- PBS confirms a data leak affecting nearly 4,000 people
- Someone shared a database on Discord, apparently to act “cool”
- The abuse potential is there, so users must be wary
The emblematic American television network was hacked and has lost precious contact details on its employees and affiliates.
However, the attack does not seem to have been made by maliciousness, but rather curiosity, and the desire to be “cool”.
Recently, a database has started to circulate on Discord servers, containing PBS business contact details. The database was not present on the Dark web forums, data extortion sites or something similar, but was shared on a “PBS Kids” channel, where fans of PBS children’s emissions come together to discuss.
“Rebellious curiosity”
Bleeping Compompute studied the database and confirmed that it contained information on nearly 4,000 PBS employees.
It came in the form of a JSON file, each recording containing an employee name, a corporate email, a title, a time zone, a department, a location, a work function, hobbies and the name of the supervisor.
PBS confirmed the authenticity of the flight, saying that young adults, adolescents and children share it “more than a feeling of novelty, rebellious curiosity or simply to gain a little notoriety within their peer groups”.
“It is less a question of using the data for a financial gain and more of the” cool factor “of having it,” said the company.
This does not mean that the archives cannot be recovered by real malicious actors and used for devastating phishing attacks.
PBS seems to be well aware of the potential of abuse and contacted people affected to warn them of potential attacks, scams and incoming fraud.
PBS, or Public Broadcasting Service, is a non-profit public television network in the United States. It does not produce shows, but rather distributes the content created by member stations and independent producers.
One of its most famous programs is Sesame Street which, in the meantime, has migrated to HBO and Max.
