Twitch Confirms Massive Data Breach Exposing Source Code and Payouts
Twitch confirms a major data breach that exposes its entire source code, internal tools, and creator payout records. The anonymous leaker warns that this released cache is only part one of the incident.
Twitch confirms a massive data breach after an anonymous hacker publishes the company's entire source code, proprietary SDKs, and unreleased software online. The leaker claims to have also taken Twitch's internal red team security tools and warns that this initial release is simply "part one" of a larger leak. TechCrunch reports that the video game streaming giant became internally aware of the cyberattack on Monday before the stolen data circulated widely on Wednesday.
The leaked cache includes highly sensitive creator payout records that reveal exactly how much individual streamers earn on the platform. Several high-profile broadcasters verify the accuracy of the leaked financial data by comparing it to their own internal analytics dashboards. Because the exposed records contain personal information, the exact details of the leaked payouts remain restricted from public distribution.
Security experts warn that the public release of Twitch's source code creates a significant risk, as it allows anyone to scrutinize the underlying technology for hidden vulnerabilities. This major cybersecurity incident occurs almost exactly one month after Twitch streamers organized a widespread boycott to protest the platform's failure to stop hate raids. Amazon acquired the streaming service for approximately $1 billion in 2014.