Linux Mint data breach: 144K accounts exposed
Severity: high · Patch status: no-fix-needed · Since 2016-02-22
In February 2016, the website for the Linux distro known as Linux Mint was hacked and the ISO infected with a backdoor. The site also ran a phpBB forum which was subsequently put up for sale complete with almost 145k email addresses, passwords and other personal subscriber information. Exposed data: avatars, dates of birth, email addresses, geographic locations, ip addresses, passwords, time zones, website activity. The breach dates from Feb 21, 2016; Have I Been Pwned loaded it on Feb 22, 2016.
What to do
- If you had a Linux Mint account, change its password and the password of any other account that reused it.
- Turn on multi-factor authentication wherever it is offered.
- Check whether your addresses are in this breach at https://haveibeenpwned.com.
- Expect targeted phishing that quotes the leaked details; verify any unexpected contact out of band.
Sources
All live incidents on Threat Watch