What happened in the Epik data breach?
Twingate Team
•
May 23, 2024
In September 2021, the domain registrar and web host Epik experienced a significant data breach, allegedly due to its connections with alt-right websites. The breach exposed a vast amount of data, including personal information of both Epik customers and non-customers whose data had been scraped from WHOIS records. The hacktivist collective Anonymous claimed responsibility for the breach, which has had far-reaching consequences for those affected, including job losses and potential real-world repercussions. The incident has raised concerns about data privacy and the security measures in place to protect sensitive information.
How many accounts were compromised?
The breach impacted data related to approximately 15 million individuals.
What data was leaked?
The data exposed in the breach encompassed email addresses, names, phone numbers, physical addresses, and purchase histories of affected individuals.
How was Epik hacked?
The Anonymous hacktivist collective breached Epik's systems through an "unauthorized intrusion," gaining access to a vast amount of data, including domain purchase and transfer details, account credentials, payment history, and employee emails. Although the specific methods used by the hackers were not detailed, a security researcher had previously identified a vulnerability in Epik's systems that could have allowed attackers to execute arbitrary code on their servers, which may have been exploited during the breach.
Epik's solution
In response to the data breach, Epik took action to address the situation and mitigate potential risks. However, specific details about the enhanced security measures implemented by the company are not readily available. It is known that Epik began emailing customers to inform them of the breach on September 19, 2021. While the company's exact steps to secure its platform and prevent future incidents remain unclear, it is reasonable to assume that they would have taken measures such as removing malware and backdoors, enhancing security protocols, and collaborating with cybersecurity experts for a thorough investigation.
How do I know if I was affected?
Epik has notified customers believed to be affected by the breach. If you're an Epik customer and haven't received a notification, you may visit Have I Been Pwned to check your credentials.
What should affected users do?
In general, affected users should:
Change Your Password: Immediately update your password for the breached account. Make sure the new password is strong and unique, not previously used on any other platform.
Reset Passwords for Other Accounts: If you've used the same or similar passwords for other online accounts, reset those as well. This is crucial as attackers often try using stolen passwords on multiple sites.
Enable Two-Factor Authentication (2FA): Activate 2FA on the affected account. Consider enabling this additional security feature on all other important online accounts to significantly reduce the risk of unauthorized access.
Monitor Your Accounts: Keep an eye on your accounts for any suspicious activity, and report any unauthorized access or transactions to the appropriate parties immediately.
For more specific help and instructions related to Epik's data breach, please contact Epik support directly.
Where can I go to learn more?
If you want to find more information on the Epik data breach, check out the following news articles:
Rapidly implement a modern Zero Trust network that is more secure and maintainable than VPNs.
What happened in the Epik data breach?
Twingate Team
•
May 23, 2024
In September 2021, the domain registrar and web host Epik experienced a significant data breach, allegedly due to its connections with alt-right websites. The breach exposed a vast amount of data, including personal information of both Epik customers and non-customers whose data had been scraped from WHOIS records. The hacktivist collective Anonymous claimed responsibility for the breach, which has had far-reaching consequences for those affected, including job losses and potential real-world repercussions. The incident has raised concerns about data privacy and the security measures in place to protect sensitive information.
How many accounts were compromised?
The breach impacted data related to approximately 15 million individuals.
What data was leaked?
The data exposed in the breach encompassed email addresses, names, phone numbers, physical addresses, and purchase histories of affected individuals.
How was Epik hacked?
The Anonymous hacktivist collective breached Epik's systems through an "unauthorized intrusion," gaining access to a vast amount of data, including domain purchase and transfer details, account credentials, payment history, and employee emails. Although the specific methods used by the hackers were not detailed, a security researcher had previously identified a vulnerability in Epik's systems that could have allowed attackers to execute arbitrary code on their servers, which may have been exploited during the breach.
