Adult dating site hack exposes millions of users
Hackers have struck one of the world’s largest internet dating websites, leaking the highly sensitive sexual information of almost four million users onto the web.
The stolen data reveals the sexual preferences of users, whether they’re gay or straight, and even indicates which ones might be seeking extramarital affairs. In addition, the hackers have revealed email addresses, usernames, dates of birth, postal codes and unique internet addresses of users’ computers.
Channel 4 News has been investigating the cyber underworld, discovering which websites have been hacked and exposing the trade in personal information of millions of people through so-called “dark web” sites.
The investigation led to a secretive forum in which a hacker nicknamed ROR[RG] posted the details of users of Adult FriendFinder. The site boasts 63 million users worldwide and claims more than 7 million British members. It bills itself as a “thriving sex community”, and as a result users often share sensitive sexual information when they sign up.
The information of 3.9m Adult FriendFinder members has been leaked, including those who told the site to delete their accounts.
Shaun Harper is one of those whose details have been published. “The site seemed OK, but when I got into it I realised it wasn’t really for me, I was looking for something longer term. But by that time I’d already given my information. You couldn’t get into the site without handing over information.
Within hours of the data being leaked, hackers on the forum said they intended to hit victims with spam emails, and Mr Harper has been targeted with virused emails since his information was made public.
Online crime experts believe the after the initial spam email campaign, hackers will now begin trawling through the data for potential blackmail targets. Continua a leggere “Adult dating site hack exposes millions of users” →
