LinkedIn stated that it had a data breach that compromised the passwords of some of the social network’s members. LinkedIn sent emails to members whose passwords were affected, explaining how to reset them since they were no longer valid on the site. Some security experts who examined the files containing the LinkedIn passwords said the company had failed to use best practices for protecting the data.
LinkedIn has more than 161 million members worldwide. 61% of its membership is located outside the United States. It is believed that the attackers had been inside LinkedIn’s network for at least several days, based on an analysis of the type of information stolen and quantity of data posted on forums.
The breach is the latest in a string of high-profile hacks affecting companies and governments around the world, which have put the personal information of millions at risk.
Source: Livemint.com
