We can say that leaks on the Internet are frequent. It is something that can happen to all types of platforms that we use in our daily lives. It can even lead to password theft. In this case, we echo a data leak that has affected half a million users. It is a historic Internet game, where people from all over the world are registered. Furthermore, it is not the first time it has happened.
It has affected Chess.com. If you like chess, surely you have used it at some point. In addition, it is also quite popular for users who simply want to play this game sporadically, either on their mobile phone or on their computer. Therefore, many have been affected even if they do not use it frequently.
Data leak at Chess.com
Specifically, it is estimated that data from 476,121 users who have used this online game have been leaked. A database containing information from hundreds of thousands of users has been leaked and is available on Dark Web forums. But it was not the first time, since a few days ago data from more than 800,000 users was leaked.
But what data has been exposed exactly? This includes the users full name, profile links, email addresses, nationality, profile picture, user ID or the date they registered for this game. Personal data and information of this type can have great value for attackers on the network. They can use it to impersonate or even launch personalized Phishing attacks.
From Chess.com they indicate that they have not been victims of a computer attack. What exactly has happened is that cybercriminals have managed to exploit their public API and it was not an attack that directly impacted their servers. Basically, they have used their API to collect public data from users.
What is most worrying is the leaking of email addresses. They could create fake accounts that allow identity theft. It is an important problem that should be taken into account so that security and privacy are not affected.
Protect yourself
It is true that sometimes it is difficult to protect yourself from these attacks. There may be a vulnerability in a platform you are registered on and it is not up to you to prevent it. In addition, what is known as Web Scraping, which is basically removing public data from websites, further complicates the situation.
However, you can always take measures to reduce the risk. For example, if they manage to obtain your email through a leak, such as Chess.com, it is essential that you maintain common sense. If you receive an email asking you to log in or give certain information, never do it. You may be facing a Phishing attack.
It is also a good idea to have your equipment properly protected. It is essential to have a good antivirus, as this will help you detect the entry of malware that can compromise your system. Additionally, having the latest versions installed can allow you to fix vulnerabilities and thus avoid attacks.
In short, a new leak has affected the popular chess game Chess.com. If you have an account on this platform, your data may have been leaked. Just as you can protect access in Chrome, you can do it with any online service you use.
