OnePlus Says 40,000 Credit Card Numbers Were Stolen From Its Site
Android phone maker OnePlus was forced to shut down credit card payments on its website last week after numerous reports from customers of fraudulent charges. Today, the company has announced the preliminary results of its investigation, showing that as many as 40,000 customers may have had their credit card details stolen. It turns out a malicious script has been hiding on its website for about two months.
According to OnePlus, an unknown attacker accessed one of its servers in mid-November and implanted a script, which siphoned payment details from customers when they entered their payment information in OnePlus’ online store. The stolen data included the card number, security code, and billing information. That’s everything you need to use the card. The code ran intermittently over the coming weeks until credit card payments were shut off on January 11th, 2018.
This was a well-timed attach, too. OnePlus released its newest phone, the OnePlus 5T, in November 2017. The phone started at $499 and packs much of the same hardware you get in more expensive phones like the Galaxy S8 and Pixel 2 XL. The malicious code was running on its servers during the initial rush of orders all the way through the holiday shopping season. Anyone who used a credit card on OP’s site during this time should assume their card is compromised. Those who used PayPal to buy their phone should be safe, though.
OnePlus says it has quarantined the affected server as the investigation continues. It’s not yet clear if the attacker was able to load the malicious script remotely or if they had physical access to the hardware. The company will provide more details when it has them, but customers whose details are known to be stolen are being contacted via email. Credit card payments on OP’s site continue to be disabled, but you can buy phones and accessories via PayPal.
Even if OP does not send an email, you should assume a card used on the site between November and the shutdown last week has been stolen. Just because there are no fraudulent charges yet doesn’t mean you’re in the clear. Your details could be sitting in a database that will be sold off in the coming weeks. OnePlus recommends those affected keep an eye on their statements, but that’s not really enough. If you used a card on OP’s site during the time it was compromised, it’s probably time to cancel the card.
Continue reading
Third-Party Repair Shops May Be Blocked From Servicing iPhone 12 Camera
According to a recent iFixit report, Apple's hostility to the right of repair has hit new heights with the iPhone 12 and iPhone 12 Pro.
MIT Creates Battery-Free Underwater GPS
GPS radio signals dissipate quickly when they hit water, causing a headache for scientific research at sea. The only alternative is to use acoustic systems that chew through batteries. A team from MIT has devised a battery-free tracking technology that could end this annoyance.
Musk: Tesla Was a Month From Bankruptcy During Model 3 Ramp-Up
The Model 3 almost spelled doom for Tesla, but the same vehicle also probably saved it.
Space Mining Gets 400 Percent Boost From Bacteria, ISS Experiments Show
We'll need lots of raw materials to sustain human endeavors on other planets, and a new project on the International Space Station demonstrates how we can make space mining over 400 percent more efficient.