TIO Networks is a telecom, wireless, cable and utility network operator in North America that also offers bill payment services, earlier this year PayPal purchased this company for $233 million and now it has come out that TIO network has had their data compromised. PayPal announced on November 10th that there was a potential breach in the TIO network but now has later confirmed that they "identified a potential compromise of personally identifiable information for approximately 1.6 million customers."
Thankfully PayPal's systems are not linked in anyway to that of TIO Networks as PayPal reassures customers that their data remains in secure hands.
"A review of TIO's network has identified a potential compromise of personally identifiable information for approximately 1.6 million customers. The PayPal platform is not impacted in any way, as the TIO systems are completely separate from the PayPal network, and PayPal's customers' data remains secure."
TIO network has said in their own statement that their parent company PayPal was reviewing their systems and "uncovered evidence of unauthorized access to TIO's network, including locations that stored personal information of some of TIO's customers and customers of TIO billers."
Both companies are required by law to notify their clients that have suffered from this data breach within 72 hours or the General Data Protection Regulation will crack down on them which would put the companies at risky of very heavy fines.
PayPal has said that "TIO has also begun working with the companies it services to notify potentially affected individuals, and PayPal is working with a consumer credit reporting agency to provide free credit monitoring memberships. Individuals who are affected will be contacted directly and receive instructions to sign up for monitoring."
TIO networks added that at the moment it "cannot provide a timeline for restoring bill payment services, and continues to recommend that you contact your biller to identify alternative ways to pay your bills."