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Hacking group says it’s extorting Pornhub after stealing users’ viewing data
The hacking group Scattered Lapsus$ Hunters has claimed responsibility for extorting Pornhub after stealing personal data of its Premium users from Mixpanel, an analytics provider that reported a breach affecting multiple companies, including OpenAI. The stolen data includes user emails, viewing activity, and timestamps.
Key points
- Scattered Lapsus$ Hunters claims to extort Pornhub, having stolen data from Mixpanel.
- Data breach affects Pornhub Premium users' emails, location, video activity, and timestamps.
- Mixpanel reported the breach on November 8, impacting numerous corporate customers.
- Mixpanel's analytics tools track user interactions on websites/apps, revealing personal usage data.
- SoundCloud confirmed that about 20% of users were affected by unauthorized access linked to Mixpanel.
Why it matters
- Mixpanel's breach underscores vulnerabilities in data analytics services, prevalent in major IT trends through 2025.
- Ransomware and data extortion incidents have surged, highlighting the emerging threats in digital security.
- Companies increasingly face scrutiny on data protection measures and privacy laws post-breach.
This incident illustrates the escalating threat of cyber extortion in the digital landscape, emphasizing the need for robust data security practices among companies that rely on analytics services.