As the old saying goes, "You can't con an honest man."
Hackers who are trying to blackmail Adult Friend Finder users seem to be
using that same logic.
Adult Friend Finder
Nearly four million accounts on Adult Friend Finder, a casual
dating site that enables users to meet for sex, have been hacked. User's
names, email addresses, whether an individual was single and other
sensitive details were compromised in the breach, with authorities
suggesting the hackers were motivated by the opportunity to blackmail
embarrassed users.
An investigation by Britain's
Channel 4 News revealed
Thursday that 3.9 million of Adult Friend Finder's 64 million users
(more than both Match.com and eHarmony) had their information stolen and
leaked to a hacker forum. It looks like hackers launched a phishing
campaign, which includes sending malware infected emails in bulk, and
convinced users to enter their log-in information. From there, thieves
can use that information to steal a target's identity, or in this case
threaten to reveal they're listed as “seeking an extramarital affairs”
unless they pay up.
Initial reports say deleted accounts have also been affected.
The site describes itself as a “thriving sexual community” that
emphasizes the physical, erotic aspect of romance, rather than helping
people find a lasting connection. The site has been criticized for
listing far more men than women and for enabling prostitution.
Parent company Friend Finder Networks Inc said in a statement it
“understands and fully appreciates the seriousness of the issue. We have
already begun working closely with law enforcement and have launched a
comprehensive investigation with the help of a leading third-party
forensics expert,” as
quoted by Business Insider.
