Amazon Resets Account Passwords over Feared Leak
Amazon has reset some of its customers' passwords over fears of a possible security breach.
Some Amazon customers said the e-commerce giant sent them an email informing them of the force-reset of account password. In the email, the company said they discovered a possible leak in some accounts but assured that they have already taken the necessary measures to prevent the passwords from being exposed to a third party, according to ZDNet.
The number of customers affected by the possible leak has not been revealed by Amazon. What is sure is that not all of the accounts have been compromised.
Get Our Latest News for FREE
One of the possible causes for the suspected leak is the improper storage of passwords on the customer's devices. The company also said the password may have been sent to Amazon in such a way that a third party can be privy to it, Digital Trends reports.
Despite no confirmation that the passwords have been disclosed to a third party, Amazon gave the customers a temporary password as an additional move to secure the accounts. Last week, the retail firm gave all its Amazon.com customers a two-factor authentication, with the exception of those in the United Kingdom, the report details.
After using the temporary password to access their accounts, customers can already change their password to one of their choice, the report adds.
The issue comes at a time when Amazon is conducting a "Black Friday" sales that involve a lot of deals timed to coincide with the yearly Thanksgiving. This sale period is significant because it provides a huge boost for the company's sales. A breach in Amazon's system could deliver a strong blow on the firm and push customers away, IT Pro relays.
This is not the first time that Amazon has force-reset its customers' passwords. In 2010, the retail giant also sent out notices warning of a possible breach in the customers' accounts.
