A threat actor under the username “Dastardy” has allegedly put up a large database for sale on a dark web forum.
According to the individual, the data comes from a social media platform that reportedly generates a substantial revenue of $14 billion.
Reports suggest that the database, acquired by the threat actor, is said to cover over 1.9 terabytes when compressed.
A Twitter user known for reporting on dark web-related news and activities, Daily Dark Web, was the first to bring attention to this potential breach.
Reports indicate that Dastardy has recently advertised the database for sale, claiming it will only be available for a limited time.
Interested buyers are required by the seller to provide proof of purchase before receiving a sample of the data.
Transactions are said to be conducted exclusively through Escrow, a method commonly utilized to ensure secure transactions in certain markets.
The threat actor has chosen not to reveal the price of the database nor the methods of payment accepted, which has only increased the curiosity surrounding this illegal transaction.
This potential data breach will have dire consequences to both the social media platform in question and its users.
Not to mention, privacy and security lawsuits for the unnamed social media platform, if the breach is proven to be true.
The identity of the social media platform involved in the incident is still unknown, leaving concrete details hard to come by.
Speculation suggests platforms like LinkedIn, which reported revenues in the vicinity of $15 billion in 2023 according to Statista, but their systems appear to have no down time and no signs of a data breach to date.
The legitimacy of Dastardy's claims and the database itself remain unverified. It is very common for such claims to exaggerated or fabricated entirely to deceive potential buyers on underground forums.