With our free press under threat and federal funding for public media gone, your support matters more than ever. Help keep the LAist newsroom strong, become a monthly member or increase your support today.
Ticketmaster Hack May Affect More Than 500 Million Customers
In this photo illustration, a Ticketmaster website is shown on a computer screen on Nov. 18, 2022, in Miami.
(
Joe Raedle
/
Getty Images
)
Ticketmaster's parent company says it is investigating a possible data breach after a group of hackers claimed to have stolen the personal information of 560 million Ticketmaster customers.
In a securities filing , Ticketmaster owner Live Nation said it identified "unauthorized activity within a third-party cloud database environment containing Company data" on May 20.
A week later, the hacking group ShinyHunters claimed it had obtained 1.3 terabytes of Ticketmaster user data, including names, addresses, phone numbers, as well as order details and credit card information. The hackers were selling the data on the dark web for $500,000, according to Hack Read .
As of Friday, Live Nation said there was no evidence that the data breach had a "material impact" on its business operations. The company added that it is working to mitigate risk to its users and has notified law enforcement.
Sponsored message
"As appropriate, we are also notifying regulatory authorities and users with respect to unauthorized access to personal information," Live Nation said.
Ticketmaster did not immediately respond to NPR's request for comment.
According to the Justice Department, ShinyHunters has marketed stolen data from over 60 companies in the U.S. and globally since early 2020.
"The victims range from tech companies, to an international stock trading company, to an apparel company, and a nutrition and fitness company," the department said in January 2023. "Millions of customer records were included in the stolen data."
The cyberattack comes as Ticketmaster faces legal troubles. On May 23, the Justice Department and 30 state and district attorneys general filed a federal lawsuit against Live Nation, alleging that it created a monopoly on live event ticket prices.
The suit has the potential to reshape the live entertainment industry, as well as the fees and costs associated with live events.
Sponsored message
Copyright 2024 NPR. To see more, visit npr.org .
At LAist, we believe in journalism without censorship and the right of a free press to speak truth to those in power. Our hard-hitting watchdog reporting on local government, climate, and the ongoing housing and homelessness crisis is trustworthy, independent and freely accessible to everyone thanks to the support of readers like you.
But the game has changed: Congress voted to eliminate funding for public media across the country. Here at LAist that means a loss of $1.7 million in our budget every year. We want to assure you that despite growing threats to free press and free speech, LAist will remain a voice you know and trust. Speaking frankly, the amount of reader support we receive will help determine how strong of a newsroom we are going forward to cover the important news in our community.
We’re asking you to stand up for independent reporting that will not be silenced. With more individuals like you supporting this public service, we can continue to provide essential coverage for Southern Californians that you can’t find anywhere else. Become a monthly member today to help sustain this mission.
Thank you for your generous support and belief in the value of independent news.
But the game has changed: Congress voted to eliminate funding for public media across the country. Here at LAist that means a loss of $1.7 million in our budget every year. We want to assure you that despite growing threats to free press and free speech, LAist will remain a voice you know and trust. Speaking frankly, the amount of reader support we receive will help determine how strong of a newsroom we are going forward to cover the important news in our community.
We’re asking you to stand up for independent reporting that will not be silenced. With more individuals like you supporting this public service, we can continue to provide essential coverage for Southern Californians that you can’t find anywhere else. Become a monthly member today to help sustain this mission.
Thank you for your generous support and belief in the value of independent news.
Senior Vice President News, Editor in Chief
