Breach, Compliance Management, Threat Management, Data Security, Network Security, Privacy

Unclassified: Hackers steal Gumtree Australia customer data in breach of classifieds website

Online classifieds website Gumtree Australia alerted customers on Friday of a data breach after hackers stole their personally identifiable information last weekend.

According to a report in the Sydney Morning Herald, Gumtree, a subsidiary of eBay, sent customers an email notification warning that “The attackers accessed your email address. Contact names and phone numbers, which are made publicly available on the site if provided, were also accessed.”

Users' account passwords are not in danger, the company asserted. Gumtree also advised customers to be wary of fake emails and phishing scams that might utilize the stolen information in order to trick customers into thinking the communication is legitimate.

The report did not state how many customers have been affected. Australian federal authorities are now investigating.

Bradley Barth

As director of multimedia content strategy at CyberRisk Alliance, Bradley Barth develops content for online conferences, webcasts, podcasts video/multimedia projects — often serving as moderator or host. For nearly six years, he wrote and reported for SC Media as deputy editor and, before that, senior reporter. He was previously a program executive with the tech-focused PR firm Voxus. Past journalistic experience includes stints as business editor at Executive Technology, a staff writer at New York Sportscene and a freelance journalist covering travel and entertainment. In his spare time, Bradley also writes screenplays.

Get daily email updates

SC Media's daily must-read of the most current and pressing daily news

By clicking the Subscribe button below, you agree to SC Media Terms and Conditions and Privacy Policy.