Anonymous, a hacktivist group, claims that it has obtained gigabytes worth of data from Epik. Epik provides DNS, hosting, and domain name services for many clients. These sites include 8chan, Gab, Parler and Gab in Texas. The torrent contains the stolen data. Hacktivists claim that the data set is more than 180 GB and contains data that was stolen from the company over a decade ago.
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Anonymous claims that the data set contains all the information needed to trace the ownership and management of the fascist-oriented side of the Internet. This has been elusive for researchers, activists, and just about everyone else. This information could allow Epik's customers' identities and data to be accessed by researchers and activists.
Decades of Epik Stuff, Now at a Torrent near You
Epik is a domain registrar, web services provider and known for serving right-wing clients. Some of these clients have been rejected by mainstream IT providers because of the content they host.
Anonymous began their activities with "Operation Jane", which the group called after the Texas Heartbeat Act, which was passed this month. This law restricts abortion and allows private individuals to enforce the ban for six weeks. Any Texas resident may bring a civil suit against anyone who facilitates or performs illegal abortions and claim damages of at least $10,000.
Steven Monacelli, a journalist who spotted a note about the hack, was alerted to it by an Epik supporter. He has since been doxxed.
There are several SQL databases that contain what appears to be customer records for every Epik domain. Ars examined a subset of the leaked data, including what a source called an Epik employee’s mailbox that contains correspondence from Rob Monster, Epik CEO.
Distributed Denial Of Secrets (DDoSecrets), a whistleblower site, has made the data available via alternative means to those who are unable or unwilling to use torrents.
"We have not been aware of any breaches. "We take the security and privacy of our clients' data very seriously and we are investigating this allegation," an Epik representative said to Ars.
Hackers Alter Epiks Knowledge Base for Mock Company Response
Anonymous also altered Epik's knowledge to mock the company's denials of the breach.
"On September 13, 2021, an anonymous group of children, who we have never heard of, claimed they managed to obtain, well, honestly all of our data and then released it," stated the altered knowledge base. This archived copy shows this. They claim that it contained all user data. It all. All usernames, passwords and e-mails. Support queries. Breach of all anonymization services. It is not true. It wouldn't happen if we were so stupid.
The knowledge-base page concludes by saying, sarcastically, "We wrote this ourselves, but this is obviously not part the hacked account." Epik has since removed this page.
Anonymous had previously defaced Texas GOP's website, replacing references to "Help Texas Stay Red” with "Texas Taking Voices from Women" to promote theocratic destruction of state/church barriers. They also included links to Planned Parenthood, a reproductive health care organization.
This story first appeared on Ars Technica.
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