Tea app takes messaging system offline after second security issue reported

TEA, a dating discussion application that recently underwent a large -scale cybersecurity violation, announced Monday evening that some direct messages were also accessible in the incident

TEA, a dating discussion application that recently underwent a high -level cybersecurity violation, announced on Monday evening that some direct messages were also accessible in the incident.

The application – designed to allow women to discuss men in complete safety – have turned off at the top of the Apple Apple App Store last week, but then confirmed on Friday that thousands of selfies and photo identifiers of the registered users were exposed in a digital security violation.

404 Media was the first to report on this second security problem, quoting an independent safety researcher who found that it was possible for hackers to access messages between users discussing abortions, cheating partners and telephone numbers.

In a statement published on his social media accounts, Tea said he “recently learned that certain direct messages (DMS) were accessible as part of the initial incident”.

“By an abundance of prudence, we have put the affected system offline,” said the application. “Currently, we have found no proof of access to other parts of our environment.”

It is currently not known how many messages have been exposed by vulnerability.

Tea said that around 72,000 images had been disclosed online during the initial incident, including 13,000 selfie or selfie images with a photo identification that users submitted during account verification. 59,000 other publicly visible images in the application from publications, comments and direct messages were also accessible without authorization, a spokesman announced last week.

No email address or telephone number has been accessible, said the company, and the violation only affects users who registered before February 2024.