Bad news for people who prefer the world didn’t know what they get up to when nobody else is home: Pornhub has been hacked.
The watch histories of a large number of Pornhub Premium users has been compromised, along with details of their downloads and email addresses.
Yes, you read that right. A considerable number of people decided to sign up to a service where their personal data can be linked to their filthiest impulses.
According to tech news website BleepingComputer, the extortion gang behind the hack is called ShinyHunters.
More than 200 million records of personal info are reportedly involved, though this likely includes multiple records per account.
A ‘small sample of data’ shared with the outlet contains ‘a large amount of sensitive information that a member would not likely want publicly disclosed’, it worryingly said.
News agency Reuters was also given a data sample by the hacking group, who seem only too keen to give journalists a little tease of what they’ve got.
Three presumably mortified men in the US and Canada confirmed to the agency that the information on them was authentic, though old (so their tastes may have developed).
ShinyHunters told Reuters in a statement: ‘We’re demanding a ransom payment in Bitcoin to prevent the publication of [Pornhub] data and delete the data.’
The exact ransom is not clear, but Pornhub said it ‘immediately launched a comprehensive internal investigation’ after learning of the breach.
If there’s a silver lining, the adult website has reassured users: ‘Passwords, payment details and financial information remain secure and were not exposed.’
So strangers may learn the kinks that help you goon (internet slang, verb: To masturbate for a significant length of time without reaching climax) but at least you don’t need to order a new debit card.
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