Hackers steal 72,000 user images from women's dating app Tea

Tea app, also known as Tea Dating Advice, which allows women to share their dating experiences and do background checks on men they’re seeing, has been hacked, exposing user personal data, uploaded selfies, and IDs.

According to a company spokesperson, hackers gained access to roughly 72,000 images, including 13,000 selfies and photo identifications submitted during the verification process.

The company reportedly says that the breach affected users who signed up before February 2024 and claims to have "acted fast", now "working with some of the most trusted cybersecurity experts".

It also adds that the breached photos "can in no way be linked to posts within Tea". The screenshot taking function is blocked on the app, preventing users from recording and sharing the posts.

However, Tea later added that crooks also managed to access 59,000 images from posts, comments, and direct messages from over two years.

"We have engaged third-party cybersecurity experts and are working around the clock to secure our systems," the company said.

"We're taking every step to protect this community - now and always.”

According to 404 Media, users from 4chan claim to have discovered an exposed database hosted on Firebase that belongs to Tea.

Tea is a women-only mobile phone app where women can anonymously share and search for information, advice, and photos of men they’re interested in dating to catch catfish, scammers, or even find hidden marriages and do background checks for look for criminal records. Women also get access to a list of registered sex offenders.

It has become the most popular free app in the US, claiming to have over four million women "in our community.”

Tea also says it has "the largest women's group chat in the US, where users share experiences, anonymous dating reviews, and support".