eBay is now facing an investigation for the massive security breach that leaked the names, addresses and passwords of 145 million users.
The company has been criticized for the delay in informing customers and a site that was unprepared for the millions of customers rushing to change their passwords. Three states in the USA have already started a joint investigation, and the UK Information Commissioner has begun proceedings. These are slowed by the outdated data protection laws that mean that the watchdog must first liaise with the Luxembourgian offices where eBay has its European headquarters. Nevertheless, the ICO has maintained that the investigation will go ahead. eBay has not yet commented on the news of the investigations, which are sure to be the first of many.
The company has denied that the copy of the database that has appeared on an underground online marketplace is legitimate. Nevertheless, millions of customers are left powerless to stop their home addresses and dates of birth being exposed.
