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DoorDash announces security breach that affected nearly 5M usersDoorDash announces security breach that affected nearly 5M users

DoorDash user data was accessed by an unauthorized third party in May

Joanna Fantozzi, Senior Editor

September 27, 2019

2 Min Read
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DoorDash has sent a message to its users announcing a major security breach that affected 4.9 million users after an unauthorized third party accessed user data on May 4, 2019.

In an email alert to affected users, DoorDash said that “we became aware of unusual activity involving a third-party service provider. We immediately launched an investigation and outside security experts were engaged to assess what occurred.” DoorDash further said that after identifying the culprit, they took immediate steps to “block the unauthorized user” and “enhanced security” across their platform.

The data from affected users that could have been stolen includes:

  • Profile information (name, delivery address, order history, phone number, and “hashed” passwords)

  • Last four digits of consumer credit cards (though the third party hackers did not have access to full credit card numbers)

  • Last four digits of bank account numbers (Again, full information was not accessed by the third party breach)

  • Driver’s license numbers (this only affected 100,000 users)

“We have taken a number of additional steps to further secure your data, which include adding additional protective security layers around the data, improving security protocols that govern access to our systems, and bringing in outside expertise to increase our ability to identify and repel threats,” DoorDash said in a statement on its website.

Related:Dozens complain of hacked Chipotle accounts

The company suggests that users immediately reset their DoorDash passwords, or passwords to other accounts if the same password was used for multiple accounts. Users who joined after April 5, 2018 are not affected by the breach.

DoorDash responded to the incident as soon as information become available.

“We became aware of the unusual activity earlier this month in September and we immediately launched an investigation,” a representative with DoorDash told Nation's Restaurant News. “That investigation enabled us to determine that on May 4, 2019 an unauthorized third party accessed some DoorDash user data. We took immediate steps to block further access by the unauthorized user and to enhance security across our platform. We are reaching out directly to affected users.”

A company spokesperson also clarified that they will be “improving security protocols that govern access to our systems, and bringing in outside expertise to increase our ability to identify and repel threats” to prevent future data breaches.

Update, Sept. 27, 2019: This story has been updated to reflect DoorDash's statement.

Contact Joanna Fantozzi at [email protected] 

Related:DoorDash to acquire delivery platform Caviar for $410M

Follow her on Twitter: @joannafantozzi

About the Author

Joanna Fantozzi

Senior Editor

Joanna Fantozzi is a Senior Editor for Nation’s Restaurant News and Restaurant Hospitality. She has more than seven years of experience writing about the restaurant and hospitality industry. Her editorial coverage ranges from profiles of independent restaurants around the country to breaking news and insights into some of the biggest brands in food and beverage, including Starbucks, Domino’s, and Papa John’s.  

Joanna holds a bachelor’s degree in English literature and creative writing from The College of New Jersey and a master’s degree in arts and culture journalism from the Craig Newmark Graduate School of Journalism at CUNY. Prior to joining Informa’s Restaurants and Food Group in 2018, she was a freelance food, culture, and lifestyle writer, and has previously held editorial positions at Insider (formerly known as Business Insider) and The Daily Meal. Joanna’s work can also be found in The New York Times, Forbes, Vice, The New York Daily News, and Parents Magazine. 

Her areas of expertise include restaurant industry news, restaurant operator solutions and innovations, and political/cultural issues.

Joanna Fantozzi has been a moderator and event facilitator at both Informa’s MUFSO and Restaurants Rise industry events. 

Joanna Fantozzi’s experience:

Senior Editor, Informa Restaurant & Food Group (August 2021-present)

Associate Editor, Informa Restaurant & Food Group (July 2019-August 2021)

Assistant Editor, Informa Restaurant & Food Group (Oct. 2018-July 2019)

Freelance Food & Lifestyle Reporter (Feb. 2018-Oct. 2018)

Food & Lifestyle Reporter, Insider (June 2017-Feb. 2018)

News Editor, The Daily Meal (Jan. 2014- June 2017)

Staff Reporter, Straus News (Jan. 2013-Dec. 2013)

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