Discord has announced a security problem that may have leaked the personal ID photos of about 70,000 users. This happened because hackers attacked an outside company that helps Discord check user’s ages.
When Discord needs to confirm how old a user is, it asks them to send a photo of an official ID, like a driver’s license. The hackers stole these sensitive ID pictures. The leaked information might also include some personal details, parts of credit card numbers, and messages users sent to Discord’s help team.
Importantly, Discord says its own main systems were not hacked. The breach was limited to the third-party age-checking service. The company confirms that no full credit card numbers, user passwords, or private chat messages were stolen.
Discord has already contacted all the users who were affected. They are working with police to investigate the crime and have stopped the outside company from accessing their systems.
This kind of personal information is very valuable to criminals. Unlike a credit card, your government ID number and photo cannot be changed. Thieves can use this information to pretend to be you for a long time, opening new accounts or committing fraud.
This event shows the hidden risk that comes with sharing your ID online, even with a trusted platform. It is a reminder for everyone to be careful about where they upload their official documents.