Earlier today, it was reported that a hacker had infiltrated theWebkinzdatabase and leaked the usernames and passwords of over 32 million players. Thankfully, theseaccounts do not store any personal informationsuch as address, payment info, phone numbers, or even last names, but players may still be wise to take precautions.
Furthermore, the passwords are encrypted by the MD5 Crypt Algorithm, meaning that even if a player’s username and password leaked, a nefarious party would have to decrypt it before putting it to any use. So far, noWebkinzPCaccounts have been breached as a result of the massive leak.
RELATED:Ninja Complains About Hackers After Playing Call of Duty: Warzone
That said, it is highly likely that the breach was not targetingWebkinzaccounts but the usernames and passwords themselves. Many peopleuse the same password for everything, meaning if someone were to get ahold of aWebkinzpassword, they may have access to many other things as well.
For those that have played or still do playWebkinz, it would be wise to change theWebkinzpassword as well as any other passwords that match it. Though the probability of this information being leveraged against users is slim, it never hurts to be on the safe side. To put minds even further at rest, there is a possibility that the usernames and passwords leaked were all fromarchived, inactive accounts, which have had all pertinent information removed completely from them.
Ganz, the company behindWebkinz, has acknowledged the breach and assures users that it has patched the point of entry used to leak this information. Claiming that players have nothing to worry about, the company continues to emphasize that should it determine there is a threat to people’s accounts or personal information it will force password resets across the network to ensure maximum security. The rather odd incident emphasizes the importance of encryption and security when it comes to online gaming, and it seems that Ganz was prepared for this eventuality. The company claims that it tookextra safety precautionswhen encrypting sensitive user information and will continue to look for other possible entry points for hackers.
Why someone would hack into theWebkinzdatabase during aninternational pandemicof all times remains to be seen, but it is heartening that Ganz has taken the situation seriously and dealt with any problems that arose swiftly. Still, it might be a good idea for associated users to change their passwords just in case.
Webkinzis available exclusively on PC.
MORE:Video Game Hacker Gives Infinity Ward Tips on How to Stop Call of Duty: Modern Warfare and Warzone Cheaters
