Crunchyroll is investigating reports of a security breach after a hacker claimed to have stolen 100GB of data from the anime-streaming service.
“We are aware of recent claims and are currently working closely with leading cybersecurity experts to investigate the matter,” Crunchyroll told PCMag. However, the Sony-owned streamer indicated the breach might be overblown, noting that hackers often exaggerate their claims.
The streaming service is investigating after an X account known as “International Cyber Digest” posted about a hacker reaching out to them about the alleged breach. As evidence, the hacker apparently shared screenshots that suggest they had inside access to Crunchyroll’s IT systems.
This Tweet is currently unavailable. It might be loading or has been removed.
“We’ve analyzed sample data and it includes IP addresses, email addresses, credit card details, and more,” Cyber Digest says. “An employee of their outsourcing partner Telus had executed malware on his system, which gave a threat actor access to Crunchyroll’s environment.”
The hacker claims the breach occurred on March 12, the same day a user posted in a hacking forum about stealing email and IP address data from Crunchyroll, according to cybersecurity provider SOCRadar.
Recommended by Our Editors
Canada-based Telus offers third-party outsourcing and customer support through its Telus Digital business. And on March 12, Telus confirmed to BleepingComputer that it had been breached over a “multi-month” period by the notorious ShinyHunters hacking group. So, we might be looking at two separate hacking incidents at Telus. The company didn’t immediately respond to a request for comment.
So far, ShinyHunters has not boasted about breaching Crunchyroll. The group also reportedly breached Telus using stolen Google Cloud Platform credentials from another attack, rather than tricking an employee into executing malware.
Get Our Best Stories!
Stay Safe With the Latest Security News and Updates
By clicking Sign Me Up, you confirm you are 16+ and agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy
Policy.
Thanks for signing up!
Your subscription has been confirmed. Keep an eye on your inbox!
About Our Expert
Michael Kan
Senior Reporter
Experience
I’ve been a journalist for over 15 years. I got my start as a schools and cities reporter in Kansas City and joined PCMag in 2017, where I cover satellite internet services, cybersecurity, PC hardware, and more. I’m currently based in San Francisco, but previously spent over five years in China, covering the country’s technology sector.
Since 2020, I’ve covered the launch and explosive growth of SpaceX’s Starlink satellite internet service, writing 600+ stories on availability and feature launches, but also the regulatory battles over the expansion of satellite constellations, fights with rival providers like AST SpaceMobile and Amazon, and the effort to expand into satellite-based mobile service. I’ve combed through FCC filings for the latest news and driven to remote corners of California to test Starlink’s cellular service.
I also cover cyber threats, from ransomware gangs to the emergence of AI-based malware. Earlier this year, the FTC forced Avast to pay consumers $16.5 million for secretly harvesting and selling their personal information to third-party clients, as revealed in my joint investigation with Motherboard.
I also cover the PC graphics card market. Pandemic-era shortages led me to camp out in front of a Best Buy to get an RTX 3000. I’m now following how President Trump’s tariffs will affect the industry. I’m always eager to learn more, so please jump in the comments with feedback and send me tips.
Read Full Bio
