EBay announced on Wednesday that cyber attackers hacked into the online auction website two months ago and stole a database full of user information, including customer names, account passwords, physical addresses and phone numbers. 

Although the website’s passwords are encrypted, all active users have been advised to change their passwords as a “precautionary measure” in case the attackers are able to decrypt them. 

"Users that use their eBay password elsewhere should immediately go change that password on other sites – especially their e-mail,” Trey Ford, a global security strategist, told the Washington Post.

The hackers obtained unauthorized access to eBay’s corporate network by compromising a small number of employee log-in credentials. Between late February and early March, they grabbed the customer database, which eBay only learned about two weeks ago. A forensic investigation followed shortly after the discovery to determine the extent of the theft.

“A large number of accounts” have been impacted by the quiet breach, but the company has not revealed exactly how many of its 145 million active accounts were affected. 

"No financial information, including credit card numbers, were stolen,” eBay spokeswoman Amanda Miller told the Washington Post. 

Prior to this particular major data breach jeopardizing people’s digital lives, AOL announced a major hack in April, while Target experienced a major cybersecrity incident during the past holiday season that led to the theft of up to 40 million people’s financial information. 

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