Yahoo! update on Yahoo! Xtra

Media statement
Monday 18 February

Yahoo! update on Yahoo! Xtra

Yahoo! is continuing to work with Telecom to ensure Yahoo! Xtra mail accounts that were compromised last weekend have been secured and its in-depth investigation into the circumstances surrounding this issue is on-going.

“There is a lot of misinformation around what may have caused this vulnerability in the Yahoo! email product and the type of information that may have been compromised. There is currently no evidence to support reports that access has been gained to any user information beyond the customer's email address book or that this issue is related to any issues overseas, although we continue to investigate this,” say Laura Maxwell-Hansen, GM Yahoo! New Zealand.

Yahoo! has been in regular communication with Telecom since the issue arose to help ensure an effective resolution.

The approximately 20% of Telecom email customers whose accounts were compromised, have been secured via an automatic prompt to re-set their email password.

Users are urged to change current email passwords immediately on their computer, mobile devices and tablets - using a combination of letters, numbers and symbols. Additionally, it is also recommended that users review their security settings and ensure their password and virus protection software is up to date.

Yahoo! Xtra customers can visit Telecom's website, www.telecom.co.nz, as well as Yahoo! NZ, for assistance about how to secure their email.

Yahoo! is one of the largest global email providers and has approximately 270 million email users worldwide. On average, four spam emails are blocked for every email that is delivered.

– Ends –

About Yahoo! New Zealand:
Yahoo! New Zealand is the country’s largest media site, serving up news, views and entertainment from New Zealand and around the world. It is the go-to place for informing and connecting Kiwis with friends, family and the community.

Yahoo! New Zealand’s platform, combined with its unique approach of Science + Art + Scale, connects advertisers to the consumers who build their businesses.

Yahoo! employs more than 40 dedicated editorial, creative and media specialists in New Zealand.

Yahoo! is the trademark and / or registered trademark of Yahoo! Inc.

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