Security data from more than 500 million users have been stolen

A group of hackers has claimed to have stolen the details of 560 million Ticketmaster customers. HackRead reports that ShinyHunters has illegally acquired 1.3 TB of data, including full names, addresses, email addresses, phone numbers, ticket sales and event details, order information, and partial payment card data, including the last four digits of credit card numbers, expiration dates, and customer fraud details.

The group, known for its high-profile data breaches, has listed the data on Breach Forums, which it controls, for a one-time fee of $500,000. Earlier this month, Breach Forums was seized by the FBI, but the hackers regained control, proving their unmatched skill sets. The well-known hacker group says it’s attempted to contact Ticketmaster about the breach, but the Live Nation-owned company has yet to respond. Ticketmaster has also yet to publicly address the situation.

The global ticketing giant has had cybersecurity issues in the past, including tickets for Taylor’s Swift billion dollar-grossing Eras Tour being disrupted by a bot-drive attack last year. The company was also found guilty of hacking into rival Songkick to obtain confidential information in 2021, leading to a $10 million settlement to Songkick.

Last week, the US Justice Department, along with 30 state and district attorneys general, filed a civil antitrust lawsuit against Live Nation Entertainment Inc. and its wholly-owned subsidiary, Ticketmaster LLC (Live Nation-Ticketmaster) for monopolization and other unlawful conduct that thwarts competition in markets across the live entertainment industry. The lawsuit, which includes a request for structural relief, seeks to restore competition in the live concert industry, provide better choices at lower prices for fans, and open venue doors for working musicians and other performance artists.

In November 2022, US Senator Amy Klobuchar wrote a letter to Ticketmaster expressing concern about the lack of competition in the ticketing industry and questioning whether the company is taking the necessary steps to provide the best service it can to consumers.