Last month, Tea, an app where women share anonymous reviews about men, suffered a major cyberattack. As a result, over 72,000 images — including user selfies and scans of driver’s licenses — were accessed without authorization. Additionally, more than 1.1 million private messages, containing highly sensitive conversations about topics such as divorce, abortion, infidelity, and assault, were exposed online. Within days, the leaked data spread across platforms like 4chan, X, and others, and even interactive maps showing users’ locations were created.
Cybersecurity expert Michael Coates described the incident as “private and supposedly protected information being made available to the entire world.” Experts warn that the rapid rise of new apps does not guarantee they are secure — and the Tea case is a prime example.
Despite the risks, users continue to trust new platforms with their personal data. Even after the breach, Tea remained in the top rankings of the Apple App Store, holding the No. 4 spot behind ChatGPT, Threads, and Google.
Rising risks in the AI Era
Today, building mobile apps has become easier than ever — especially with the rise of “vibe coding,” the practice of using generative AI to write and refine code. Startups like Replit, Loveable, and Cursor have attracted major investments by promoting this rapid development approach. However, experts warn that such speed often comes at the expense of security.
According to Brandon Evans of the SANS Institute, vibe coding can lead to “more insecure applications.” Developers racing to release products may bypass thorough security checks. “It’s like giving a sports car to a first-time driver,” he said.
Cybercriminals are also increasingly using AI to their advantage, creating new attack methods to obtain personal data more efficiently.
Experts’ recommendations
- Share only minimal personal information with unfamiliar or new apps.
- Review an app’s privacy policy and security measures before use.
- Always consider the worst-case scenario if your data were to be exposed.
Conclusion:
In the AI era, rapid technological growth is making it harder to safeguard personal data. The Tea incident demonstrates that even fast-rising apps with massive popularity cannot guarantee privacy or security.
