Latest News
Animal Jam data breach: 100,000 de-hashed user records leaked, 900,000 more sold on hacker forum
![Animal Jam data breach: 100,000 de-hashed user records leaked, 900,000 more sold on hacker forum](https://europeangaming.eu/portal/wp-content/uploads/2020/12/Animal-Jam.jpg)
A database containing 900,000 user records from the free-to-play game Animal Jam is being sold on hacker forums, with another 100,000 records leaked as a proof-of-concept sample.
Animal Jam is a free-to-play pet simulator developed by WildWorks, a US-based game development studio. The game is available on iOS, Android, PC, and Mac, and has over 130 million registered accounts across all supported platforms.
Recently, the game suffered a data breach where a database containing more than 50 million stolen player records, including email addresses and hashed passwords, has been leaked on a hacker forum.
It seems that it took about a week for a second hacker to de-hash about a million passwords from the previous database and put the plain-text data for sale on another hacker forum: the user records stored in the file that was posted on the hacker forum on November 17 include the players’ email addresses and passwords in plain text.
To see if your email address has been exposed in this or other security breaches, use our personal data leak checker.
What data is contained in the leak?
The file posted on the hacker forum contains what appears to be 100,000 Animal Jam user records, including email addresses and presumably de-hashed passwords stored in plain text.
Such combinations of decrypted user credentials are also known as combo-lists, giving attackers ready-made, machine-readable strings. Combo-lists are typically used as input for automated authentication requests in various malicious activities, such as credential stuffing attacks.
What’s the impact of the leak?
Fortunately, the data found in the leaked file does not contain deeply sensitive information like document scans or credit card numbers. However, it can still be used against Animal Jam players in a variety of ways, such as:
- Carrying out credential stuffing attacks in order to hack players’ accounts in other games
- Holding players’ Animal Jam accounts ransom
- Spamming the victims’ email inboxes with malicious emails
Animal Jam is a free-to-play game that is targeted towards children and incorporates microtransactions. This means that selling stolen game accounts with unlocked premium features and cosmetics back to the affected players or their parents could net malicious actors a lot of money.
What to do if you have been affected?
If you (or your child) have an Animal Jam account and your data has been leaked on this hacker forum, we recommend you:
Change your Animal Jam and email passwords immediately and consider using a password manager to create long, complex passwords
If you have been using an identical password for any other games or online services, change it there as well.
Watch out for potential phishing emails. Do not click on anything suspicious or respond to anyone you don’t know.
Enable two-factor authentication (2FA) on all your online accounts.
De-hashing: The danger of using weak passwords
Judging from the Animal Jam combo-list sample posted on the hacker forum, the vast majority of the de-hashed passwords were weak and contained commonly used words and word-number combinations. While hashing is similar to encryption in that it scrambles input data into semi-randomized output data, there’s a significant difference: hashing is a one-way process.
Competent threat actors are able to de-hash weak passwords by taking acquired lists of password hashes and comparing them with hashes of known weak hash combinations. This is because of the difference between hashing and encryption: identical combinations of symbols will have the same hash value. This means that if a certain commonly used password has been de-hashed once, every other identical password can be de-hashed using the same value.
In fact, there are software tools that are designed specifically for these kinds of tasks. An attacker only needs to upload two text files (called “dictionaries”). The first dictionary is typically composed of hashed password column entries from a hacked database. In this case, it would be the hashed passwords from the previous Animal Jam breach.
The second column contains commonly used passwords or combinations of words, symbols and numbers. These combinations, when joined together, form the second dictionary.
The de-hashing tool takes the second dictionary and the hashes already known by the attacker and compares it with the first dictionary hashes. If any of the hashes match, the password is identified by the program and is associated with the plain text value, giving the attacker all the de-hashed passwords in plain text.
This might be how the threat actor who is selling the Animal Jam combo-list acquired a million passwords in a relatively short amount of time since the Animal Jam data breach.
Which brings us to the moral of the story: never use weak passwords. And if you’re as bad at creating and remembering strong passwords as we are… please, for the love of all that is holy, use a password manager.
Eastern Europe
Soft2Bet Invest Wins the “Outstanding Contribution to Gaming 2024” Award at SiGMA East Europe
![](https://europeangaming.eu/portal/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/Soft2Bet-Invest-Wins-the-Outstanding-Contribution-to-Gaming-2024-Award-at_20240906_162510_0000.png)
Soft2Bet is delighted to announce that its Soft2Bet Invest venture has won the Outstanding Contribution to Gaming 2024 award at this year’s SiGMA East Europe taking place this week in Budapest, Hungary.
The award celebrates executives and organisations that make significant impacts on the industry through technical innovation, advocacy or mentoring and investments. Winning the “Outstanding Contribution to Gaming 2024” award for this category is therefore fantastic recognition of Sof2Bet’s work and efforts in the field.
Soft2Bet Invest launched a €50m iGaming Innovation Fund to support innovative iGaming and casual gaming companies and provide financial and business support to entrepreneurs. It reaches across the corporate spectrum and is open to growth-stage and/or mature companies that are harnessing pioneering technologies in casual gaming, AI, traffic differentiators or behavioural-UX analytics.
