Amazon sent an email to an unknown number of customers informing them their account passwords had been reset after a data breach left customer’s passwords compromised, ZDNet reported Nov. 24.
In the email to customers, Amazon says it “recently discovered that your [Amazon] password may have been improperly stored on your device or transmitted to Amazon in a way that could potentially expose it to a third party.”
The retail giant states that although it has no reason to believe account passwords are in the hands of nefarious actors, it is reassigning passwords out of an “abundance of caution.” Customers are then directed to login with the temporary password from Amazon and create a new password. (RELATED: Feds Pay Out $133.3 Million After Massive Data Breach)
Ironically, the data breach comes a week after Amazon rolled out its new two-factor authentication for account holders Nov. 18.
Two-factor authentication is a security feature where two separate forms of identification are provided to verify a user. For instance, take a bank card. The card itself—which likely has your name, card number, and CCV number listed—is the first level of authentication. The secret pin number associated with that card forms the second level of authentication.
After opting-in to two-factor authentication, Amazon users must now provide more than just a username and password to access their account.
Amazon sends you a text message with a string of numbers to input at the login screen, or you can use a random code generated by an authentication app, like Authy or Google Authenticator. This ensures someone won’t be able to just guess your password in order to access your account; they’ll also need to steal your phone.
Screen Shot of Amazon Two-Factor Authentication
Amazon has not had the best week heading into the Thanksgiving holiday. (VIDEO: Enterprising Bros Give NFL Quarterbacks Amazon.com Reviews, Hilarity Ensues)
In an effort to promote the release of its new sci-fi, alternate history show “The Man in the High Castle,” Amazon plastered Nazi and Imperial Japan ads on New York City buses and subways. Public outrage over the ads ensued, state politicians weighed in, and Gov. Andrew Cuomo pressured the Metropolitan Transportation Authority to pull the ads Nov. 24. (RELATED: Amazon Coated NYC Subways With Nazi Memorabilia, And New Yorkers Are Pissed)
.@amazon TV series ad on shuttle train sparks controversy. @MTA defends ad; many disagree https://t.co/J2rSTcLzVe pic.twitter.com/JIoHOZpqWZ
— Katherine Lam (@byKatherineLam) November 24, 2015
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