Tea app suffers breach, exposing hundreds of consumer photos

Tea, an app that claims to assist ladies “make sure that your date is protected, not a catfish and never in a relationship,” is experiencing a safety breach. 404 Media reports {that a} database posted on 4chan allowed anybody to entry customers’ information. (It is since been eliminated.) The dataset included hundreds of photos, together with driver’s licenses.

4chan customers claimed the information got here from an uncovered database hosted on Firebase, Google’s app improvement platform. 404 Media verified that the uncovered storage bucket URL matches one present in Tea’s Android app.

The corporate confirmed the breach. In a press release to 404 Media, Tea mentioned it “recognized unauthorized entry to one in every of our programs and instantly launched a full investigation to evaluate the scope and affect.” The corporate acknowledged that the uncovered data included information from over two years in the past. It included 72,000 photos, together with selfies, photograph IDs and photos from app posts and DMs.

“This information was initially saved in compliance with legislation enforcement necessities associated to cyber-bullying prevention,” Tea mentioned. “We now have engaged third-party cybersecurity consultants and are working across the clock to safe our programs. Right now, there isn’t a proof to recommend that present or further consumer information was affected. Defending our customers’ privateness and information is our highest precedence. We’re taking each needed step to make sure the safety of our platform and forestall additional publicity.”

The app permits customers to submit pictures of “red-flag” males. “Already swiping for dates on Tinder, Bumble, Match or Hinge?” the app’s Play Retailer pitch reads. “Tea is a must have app, serving to ladies keep away from crimson flags earlier than the primary date with courting recommendation and displaying them who’s actually behind the profile of the particular person they’re courting.”

Its Play Retailer itemizing highlights a reverse telephone quantity lookup. It has sections for males’s actual names, ages, addresses, social profiles and relationship statuses. Different options embrace a reverse picture search and background checks to assist ladies “get the tea in your date.” Customers can ballot others about whether or not they need to date new matches.

The app requires new customers to submit a verification selfie and a photograph of their government-issued ID. Tea informed 404 Media that it makes use of this to confirm that new signups are certainly ladies.

The timing of the breach coincided with the app’s surge in recognition. According to Enterprise Insider, Tea hit the highest of Apple’s App Retailer this week. The app first launched in 2023.