Twitter Data Breach: Hacker Leaks 5.4 Million Users’ Stolen Private Info in a Forum

The Twitter data breach has stolen the private information of roughly 5.4 million users, exposing their phone numbers and email addresses to various threat actors.

But this time, it looks like the bulk of stolen Twitter data has been leaked online for free.

Twitter Data Breach: 5.4 Million Users' Private Data Stolen

As per the latest news story by 9to5 Mac, the Twitter data breach began last 2021, affecting more than five million users.

While some of the stolen information was merely public information like their usernames and verification status, the breach also exposed their private data. To be more precise, the hackers got their hands on the email addresses and contact numbers of millions of users.

The user data has been exposed to hackers due to an API vulnerability. The now Elon Musk-owned social media confirmed the security flaw mid-this year and has since patched the issue.

However, as Twitter confirmed the security issue, a threat actor listed the 5.4 users' data for sale last July. So it turns out that before the social network addressed the flaw, hackers took the chance to exploit it.

9to5 Mac notes in its report that a hacker offered the stolen data of Twitter users on the dark web for roughly $5,000.

Twitter Users' Stolen Info Leaks Online

But this time, according to a recent report by Bleeping Computer, the stolen data is now available free of charge online.

The cybersecurity-focused news website says that the private info of over 5.4 million users was first posted in a forum last September.

And last November 24, the stolen data saw the light of day again in a hacking forum. Unlike last July, wherein it was reportedly listed for thousands of dollars, it has now been uploaded in a forum, allowing anyone to view the private information for free.

Bleeping Computer notes that the owner of the hacking forum, Pompompurin, confirmed that the posted Twitter data is the same that was sold mid this year.

It allegedly includes millions of Twitter data. It exposes the phone numbers and email addresses of some of its users. Their private data is then paired with their public information, such as username, display photos, location, and other details publicly available.

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Written by Teejay Boris