Explore the latest news and trends  

Sign up for our weekly security newsletter


Be the first to receive important updates on security





Send

One Planet York App Users of the Council were Hacked affecting around 6,000 Residents

In recent times, a major breach occurred in City of York Council when an app (i.e. One Planet York) of the council was hacked by a cyber criminal. Personal details of around 6,000 residents were possibly got stolen due to the hack. The One Planet York app has been hacked by somebody who found the way to access the phone numbers, addresses and encrypted passwords of the residents who are using it. This app allowed the users to check the bin collection dates as well as recycling advice.

 

York Council said by writing a letter to the app users that it "deeply regrets" this breach. In the letter, it was further mentioned that this hacking matter was reported to the North Yorkshire Police. The letter of the council to the app users reads: "we value your privacy and deeply regret this incident occurred. We have conducted a thorough review of the One Planet York app, we have deleted all links with the app and as a result, will no longer support it going forward".

 

The council further said in the letter that "we have deleted it from our website and asked for it to be removed from the app stores and ask that you now delete it from your device".

 

BBC has been told by a council spokesman that personal data records of around 6,000 residents were stored in the app, which possibly might have been breached. York Council said that a hacker has contacted them on November 1, 2018, and said that a way was found by them to access data of people who are using the app. However, the council said that they cannot say for sure what the person who was responsible for this had done with this data.

 

Deputy Chief Executive of the council, Ian Floyd, said that the data which was accessed include personal information like names, addresses, telephone numbers, postcodes and email addresses together with the encrypted passwords. Floyd also said that "to our knowledge, the data accessed did not include any further sensitive information".

 

Those residents who were affected by this hack are suggested to delete this app along with changing their passwords.

» SPAMfighter News - 12/5/2018

3 simple steps to update drivers on your Windows PCSlow PC? Optimize your Slow PC with SLOW-PCfighter!Email Cluttered with Spam? Free Spam Filter!

Dear Reader

We are happy to see you are reading our IT Security News.

We do believe, that the foundation for a good work environment starts with fast, secure and high performing computers. If you agree, then you should take a look at our Business Solutions to Spam Filter & Antivirus for even the latest version of Exchange Servers - your colleagues will appreciate it!

Go back to previous page
Next