Epik's solution
In response to the data breach, Epik took action to address the situation and mitigate potential risks. However, specific details about the enhanced security measures implemented by the company are not readily available. It is known that Epik began emailing customers to inform them of the breach on September 19, 2021. While the company's exact steps to secure its platform and prevent future incidents remain unclear, it is reasonable to assume that they would have taken measures such as removing malware and backdoors, enhancing security protocols, and collaborating with cybersecurity experts for a thorough investigation.
How do I know if I was affected?
Epik has notified customers believed to be affected by the breach. If you're an Epik customer and haven't received a notification, you may visit Have I Been Pwned to check your credentials.
What should affected users do?
In general, affected users should:
Change Your Password: Immediately update your password for the breached account. Make sure the new password is strong and unique, not previously used on any other platform.
Reset Passwords for Other Accounts: If you've used the same or similar passwords for other online accounts, reset those as well. This is crucial as attackers often try using stolen passwords on multiple sites.
Enable Two-Factor Authentication (2FA): Activate 2FA on the affected account. Consider enabling this additional security feature on all other important online accounts to significantly reduce the risk of unauthorized access.
Monitor Your Accounts: Keep an eye on your accounts for any suspicious activity, and report any unauthorized access or transactions to the appropriate parties immediately.
For more specific help and instructions related to Epik's data breach, please contact Epik support directly.
Where can I go to learn more?
If you want to find more information on the Epik data breach, check out the following news articles:
Rapidly implement a modern Zero Trust network that is more secure and maintainable than VPNs.
What happened in the Epik data breach?
Twingate Team
•
May 23, 2024
In September 2021, the domain registrar and web host Epik experienced a significant data breach, allegedly due to its connections with alt-right websites. The breach exposed a vast amount of data, including personal information of both Epik customers and non-customers whose data had been scraped from WHOIS records. The hacktivist collective Anonymous claimed responsibility for the breach, which has had far-reaching consequences for those affected, including job losses and potential real-world repercussions. The incident has raised concerns about data privacy and the security measures in place to protect sensitive information.
How many accounts were compromised?
The breach impacted data related to approximately 15 million individuals.
What data was leaked?
The data exposed in the breach encompassed email addresses, names, phone numbers, physical addresses, and purchase histories of affected individuals.
How was Epik hacked?
The Anonymous hacktivist collective breached Epik's systems through an "unauthorized intrusion," gaining access to a vast amount of data, including domain purchase and transfer details, account credentials, payment history, and employee emails. Although the specific methods used by the hackers were not detailed, a security researcher had previously identified a vulnerability in Epik's systems that could have allowed attackers to execute arbitrary code on their servers, which may have been exploited during the breach.
Epik's solution
In response to the data breach, Epik took action to address the situation and mitigate potential risks. However, specific details about the enhanced security measures implemented by the company are not readily available. It is known that Epik began emailing customers to inform them of the breach on September 19, 2021. While the company's exact steps to secure its platform and prevent future incidents remain unclear, it is reasonable to assume that they would have taken measures such as removing malware and backdoors, enhancing security protocols, and collaborating with cybersecurity experts for a thorough investigation.
How do I know if I was affected?
Epik has notified customers believed to be affected by the breach. If you're an Epik customer and haven't received a notification, you may visit Have I Been Pwned to check your credentials.
What should affected users do?
In general, affected users should:
Change Your Password: Immediately update your password for the breached account. Make sure the new password is strong and unique, not previously used on any other platform.
Reset Passwords for Other Accounts: If you've used the same or similar passwords for other online accounts, reset those as well. This is crucial as attackers often try using stolen passwords on multiple sites.
Enable Two-Factor Authentication (2FA): Activate 2FA on the affected account. Consider enabling this additional security feature on all other important online accounts to significantly reduce the risk of unauthorized access.
Monitor Your Accounts: Keep an eye on your accounts for any suspicious activity, and report any unauthorized access or transactions to the appropriate parties immediately.
For more specific help and instructions related to Epik's data breach, please contact Epik support directly.
Where can I go to learn more?
If you want to find more information on the Epik data breach, check out the following news articles:
Solutions
Solutions
The VPN replacement your workforce will love.
Solutions