Digital toy maker VTech says customer data stolen in breach

VTech Holdings

28/11/2015 24:48

By Jim Finkle 
    Nov 27 (Reuters) - Electronic toymaker VTech Holdings Ltd 
 0303.HK  said on Friday that it was the victim of a cyber 
attack that compromised information about customers who access a 
portal for downloading children's games, books and other 
educational content. 
    VTech, which sells children's tablets, electronic learning 
toys and baby monitors, disclosed the attack in a statement on 
its website that did not say how many records were stolen.  
    The news site Motherboard reported that data belonging to 
some 4.8 million parents and more than 200,000 children was 
taken. It said that included names, email addresses, passwords 
and home addresses of parents; as well as first names, genders 
and birthdays of children. (http://bit.ly/1kYba7r) 
    The site said it had spoken to the hacker who claimed to be 
behind the attack, who said he planned to do "nothing" with the 
data. Motherboard's claims could not be independently confirmed. 
    Representatives for the Hong Kong-based company could not be 
reached for comment late on Friday. 
    The company's statement said that it began investigating 
after it received an inquiry about a breach from a journalist on 
Nov. 23.  
    It said that it has taken steps to prevent further attacks. 
It also said that the targeted database did not include payment 
information, credit card information, Social Security numbers or 
drivers license numbers. 
 
 (Reporting by Jim Finkle in Boston; Editing by Stephen R. 
Trousdale and Lisa Shumaker) 
 ((jim.finkle@thomsonreuters.com; +1 617-856-4344; Reuters 
Messaging: jim.finkle.thomsonreuters.com@reuters.us)) 
 
Keywords: VTECH CYBERATTACK/