Hackers hit Adobe Systems user data

[Jan Horn]

Hackers hit Adobe Systems user data-source codeSan Francisco - Software titan Adobe Systems on Thursday warned that hackers breached its defences and stole source code along with credit card numbers and other information relating to nearly three million customers.

"Very recently, Adobe's security team discovered sophisticated attacks on our network, involving illegal access of customer information as well as source code for numerous Adobe products," Adobe chief security officer Brad Arkin said in a blog post.

"Our investigation currently indicates that the attackers accessed Adobe customer IDs and encrypted passwords on our systems."

Hackers are believed to have taken information relating to 2.9 million Adobe customers. The stolen data was said to include customer names, encrypted credit or debit card numbers, expiration dates and other information relating to people's orders.

It appeared that no decrypted credit or debit card numbers were pilfered, according to Arkin.

"We deeply regret that this incident occurred," Arkin said. "We're working diligently internally, as well as with external partners and law enforcement, to address the incident."

Adobe was resetting the passwords of customers whose information was taken and alerting people whose credit or debit card numbers were swiped.

The California-based company was also investigating the theft of source code crafted into its products and said it didn't believe it increased the risk of hackers breaking into programs people may be using.

Adobe makes widely used computer programs including Acrobat, Reader, Photoshop and a ColdFusion web application development tool.

Brian Krebs of the website KrebsOnSecurity said in a blog post that it appeared the same attackers recently struck data brokers and a US-funded centre devoted to honing skills involved in the investigation and prosecution of cybercrime.

It remained to be seen whether those breaches exploited Adobe software.


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