Tea App That Claimed to Protect Women Exposes 72,000 IDs in Epic Security Fail
The women's dating app Tea faced a significant data breach, exposing over 72,000 private images, including government IDs and selfies, due to its unsecured database. Users had uploaded these documents for verification purposes to maintain the app's integrity against fake accounts. The leaked data, totaling 59.3 GB, spread rapidly across online platforms, with some personal information mapped and made searchable. This incident undermined Tea's mission to provide a safe space for women, as their private details became widely available online. Critics highlighted issues such as 'vibe coding' — reliance on generative AI for app development without appropriate security measures, revealing the dangers of such approaches. Despite the app's previous success, hitting number one on the App Store with over 4 million users, the breach raised concerns about digital safety and personal information security. Users are advised to consider credit monitoring services in response to the breach.
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