An anonymous hacker has claimed to have leaked a substantial amount of internal data and source code from The New York Times (NYT) on the image board 4chan. The leak, comprising over 270 GB of data, including more than 5,000 repositories and 3.6 million files, has triggered widespread concern and speculation about the potential repercussions for the renowned news organization. Despite the hacker’s anonymity, they posted a magnet link to the files on 4chan, encouraging users to download and disseminate the data. While the legitimacy of the leak remains unverified, cybersecurity experts and media outlets are treating the incident seriously.
The leaked data reportedly encompasses a diverse range of source code, including blueprints for popular games like Wordle, as well as email marketing campaigns and advertising reports. The hacker, signing off as “/aicg/” on 4chan, has hinted at the vastness of the leak by referring to fewer than 30 encrypted repositories within uncompressed tar files. The New York Times is yet to issue a formal response to inquiries about the breach, leaving questions unanswered regarding the extent and potential impact of the data breach.
The incident underscores the persistent threat posed by cyberattacks to major corporations, including media outlets like The New York Times. Previous breaches targeting prominent news organizations, such as the 2013 attack by the Syrian Electronic Army and suspected Russian cyber espionage in 2016, serve as stark reminders of the vulnerability of digital assets in the media industry. The timing of the NYT data leak, coinciding with a high-profile breach involving Disney, highlights the urgent need for robust cybersecurity measures across all sectors to mitigate the growing threat of cyberattacks.
