- PBS confirms a data leakage that affects nearly 4,000 people
- Someone shared a database of disagreement, apparently to act “cool”
- The potential of abuse is there so users have to take care
Iconic American TV network PBS has been hacked and lost valuable contact information about its employees and affiliated companies.
However, the attack does not appear to have been made of evil, but rather curiosity and the desire to be “cool”.
Recently, a database began circulating on discord servers that allegedly contained PBS Corporate contact information. The database was not present at any dark web forums, data trekkstances or something similar, but was shared on a channel “PBS Kids” where fans of PBS Children’s shows meet to chat.
“Raised Curiosity”
Bleeping computer examined the database and confirmed that it contained information about almost 4,000 PBS employees and affiliated companies.
It came in the form of a JSON file where each entry containing an employee name, company -e -e -mail, title, time zone, department, location, job function, hobbies and the supervisor’s name.
PBS confirmed the authenticity of the leak and said that young adults, teens and children share it “more out of a feeling of news, rebellious curiosity or just to get a bit of notoriousness within their peer groups.”
“It’s less about utilizing the data for financial gain and more about the ‘cool factor’ by possessing them,” the company said.
This does not mean that the archives cannot be picked up by actual malicious actors and used for devastating phishing attacks.
PBS seems to be aware of the potential of abuse and has reached affected persons to warn them of potential attacks, fraud and incoming fraud.
PBS or public TV service is a non-profit, public TV network in the United States. It does not produce shows, but rather distributes content created by Member stations and independent producers.
One of its most famous programs is Sesame Street, which meanwhile migrated to HBO and Max.
