The Solana Foundation, which operates under the umbrella of the Solana Network, recently found itself in a conundrum involving a security breach through its email service provider, Mailchimp. On January 14, they disclosed this unsettling news, which has left both the users and the crypto community scratching their heads.
Who Dropped the Ball?
According to an email circulated to users and reported by Cointelegraph, Mailchimp notified the Solana Foundation on January 12 that, wait for it, “an unauthorized actor accessed and exported certain user data.” Sounds like a subplot straight out of a tech thriller, right? But this isn’t fiction; it’s real life.
What Data Was Involved?
It seems the data that went walkabout included user names and Telegram handles✨. The email from the Foundation brought some comfort (or maybe not) by stating that passwords and credit card information were safe and sound. So, if you were worried about a phantom stealing your crypto stash, relax. But they did say:
“The affected information may have included, inter alia, email addresses, names, and Telegram usernames, only if users provided such data.”
How Many Users Were Affected?
Ah, the million-dollar question: how many users were affected? That’s still up in the air. Official announcements from Solana or Mailchimp were as scarce as a unicorn in a mosh pit at the time of publication. Solana didn’t get back to Cointelegraph’s inquiries in a hurry either.
Not the First Rodeo for Crypto Breaches
This incident is reminiscent of another email expose in the crypto realm. Back in December, Cointelegraph reported that hackers made off with 5,701,649 lines of information from the crypto exchange, Gemini, including email addresses and partial phone numbers. So, if you think breaches are becoming the norm in crypto, you might just be right!
History of Mailchimp and Crypto Security Issues
If you thought this was a one-time occurrence, think again! Back in August 2022, Mailchimp had suspended services to crypto content creators, citing security concerns from malicious actors targeting crypto platforms. They even had to advise users about service interruptions and log-in issues, leading one to wonder if they have a “crypto curse.”
Mailchimp stated:
“The tech industry is seeing an uptick in sophisticated phishing and social engineering tactics targeting crypto-related companies.”
Stats Speak Volumes
The Beosin Global Web3 Security Report 2022 should keep all crypto aficionados on their toes, revealing 167 significant security incidents last year! A staggering 113 of those targeted DeFi projects, making up about 67.6% of all recorded attacks.
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