Adobe Hacked: Photoshop Maker's Customer Info, Source Code Accessed

Nearly 3 million Adobe Systems Inc. customers were compromised after computer hackers stole their personal data, as well as source code from the popular software maker, the company announced Thursday.

The major breach has security experts worried because review of the source code may allow the criminals to find ways to launch other attacks targeted at anyone who users the software, according to Reuters.

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"Very recently, Adobe’s security team discovered sophisticated attacks on our network, involving the illegal access of customer information as well as source code for numerous Adobe products," Brad Arkin, senior director of security for Adobe products and services, wrote on the company's website. The hackers "removed from our systems certain information relating to 2.9 million Adobe customers, including customer names, encrypted credit or debit card numbers, expiration dates, and other information relating to customer orders."

The cyber crooks stripped source code for Adobe Acrobat, software that creates electronic documents in a readable "PDF" format, as well as ColdFusion and ColdFusion Builder, used to create Internet applications, the company said, adding that there's no "increased risk to customers as a result of this incident."

While the personal data believed to be accessed includes customer payment information, Arkin said that the company didn't feel that the criminals "removed decrypted credit or debit card numbers."

The maker of Photoshop and other popular graphic design programs is notifying affected customers via email, and has promised to offer them a one-year complimentary enrollment in a credit monitoring membership where available.

Adobe is the latest in a string of cyber-attacks on major institutions. Recently, the KrebsonSecurity blog reported that LexisNexis, Dun & Bradstreet, and Kroll Background America were broken into by an identity theft service that sells social security numbers and other important information on millions of Americans.

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