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What happened in the 8tracks data breach?

What happened in the 8tracks data breach?

Twingate Team

Feb 22, 2024

8tracks, a popular internet radio, and social networking site, suffered a data breach that exposed the personal information of its users. The incident was revealed in June 2017 when 8tracks announced that an unauthorized party had gained access to their user data through an employee's Github account, which contained a repository with access credentials to an 8tracks database.

How many accounts were compromised?

The breach impacted around 18 million 8tracks’ accounts.

What type of data was leaked?

The compromised data included email addresses, usernames, and hashed passwords. For users who signed up via Facebook, their Facebook ID and token were also exposed.

How was 8 tracks hacked?

The attackers accessed the 8tracks system by exploiting an employee's Github account that had inadvertently been linked to an 8tracks database backup.

8tracks’s solution

In response to the breach, 8tracks took immediate action to secure their systems. They invalidated all passwords for accounts that were created or updated before the breach and removed the Github repository containing sensitive credentials. 8tracks also encouraged users to change their passwords, especially if they were reused on other websites, and recommended enabling two-factor authentication on their 8tracks account if available. The company also pledged to improve their security measures to prevent future breaches.

How do I know if I was affected?

8tracks directly notified users believed to be affected by the breach. Additionally, users can check if their data was compromised by visiting HaveIBeenPwned or by monitoring their account for any unusual activity.

What should affected users do?

Users impacted by the 8tracks data breach should:

  1. Change Your 8tracks Password: Select a strong, unique password that has not been used on other websites.

  2. Reset Passwords on Other Sites: If the same password was used elsewhere, change it to prevent unauthorized access to those accounts.

  3. Be Vigilant for Phishing: Keep an eye out for suspicious emails or messages that might exploit your compromised information.

  4. Enable Two-Factor Authentication: Adding this extra layer of security can help protect your account from future unauthorized access.

For further assistance, users should contact 8tracks' support services.

Where can I go to learn more?

For more details about the 8tracks data breach and for guidance on protecting your online data, please refer to the following sources:

Rapidly implement a modern Zero Trust network that is more secure and maintainable than VPNs.

/

What happened in the 8tracks data breach?

What happened in the 8tracks data breach?

Twingate Team

Feb 22, 2024

8tracks, a popular internet radio, and social networking site, suffered a data breach that exposed the personal information of its users. The incident was revealed in June 2017 when 8tracks announced that an unauthorized party had gained access to their user data through an employee's Github account, which contained a repository with access credentials to an 8tracks database.

How many accounts were compromised?

The breach impacted around 18 million 8tracks’ accounts.

What type of data was leaked?

The compromised data included email addresses, usernames, and hashed passwords. For users who signed up via Facebook, their Facebook ID and token were also exposed.

How was 8 tracks hacked?

The attackers accessed the 8tracks system by exploiting an employee's Github account that had inadvertently been linked to an 8tracks database backup.

8tracks’s solution

In response to the breach, 8tracks took immediate action to secure their systems. They invalidated all passwords for accounts that were created or updated before the breach and removed the Github repository containing sensitive credentials. 8tracks also encouraged users to change their passwords, especially if they were reused on other websites, and recommended enabling two-factor authentication on their 8tracks account if available. The company also pledged to improve their security measures to prevent future breaches.

How do I know if I was affected?

8tracks directly notified users believed to be affected by the breach. Additionally, users can check if their data was compromised by visiting HaveIBeenPwned or by monitoring their account for any unusual activity.

What should affected users do?

Users impacted by the 8tracks data breach should:

  1. Change Your 8tracks Password: Select a strong, unique password that has not been used on other websites.

  2. Reset Passwords on Other Sites: If the same password was used elsewhere, change it to prevent unauthorized access to those accounts.

  3. Be Vigilant for Phishing: Keep an eye out for suspicious emails or messages that might exploit your compromised information.

  4. Enable Two-Factor Authentication: Adding this extra layer of security can help protect your account from future unauthorized access.

For further assistance, users should contact 8tracks' support services.

Where can I go to learn more?

For more details about the 8tracks data breach and for guidance on protecting your online data, please refer to the following sources:

Rapidly implement a modern Zero Trust network that is more secure and maintainable than VPNs.

What happened in the 8tracks data breach?

Twingate Team

Feb 22, 2024

8tracks, a popular internet radio, and social networking site, suffered a data breach that exposed the personal information of its users. The incident was revealed in June 2017 when 8tracks announced that an unauthorized party had gained access to their user data through an employee's Github account, which contained a repository with access credentials to an 8tracks database.

How many accounts were compromised?

The breach impacted around 18 million 8tracks’ accounts.

What type of data was leaked?

The compromised data included email addresses, usernames, and hashed passwords. For users who signed up via Facebook, their Facebook ID and token were also exposed.

How was 8 tracks hacked?

The attackers accessed the 8tracks system by exploiting an employee's Github account that had inadvertently been linked to an 8tracks database backup.

8tracks’s solution

In response to the breach, 8tracks took immediate action to secure their systems. They invalidated all passwords for accounts that were created or updated before the breach and removed the Github repository containing sensitive credentials. 8tracks also encouraged users to change their passwords, especially if they were reused on other websites, and recommended enabling two-factor authentication on their 8tracks account if available. The company also pledged to improve their security measures to prevent future breaches.

How do I know if I was affected?

8tracks directly notified users believed to be affected by the breach. Additionally, users can check if their data was compromised by visiting HaveIBeenPwned or by monitoring their account for any unusual activity.

What should affected users do?

Users impacted by the 8tracks data breach should:

  1. Change Your 8tracks Password: Select a strong, unique password that has not been used on other websites.

  2. Reset Passwords on Other Sites: If the same password was used elsewhere, change it to prevent unauthorized access to those accounts.

  3. Be Vigilant for Phishing: Keep an eye out for suspicious emails or messages that might exploit your compromised information.

  4. Enable Two-Factor Authentication: Adding this extra layer of security can help protect your account from future unauthorized access.

For further assistance, users should contact 8tracks' support services.

Where can I go to learn more?

For more details about the 8tracks data breach and for guidance on protecting your online data, please refer to the following sources: