**Pornhub Hacked: Premium Members' Watch and Search History at Risk of Leaking**
A potential data breach affecting over 200 million Pornhub Premium subscribers has left users on edge. The hacking incident occurred when a third-party analytics partner, Mixpanel, was compromised through a smishing (SMS phishing) attack on November 8.
The hack has not resulted in the theft of sensitive information such as passwords, payment details, financial information, or government IDs. However, it's possible that hackers may have gained access to users' watch and search history, which could be made public if Pornhub doesn't meet the ransom demands of the attackers.
Pornhub's parent company initially stated that their partnership with Mixpanel ended in 2021, but later reported that a legitimate employee account at their parent company accessed the data in 2023. This has led to confusion over how the hackers obtained access to the data.
Ransomware group ShinyHunters has since claimed credit for the hack via email messages demanding a ransom from affected companies. Pornhub's dataset contains search, watch, and download histories for Premium subscribers, which could be devastating if leaked to the public.
**What Does This Mean for You?**
If you're a long-time or past Pornhub Premium subscriber, it's essential to take precautions to protect your privacy. The breach poses two significant risks: extortion and scams.
Extortion:
- You may be at risk of later extortion attempts if Pornhub doesn't meet the ransom demands of the attackers.
- Paying a ransom could lead to further demands for additional or higher amounts of cash, so it's crucial to plan ahead.
Scams:
- If the Pornhub data leaks, be wary of messages or invitations that align with your tastes.
- Scammers have become more sophisticated in crafting specialized campaigns using AI tools, which could lead to romance scams and other types of attacks.
**Protecting Yourself**
To minimize the risks associated with this breach:
- Consider switching to masked email addresses for your accounts. These aliases hide your real email address while still routing messages back to your main inbox, preventing attackers from identifying you or building a profile of you.
**Conclusion**
Data leaks will continue to occur in the future, and it's essential to assume that any details provided to websites could become public through no fault of your own. Plan accordingly by taking proactive steps to protect yourself online.
By Alaina Yee, Senior Editor, PCWorld
Alaina has been covering technology and video games for over 14 years. Her focus is on security, helping people understand how best to protect themselves online.