A federal filing has confirmed that Ticketmaster was the victim of a cyberattack that may have compromised the data of millions of users. This comes just days after multiple reports indicated that an investigation was underway.
The hack was confirmed by Ticketmaster’s parent company, Live Nation, in a recent filing with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. The filing stated that unauthorized activity was detected within a third-party cloud database containing company data on May 20.
Following the discovery, Live Nation launched an investigation to determine the extent of the breach. By May 27, a criminal threat actor had reportedly attempted to sell the stolen data from Ticketmaster on the dark web, according to the federal filing.
The New York Times and other sources have reported that a hacking group known as ShinyHunters has claimed responsibility for the breach, which allegedly includes users’ credit card information.
Live Nation stated, “We are taking steps to minimize risk to our users and Ticketmaster, and are collaborating with law enforcement. We are also informing regulatory authorities and affected users about the unauthorized access to personal information.”
Despite the incident, Live Nation and Ticketmaster have not yet disclosed information about the hack on their websites. Both companies have not responded to requests for comment from Scripps News.
Live Nation emphasized in the filing that the hack has not impacted its business operations or finances. The company continues to assess risks, and efforts to address the breach are ongoing.
The exact timing of the hack remains unclear, but Live Nation mentioned detecting the unauthorized activity shortly before the U.S. Justice Department sued the companies for alleged monopolization of the music and live entertainment sector.
U.S. Attorney General Merrick Garland stated, “It is time to break up Live Nation-Ticketmaster.”
In response to the lawsuit, Live Nation argued that the DOJ’s claim ignores the fundamental economics of live entertainment and predicted victory in court.
