(NEXSTAR) — A notorious hacker group claims it has breached the data of about 560 million Ticketmaster users globally in a recent cyberattack, according to multiple reports.
The group called ShinyHunters alleges it accessed a trove of data from the ticketing giant, including names, emails, phone numbers, addresses and credit card details. Mashable and Newsweek reported that the hackers are trying to sell the information online for $500,000.
CyberDaily, an Australian-based tech outlet that first reported the breach, said the hackers posted that price tag on a dark web forum overnight on May 28.
The Australian Broadcasting Network also noted in a separate report that the country’s Department of Home Affairs is aware of the cyber incident and is working with Ticketmaster.
However, neither Ticketmaster nor its parent company, LiveNation, has issued a public statement confirming the breach. Neither companies have returned Nexstar’s request for comment.
Aside from a potential data leak, LiveNation is facing another challenge. Just last week, the U.S. Department of Justice along with 29 states filed a sweeping lawsuit accusing Live Nation and Ticketmaster of monopolizing the live entertainment industry.
The government accused Live Nation of tactics — including threats and retaliation — that have allowed the entertainment giant to “suffocate the competition” by controlling virtually every aspect of the industry, from concert promotion to ticketing.
Live Nation, which has for years denied that it is violating antitrust laws, said it would defend itself against the “baseless allegations.”
How to protect yourself from a data breach
Avoiding data breaches entirely can be tricky in our ever-digitized world, but consumers can take some steps to help protect themselves going forward.
The basics include creating hard-to-guess passwords and using multifactor authentication when possible. If you receive a notice about a breach, it’s a good idea to change your password and monitor account activity for any suspicious transactions.
You’ll also want to visit a company’s official website for reliable contact information — as scammers sometimes try to take advantage of news like data breaches to gain your trust through look-alike phishing emails or phone calls.
In addition, the Federal Trade Commission notes that nationwide credit bureaus — such as Equifax, Experian and TransUnion — offer free credit freezes and fraud alerts that consumers can set up to help protect themselves from identity theft and other malicious activity.
The Associated Press and The Hill contributed to this story.
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