Discord.io, a third-party service that provides custom invite URLs for Discord servers, has recently come under the spotlight due to a significant data breach. This breach has exposed the sensitive information of its members, raising concerns about the security of user data and the service’s practices.
In this article, we will delve into the service and answer what is Discord.io, how it functions, its relation to Discord, and the details surrounding the recent data breach.
If you wish to read more about the data breach in detail, make sure to refer to our article on it and see how Discord.io’s data breach leaked the personal details of around 760,000 users.
What is Discord.io?
Discord.io is a platform that offers custom invite URLs for Discord servers. It is important to note that Discord.io is not affiliated with Discord, the popular communication platform primarily used by gamers and communities. The service aimed to provide a convenient way for server owners to generate custom invite links, making it easier for users to join specific servers tailored to their interests.
Functionality and purpose
The primary purpose of Discord.io was to facilitate the creation of personalized invite links for Discord servers. Users could generate these links on the Discord.io platform, allowing others to easily join the server without manually searching for it on the official Discord site. The service was popular among different interest groups, ranging from gaming and anime communities to adult content enthusiasts.
Relation to Discord
To wrap your mind around the question of what is Discord.io, it’s important to emphasize that it is an independent service and is not an official part of the Discord platform. While Discord.io aimed to enhance the user experience by providing custom invite URLs, its functionality was separate from the core features offered by Discord. Users who wanted to access servers through these custom invites would ultimately be redirected to the official Discord site, where they might need to create a new account if they didn’t have one.
The recent data breach
One of the significant events in Discord.io’s history is the recent data breach that compromised the personal information of approximately 760,000 members. The breach was identified by a hacker known as ‘Akhirah,’ who then attempted to sell the breached data on darknet forums.
As a result of the breach, Discord.io took swift action by confirming the authenticity of the breach and temporarily shutting down its services. The breached data included both non-sensitive and potentially sensitive information. The non-sensitive data encompassed internal user IDs, user avatars, user statuses, coin balances, API keys for some users, and registration/payment dates. The potentially sensitive data included usernames, Discord IDs, email addresses, billing addresses for a select few users, and salted and hashed passwords for some accounts.
Response and measures taken
In response to the breach, Discord.io took several measures to mitigate the impact and secure user data. They revoked OAuth tokens for users who had used Discord.io, preventing the app from performing actions on behalf of those users until re-authentication. They also canceled all existing premium subscriptions and encouraged users to change passwords and enable two-factor authentication (2FA) to enhance their account security.
The Discord.io team confirmed the breach’s legitimacy and provided a comprehensive timeline of events leading up to the breach’s discovery. They acknowledged the compromised data and explained the actions they had taken, including shutting down services and contacting affected users.
While the future of Discord.io remains uncertain, the incident underscores the importance of vigilance and security in the digital landscape. Users should stay informed about such incidents and take proactive measures to protect their personal information online.
Featured image credit: Discord.io
