E-commerce
- Geographic Impact
- New Zealand
- Global
What You Should Do
Recommended actions to take in response to this breach.
If You Were Affected
- •Change passwords associated with the compromised email address.
- •Monitor accounts for unauthorized activity.
- •Enable additional security measures such as two-factor authentication.
Preventive Measures
- •Use strong and unique passwords across services.
- •Implement secure storage methods such as hashing with algorithms like bcrypt.
- •Ensure companies have clear public communication channels for security incidents.
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about this breach and what it means for you.