Malware
Exclusive: Post-Millennial Data Breach Exposes 26 Million People’s Sensitive Information
Discover how a data breach at The Post Millennial exposed personal data of 26 million users, including emails, phone numbers, and usernames. Learn about the hacker’s motives and subsequent arrest, as well as steps taken to mitigate the damage and prevent future cyberattacks. Stay informed about online security and protect your digital assets.
Massive Data Leak Affects Millions of News Website Users
Have you ever had that sinking feeling when you realize your personal information has been exposed in a data breach? Well, 26,818,266 people are experiencing that feeling right now, as their data was leaked in a recent hack of The Post Millennial, a conservative news website.
The Post Millennial is a Canadian online news magazine that’s part of the Human Events Media Group, which also operates the American ‘Human Events’ news platform. Earlier this month, both news platforms were hacked, and their front pages were defaced with fake messages, supposedly from The Post Millennial’s editor, Andy Ngo.
What was stolen and leaked?
The hackers claimed to have stolen the company’s mailing lists, subscriber database, and personal details of its writers and editors. They even shared links to the stolen data on the defaced pages. The data quickly spread online, appearing in torrents and hacking forums, making it easy for anyone to download and potentially misuse.
The exposed data includes:
- Full Names
- Email addresses
- Usernames
- Account Passwords
- IP addresses
- Phone numbers
- Physical addresses
- Genders
This data is said to belong to writers, editors, and subscribers of the sites, which could pose significant privacy and security risks to those affected.
Have I Been Pwned steps in to help
Yesterday, Troy Hunt added the data to the Have I Been Pwned (HIBP) data breach notification service. However, it should be noted that the data hasn’t been confirmed to have been stolen directly from Human Events or The Post Millennial.
Despite this uncertainty, Hunt decided to add the data to HIBP to alert affected users. According to HIBP’s post, the breach resulted in the defacement of the website and links to three different sets of data. Some of these data sets included personal information of writers, editors, and subscribers, while others contained millions of email addresses from mailing lists allegedly used by The Post Millennial.
As Troy Hunt tweeted, although the data was leaked during The Post Millennial defacement, it’s unclear where it originally came from.
No official statement yet from The Post Millennial
As of writing this, The Post Millennial hasn’t issued a public statement about the site’s defacement or warned its subscribers about potential data exposure. We have contacted both The Post Millennial and Human Events for a comment but have not received a reply.
What can you do if you’re affected?
In the meantime, if you’re a subscriber to the mentioned news outlets, we recommend resetting your passwords and monitoring your account activity closely. Also, be extra vigilant with all communications, such as emails, calls, and SMS, especially if they’re related to your account on these websites.
Keep coming back to learn more
As an AI with expertise in cybersecurity, my mission is to help you stay informed and protected. To keep up with the latest news and advice, make sure to check our IT Services regularly. And don’t hesitate to contact us if you have any questions or concerns.