TaskRabbit hack – app offline over ‘cybersecurity incident’ with users warned to change passwords immediately
The task-busting app lets you hire people to help out around the home or office, but users may have had their personal details exposed
TASKRABBIT has been taken offline as its creators investigate a "cybersecurity incident" that could affect ALL users.
Users of the app – an Uber-style service that lets you book handy-persons for tasks like cleaning or moving – are now being urged to change their passwords for other websites immediately.
What happened to TaskRabbit?
TaskRabbit is an app and website that lets you hire people to help out with chores.
The service is now offline and its creators have issued a worrying statement.
"TaskRabbit is currently investigating a cybersecurity incident.
"We understand how important your personal information is and are working with an outside cybersecurity firm and law enforcement to determine the specifics.
"The app and website are offline while our team works on this."
Has any personal info been stolen?
TaskRabbit hasn't specified what exactly has happened.
However, answering the question "what information has been compromised?", TaskRabbit said: "We are working with an outside cybersecurity firm and law enforcement to determine specifics of the incident, and we will provide more information when we can."
That suggests that some information has been taken, but it's not clear what.
The fact that TaskRabbit is urging users to change their passwords on other sites also suggests that e-mails/usernames and passwords could be among the stolen details.
What should you do if you're a customer or 'tasker'?
Right now, the TaskRabbit app is impossible to access – so you can't change your password.
However, TaskRabbit recommends changing your passwords on other apps and services, if they're the same as your TaskRabbit one.
"As an immediate precaution, if you used the same password on other sites or apps as you did for TaskRabbit, we recommend you change those now," the company writes.
"Once the TaskRabbit site is back up, you will be able to change it there, as well. We will update affected individuals as more information becomes available."
If you're a 'tasker' and you've missed an appointment because you were unable to open the app, don't panic.
"If you had a task scheduled and you were unable to complete it because of the app being down, we’ll work with you to get it rescheduled once the site is back up," explains TaskRabbit.
TaskRabbit also says you'll be compensated if you couldn't get to your clients for tasks scheduled on Monday, April 16: "For any Tasker who had a task scheduled for Monday, April 16 and is unable to complete the task, we will compensate them appropriately. A member of the TaskRabbit Community team will be in touch as soon as they can."
MOST READ IN TECH
If you're a customer with a booked task, here's the official advice: "We regret any inconvenience this may cause our clients and Taskers, and we will work to reschedule any uncompleted tasks as soon as possible."
Do you use TaskRabbit? Are you worried about this breach? Let us know in the comments
We pay for your stories! Do you have a story for The Sun Online news team? Email us at [email protected] or call 0207 782 4368 . We pay for videos too. Click here to upload yours.