1.7 mil users' data likely leaked from dating app operator

May 24, 2021 20:27 GMT  ·  By

A popular Japanese dating app dubbed Omiai has been hacked, exposing the personally identifiable information of nearly 2 million users, according to Bloomberg

The app's developer, Net Marketing Co, alerted the public to numerous unauthorized intrusions into its servers in April this year.

During the intrusions, the attackers stole usernames, photos, and data from ID cards, driver's licenses, and passports, all of which were required for KYC (know your customer) purposes during registration. The good news is that no payment or credit card information had been compromised.

Men do not have access to the service, which is free for women. Men must pay for one of the platform's subscription plans, roughly about $40 per month, to register and use it.

The attackers are not known by now 

According to various reports in the media, the app has between 5 and 7 million users and has enabled more than 50 million successful matches. It aims to provide its consumers with the potential for a long-term relationship rather than a one-night stand or a fling. There is no evidence of the stolen data being used in the wild or on the black market so far.

The worst is yet to come if we were to consider the Ashley Madison case for instance.Ashley Madison is an extramarital affairs dating app that was hacked in 2015, exposing the data of 37 million users. The data is thought to have been used as blackmail leverage against several people, leading to at least 2 suicides.

Japan's online matchmaking market has more than doubled in size in the last 4 years and is projected to rise another 70% to 106 billion yen by 2025 compared to 2020, as reported by a subsidiary of CyberAgent Inc.

The Tokyo Stock Exchange, where the company is listed, was also shaken by the news of the breach. Net Marketing's stock fell 19% at market close on Monday, according to Bloomberg. Net Marketing Co is estimated to be worth $70 million and this is the largest decline since the company went public in 2017.