Launched in 2024, Soft2Bet Invest has already attracted major interest from iGaming startups and visionaries wanting to innovate and revolutionise the sector. Its investment bracket ranges from €500K to €1m per individual project, with the investment strategy to be discussed on a case-by-case basis.
Martin Collins, Chief Business Development Officer at Soft2Bet, commented: “Winning this award is highly rewarding since we launched Soft2Bet Invest just this year. It shows the hunger there is among our industry peers for a specialist investment fund that can harness the energy within iGaming and turn entrepreneurial dreams into realities. Soft2Bet’s focus has always been innovation, of spirit, business and technology, and this award recognises those qualities. We’re truly delighted to have won it!”
Africa
Tusk Casino Celebrates Trace’s R2.3 Million Jackpot Victory
![Tusk Casino Celebrates Trace's R2.3 Million Jackpot Victory](https://europeangaming.eu/portal/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/SA.jpg)
Tusk Casino proudly announces another thrilling win for one of its players, Trace, who secured an impressive R2.3 Million on the Secrets of Cleopatra slot, crafted by PG Soft. This notable win is proof of the exciting potential of Tusk Casino, supported by www.SouthAfricanCasinos.co.za, the leading online gambling guide for South African players.
Trace’s Winning Moment at Tusk Casino
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SouthAfricanCasinos.co.za: Gateway to Winning Opportunities
As a premier guide for mobile casinos enthusiasts, SouthAfricanCasinos.co.za has earned the trust of countless players. Trace, after his significant win, commented, “Coming across Tusk Casino thanks to SouthAfricanCasinos.co.za was a turning point.” His experience mirrors that of many others who have benefited from the platform’s professional advice and well-researched recommendations.
About Tusk Casino
With its sophisticated design and user-friendly interface, Tusk Casino features an extraordinary collection of over 3000 online slot games from renowned developers worldwide. This online casino is dedicated to offering an outstanding gaming experience, highlighted by its impressive free no deposit casino bonus offerings and extensive game variety. Licensed by the Government of Curacao, Tusk Casino promises a safe, engaging, and highly rewarding online gaming environment for all South African players.
A Bright Future for Online Gambling in South Africa
Thanks to the support from SouthAfricanCasinos.co.za, Tusk Casino reaffirms its position as a leading venue for safe and exciting online gaming. This partnership provides players with the most up-to-date information and prime gambling opportunities, ensuring a secure and enjoyable experience for all participants.
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Trace’s impressive win at Tusk Casino not only transforms his life but also underscores the exciting possibilities available through SouthAfricanCasinos.co.za and Tusk Casino, marking a significant moment in the South African online gambling landscape.
Latest News
Atlaslive Celebrates Multiple Nominations for EIGE 2024, Including Best Marketing Campaign
![](https://europeangaming.eu/portal/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/11.jpg)
Atlaslive, a B2B software provider delivering high-quality solutions for the iGaming industry, has been shortlisted in all four of its nominated categories for the upcoming European iGaming Excellence (EIGE) Awards 2024. This recognition underscores Atlaslive’s commitment to innovation, excellence, and leadership in the iGaming industry.
The nominations include:
- Best Marketing Campaign: Our rebranding campaign has been recognized for its strategic approach and impact, reflecting Atlaslive’s dynamic evolution and our continuous efforts to connect more deeply with our partners.
- Best eSports Betting Provider: This nomination highlights our cutting-edge eSports offerings, which are designed to meet the growing demand for immersive and reliable eSports betting experiences.
- Innovation in iGaming Technology: At Atlaslive, we thrive on challenges and excel in high-pressure, high-traffic moments. Our peak performance technology, which ensures seamless operations even during the most demanding periods, has earned us a spot in this category.
- Best iGaming Supplier: Being recognized as one of the leading suppliers in the iGaming industry is a testament to our comprehensive and scalable solutions, which continue to set new standards for reliability and excellence.
The final vote for the EIGE 2024 Awards will take place during the European Gaming Congress, held on October 15-16, 2024, in Warsaw. Atlaslive is proud to attend as an industry leader, contributing its expertise in two key panel discussions:
- The Future of Esports: Opportunities and Challenges – October 15
- Optimizing Sportsbook Operations for Enhanced Performance – October 16
Atlaslive’s CEO, Maxim Slobodyanyuk, commented, “Our success is built on a foundation of relentless innovation and a deep understanding of the iGaming landscape. Every solution we develop is designed with our partners’ growth and success in mind, ensuring they have the tools they need to thrive in a competitive market. These nominations validate our strategic direction and the trust our partners place in us. We’re not just reacting to industry trends; we’re actively shaping the future of iGaming. By staying ahead of technological advancements and continuously refining our offerings, we aim to lead the industry in delivering exceptional value. Our vision is clear: to be the go-to partner for businesses seeking not only cutting-edge technology but also a collaborative and forward-thinking approach to long-term success.”
Join Atlaslive as the company shares insights and shapes the future of iGaming.
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