Hackers steal data from 560 million Ticketmaster users

In a major security breach, the hacking group ShinyHunters has stolen data from 560 million Ticketmaster users, demanding a ransom of £400,000 to prevent further dissemination. This attack, which resulted in the theft of 1.3 terabytes of personal information, is one of the most significant data breaches in recent history.

ShinyHunters has listed the stolen data on BreachForums, a dark web hacking forum that recently resurfaced after being shut down in 2023. The group is threatening to sell the data, which includes names, addresses, emails, and partial credit card details such as expiry dates and hashed card numbers if their ransom demand is not met.

This breach could potentially be the largest ever, both in terms of the number of individuals affected and the volume of data compromised. The BBC reports that the Australian Department of Home Affairs is collaborating with Ticketmaster to investigate the incident, while the FBI has also offered its assistance to Australian authorities.

Ticketmaster, already familiar with hacking scandals, faced a significant fine in 2020 after admitting to hacking competitor Crowdsurge and was fined $10 million. Additionally, the company reported in January that sales for Taylor Swift concerts had been disrupted by bot-driven cyber attacks.

This news emerges as Ticketmaster is embroiled in an ongoing court case involving the US Department of Justice and 29 states. The case alleges that Ticketmaster maintains a monopoly over ticket sales and actively suppresses competition.

Stay tuned for further developments as authorities work to address this significant breach and its implications for the millions of affected users.