Discord, a platform heavily utilized by cryptocurrency enthusiasts, has recently issued a data breach warning. Although this incident may not directly concern crypto investors, the potential indirect consequences could be concerning. Fortunately, the Discord data breach does not encompass all user information.
Details of the Discord Data Breach
According to an email sent by the company, a limited data breach occurred due to a third-party customer service partner. The breach involved information from users who had contacted Discord through customer service or security channels. The attackers have demanded a ransom from Discord’s authorities, threatening to release the captured data if not paid.
- Name
- Username
- Partial Credit Card Information
- IP Address
- Messages with Customer Service
Additionally, some users who communicated with customer service had their identity images exposed in the breach. However, full credit card details and user passwords were not impacted by this incident.
Recommended Actions
If you received a warning email from Discord, it indicates that your data was affected. In the event that you shared an identity image, attackers might exploit it on platforms with less stringent KYC and AML policies. Moreover, your email could become a target for fraudsters, especially if it matches with real name information.
Well-coordinated groups like Lazarus might use this data to target administrators of popular crypto protocols. Past incidents have shown attackers using leaked personal emails to conduct incursions against crypto investors and protocol teams.
In response to the warning from Discord, it is advisable to assume a worst-case scenario. Check and enhance the complexity of your email password, and consider activating two-factor authentication. Highly visible users on Discord might become targets for phishing emails crafted with specific scenarios in mind.
Lastly, the breach has led to the exposure of some anonymous users’ identities. If renowned individuals in the crypto space have interacted with Discord’s customer service, their identities might be revealed should the data be published (a usual step when ransom demands are unmet).
