In early October, an anonymous 4chan user posted a 125GB torrent link to the 4chan site containing breached data from the popular streaming platform Twitch. The hacker claimed that the intent of the leak was to “foster more disruption and competition in the online video streaming space”, suggesting that the breach was driven by spiteful intent. Twitch has since confirmed the breach and stated that it is still working to comprehend the full impact of the incident.
So, what happened? According to Twitch, an error in a server configuration allowed the unknown hacker to maliciously gain access to sensitive reports and unreleased information. Fortunately, there has been no indication that login credentials were accessed and because the platform does not store full credit card numbers, full credit card numbers had not been retrieved. In an attempt to prevent similar breaches from occurring, Twitch has recently increased its bug bounty pay-outs from $3,000 to $5,000.
Bug bounties are deals offered by organizations and websites that promise monetary pay-outs in exchange for reporting bugs that may lead to security exploits and vulnerabilities. Twitch appears desperate to seal off any and all entry points, as labeling of the leak as “part one” suggests that more hacking attempts are likely. If you’re concerned about the security of your organization’s endpoints, feel free to contact us at sales@perusity.com or call us at (571) 370-5777.