BOSTON — The massive data breach at Yahoo in 2013 impacted three times the amount of users than the company had previously disclosed.
The breach, which affected all 3 billion Yahoo users, had been disclosed in December 2016 as having affected only 1 billion users.
Verizon Communications Inc., Yahoo's new parent company, released the information earlier today. Verizon Communications, who acquired Yahoo shortly after the breach was communicated to the public, acquired the company for a slight price break on the deal.
"We have always believed this acquisition makes strategic sense," said Marni Walden, Verizon's president of Product Innovation and New Businesses, in a statement. Yahoo was acquired by Verizon in June 2017.
In a statement, the company said that it recently obtained "new intelligence" during Yahoo's and Verizon's integration that "all Yahoo user accounts" were affected by the August 2013 security breach, according to Business Insider.
The company says the hack released personal information such as phone numbers, birth dates, and security questions. Yahoo states that the hacked information did not include passwords in clear text, payment card data, or bank account information.
Yahoo said it is sending out email notifications to the remaining user accounts that did not receive a notification in 2016 when the hack was first revealed by Yahoo.
Verizon has also directed users to a frequently asked questions page that had been set up in the wake of the hack. The updated version of the site provides users with any and all information they might need regarding the data breach.
Cox Media Group
