Ticketmaster Breach Impacts 560 Million Customers

More than half a billion Ticketmaster customers may have had their personal and credit card data compromised after the ticket agency fell victim to a cyberattack, according to a new report.

The personal information of 560 million customers has been compromised after hackers accessed 1.3 terabytes of data including emails, phone numbers, addresses and credit card data, claimed the ShinyHunters hacker group.

The group claimed responsibility for the breach and said it is selling that stolen data on BreachForms for $500,000. 

Neither Ticketmaster nor its parent company Live Nation Entertainment have publicly commented on the breach. 

Lisa Plaggemier, executive director at the National Cybersecurity Alliance, said the breach not only underscores the impact these incidents have on individuals but also presents significant challenges for Ticketmaster. 

“The recent breach at Ticketmaster, compromising the personal data of more than 560 million users, underscores the profound impact such incidents can have on individuals' security and privacy,” Plaggemier said. “Users affected by this breach now face heightened risk of identity theft and financial fraud, necessitating urgent measures to mitigate these potential consequences. 

“Transparent communication from Ticketmaster is crucial in providing affected users with the necessary information and support to safeguard their personal information and financial accounts.”

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As a company, Ticketmaster would face significant challenges beyond just reputational damage, Plaggemier said as the incident highlights the pressing need for companies to prioritize robust cybersecurity measures to protect customer data and maintain trust. 

“Ticketmaster must now demonstrate a proactive approach in addressing the breach, implementing enhanced security protocols and fostering a culture of cybersecurity awareness to prevent future incidents,” she said. “These measures will be critical to Ticketmaster’s ability to rebuild trust with its users and mitigate the long-term impact of this breach on its operations and reputation.”

Darren Williams, CEO and founder of global cybersecurity company BlackFog, said the breach highlights the scale of these operations and underscores the need for companies to invest in data security.

“Now that the data has been exfiltrated from Ticketmaster, the threat group can continuously target the individuals through social engineering and phishing attempts,” said Williams. “Large entities, especially those such as Ticketmaster, must invest in anti data exfiltration technology to ensure no data is leaving their system without proper authorization."

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The breach comes on the heels of the Department of Justice filing a lawsuit against Ticketmaster’s parent company, Live Nation Entertainment, alleging both companies hold an unfair monopoly in the live event ticket market. The lawsuit aims to break that monopoly.