Identification Images of Seventy Thousand Members Potentially Were Leaked, the Platform Reports
Discord, the communication service popular with video game players, reports that official ID photos of about 70,000 users have potentially been leaked following a digital security breach.
External Provider Targeted
The application, which boasts in excess of 200 million users worldwide, states that cybercriminals had compromised a company that assisted in confirming the ages of its members but the Discord platform itself was not breached.
Users can provide official pictures to authenticate their age bracket on Discord - a communication platform for gaming enthusiasts to interact and distribute materials with other members in the video game ecosystem.
Range of Data Exposure
The compromised details could include individual details, incomplete payment card information and messages that were shared with the platform's support representatives.
Entire financial data remained secure, passwords, or messages and activity outside of interactions with Discord's help desk representatives were leaked, the organization said.
Response Measures
Every affected account holder have been alerted and Discord is coordinating with police agencies to probe the situation, it added.
The platform said it has revoked the external company's permissions for the system that was compromised in the attack. Discord chose not to specify the third-party company compromised.
Divergent Reports
Some online commentators have alleged that the security incident was more extensive than Discord has acknowledged.
A spokesperson for Discord commented that those allegations are false and "part of an attempt to demand money" from the company.
"We will not reward those responsible for their criminal activities," the representative further stated.
Significance of Private Information
Cybercriminals regularly seek private information, which can obtain significant value on the underground economy for application for scams.
Information like full names and official ID numbers is highly sought-after because, different from financial data, it generally stays constant over time.
Previous Security Measures
Discord has previously enhanced its user authentication protocols in answer to worries that certain channels on the platform were being used to distribute inappropriate and harmful content.
- Approximately 70,000 users impacted
- Third-party age verification provider breached
- Fragmentary financial information could be compromised
- Support communications could have been viewed
- Law enforcement engaged in investigation