Durex India Customer Data Leaked; Security Flaw Exposes Sensitive Info of Hundreds Online
Durex India accidentally exposed customers’ personal information, including names, phone numbers, email addresses, shipping addresses, and order details. The breach, which affected hundreds of customers, was reported to TechCrunch this week by security researcher Sourajeet Majumder.
Authentication error identified
The incident stemmed from inadequate authentication measures on Durex India’s order confirmation page. The vulnerability allowed unauthorized access to sensitive customer information. While the exact number of individuals affected has not been confirmed, evidence suggests that the details of many customers were exposed due to this oversight.
According to TechCrunch verified Majumder and confirmed that the exposed data is still accessible online. The publication has chosen to omit some specific information to avoid aiding bad actors. When asked for comment, Ravi Bhatnagar, a spokesperson for Durex’s parent company Reckitt, did not respond or reveal any plans to enhance data security.
Potential risks and warnings
Majumder warned that the leaked data could facilitate identity theft and lead to harassment. He also informed the Computer Emergency Response Team of India (CERT-In), which acknowledged his warning. Majumder highlighted the broader risks associated with such data breaches, including the potential for social harassment and moral policing of affected individuals.
Reckitt Benckiser’s financial decline
In related news, Reckitt Benckiser, the parent company of Durex, saw its share price drop by a whopping 12 percent today, according to City AM. reportThe decline comes after the company missed analysts’ expectations for 2023. Operating profit fell to £2.5bn from £3.2bn the year before. The company blamed the shortfall on underestimating trade spending in two Middle Eastern markets and falling demand for cold and flu products.
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Reckitt reported a 1.2 percent decline in quarterly net revenue, missing the 1.6 percent growth analysts expected. Reckitt CEO Kris Licht acknowledged the disappointing fourth-quarter performance but expressed optimism for 2024 and beyond.