Tea, a dating discussion app that recently suffered a high-profile cybersecurity breach, announced late Monday that some direct messages were also accessed in the incident.
The app — designed to let women safely discuss men they date — rocketed to the top of the U.S. Apple App Store last week but then confirmed on Friday that thousands of selfies and photo IDs of registered users were exposed in a digital security breach.
404 Media was the first to report on this second security issue, citing an independent security researcher who found it was possible for hackers to access messages between users discussing abortions, cheating partners, and phone numbers.
In a statement posted on its social media accounts, Tea said it "recently learned that some direct messages (DMs) were accessed as part of the initial incident."
"Out of an abundance of caution, we have taken the affected system offline," the app said. “At this time, we have found no evidence of access to other parts of our environment.”
It is currently unknown how many messages were left exposed by the vulnerability. Tea said it is “working to identify any users whose personal information was involved and will be offering free identity protection services to those individuals.” The company said Tuesday it will share more information as it becomes available.
Because of the nature of the app — which allows women to anonymously discuss sensitive information about the men they date — users may be particularly vulnerable to malicious actors who try to expose their real-life identities.
Mary Ann Miller, vice president of client experience at identity verification company Prove, said the women who may have had their information compromised should consider making sure they have real-life security precautions in place — such as cameras, locks and “common sense things that you and I think about to be safe and secure in our own home.”
“The average citizen puts more out there in a public-facing view that can put their safety at risk. And I think it’s time for all of us to think about that more carefully,” she said. Companies, meanwhile, “should look for technology that utilizes other forms (besides) IDs to verify an identity" — and only store essential data and discard, securely, verification data that's no longer needed once a person is verified.
Tea has said about 72,000 images were leaked online in the initial incident, including 13,000 images of selfies or selfies featuring a photo identification that users submitted during account verification. Another 59,000 images publicly viewable in the app from posts, comments and direct messages were also accessed without authorization, a spokesperson said last week.
No email addresses or phone numbers were accessed, the company said, and the breach only affects users who signed up before February 2024.
FILE - A person uses a smartphone in Chicago, Sept. 16, 2017. (AP Photo, File)
SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — Rudy Gobert had 24 points and 14 rebounds, Donte DiVincenzo made a clutch 3-pointer with 28 seconds remaining and the Minnesota Timberwolves beat the Golden State Warriors 127-120 on Friday night.
Stephen Curry scored 39 for the Warriors after missing the previous five games with a bruised left quadriceps, but Minnesota held on even without injured star Anthony Edwards (right foot soreness).
DiVincenzo finished with 21 points, six rebounds and four assists in the first meeting between the teams since the Timberwolves eliminated the Warriors in the second round of the playoffs last season.
Julius Randle had 27 points, nine rebounds and six assists for Minnesota. Naz Reid added 18 points and seven assists off the bench.
Quinten Post scored 16 points for Golden State. Jimmy Butler had 15 points and eight rebounds.
The game featured 27 lead changes, tied for second-most in the NBA this season, and both teams played short-handed. The Timberwolves were without Edwards, while the Warriors were missing injured Draymond Green.
Minnesota grabbed momentum in the fourth quarter. The Timberwolves opened the final period with a 20-7 run and led by 10 with five minutes to go before Curry and Moses Moody connected on back-to-back 3-pointers to pull the Warriors to 108-104.
Golden State briefly led 118-117 following Curry’s free throw with 1:37 remaining, but Gobert had a go-ahead dunk and DiVincenzo made it 123-118 on his 3 with 28 seconds to play as the Wolves closed with a 10-2 surge.
Curry got going quickly in his return. The two-time NBA scoring champ made his first three shots and scored eight of the Warriors' first 12 points.
Timberwolves: Host the Sacramento Kings on Sunday.
Warriors: Play the Trail Blazers in Portland on Sunday.
AP NBA: https://apnews.com/NBA
Minnesota Timberwolves guard Anthony Edwards, center, reacts from the bench during the second half of an NBA basketball game against the Golden State Warriors, Friday, Dec. 12, 2025, in San Francisco. (AP Photo/Godofredo A. Vásquez)
Golden State Warriors guard Stephen Curry (30) celebrates after making a 3-point basket during the first half of an NBA basketball game against the Minnesota Timberwolves, Friday, Dec. 12, 2025, in San Francisco. (AP Photo/Godofredo A. Vásquez)
Golden State Warriors guard Stephen Curry (30) moves the ball while defended by Minnesota Timberwolves guard Donte Divincenzo (0) during the first half of an NBA basketball game, Friday, Dec. 12, 2025, in San Francisco. (AP Photo/Godofredo A. Vásquez)
Minnesota Timberwolves center Rudy Gobert (27) shoots while defended by Golden State Warriors guard Stephen Curry (30) during the second half of an NBA basketball game, Friday, Dec. 12, 2025, in San Francisco. (AP Photo/Godofredo A. Vásquez)
Golden State Warriors guard Stephen Curry (30) shoots between Minnesota Timberwolves center Rudy Gobert (27) and forward Jaden McDaniels (3) during the first half of an NBA basketball game, Friday, Dec. 12, 2025, in San Francisco. (AP Photo/Godofredo A. Vásquez)
