PayHere data breach

What happened

In late March 2022, the Sri Lankan payment gateway PayHere suffered a data breach that exposed more than 65GB of payment records including over 1.5M unique email addresses. The data also included IP and physical addresses, names, phone numbers, purchase histories and partially obfuscated credit card data (card type, first 6 and last 4 digits plus expiry date). A month later, PayHere published a blog on the incident titled Ensuring Integrity on PayHere Cybersecurity Incident.

What data leaked

• Email addresses
• IP addresses
• Names
• Partial credit card data
• Phone numbers
• Physical addresses
• Purchases

What to do if you had an account

1. Turn on two-step sign-in. Enable two-factor authentication where the service offers it, preferably with an authenticator app or a passkey. A leaked password alone is then not enough to get in.
2. Expect targeted phishing. Leaked contact details are used to write convincing fake messages that mention the breached company or your real name. Do not click links in unexpected emails or texts about this account; go to the site by typing its address.
3. Watch for scam calls and SIM swaps. Be suspicious of calls and texts that claim to be from your bank or a courier. Ask your mobile operator for a port-out or SIM-change PIN if it offers one.
4. Check your bank statements. Review recent card and account transactions and report anything you do not recognise. If full card numbers were exposed, ask your bank to replace the card.

Check your email at haveibeenpwned.com

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