TVING data leak affects KT, Naver, Kakao linked customers

South Korean streaming service TVING has confirmed that a significant personal data breach extends beyond its direct subscribers to include users who registered through affiliated services, such as KT and Naver.

The revelation comes as tens of thousands of KT customers, who had received TVING service vouchers as compensation for a previous KT data breach, are now found to be among those affected by the TVING leak. According to data submitted to lawmaker Lee Jung-heon's office, out of 586,000 KT customers who chose TVING vouchers, 416,000 were actively using the service and are now victims of the TVING data leak. This marks a second instance of personal information compromise for these individuals.

Furthermore, the breach encompasses users who signed up for TVING using simple login methods via platforms like Naver and Kakao. When using Naver for simple login, information such as name, email, and gender is transmitted to TVING. Similarly, Kakao login transfers Kakao profile details and other data.

The Ministry of Science and ICT and the Personal Information Protection Commission formed a joint public-private investigation team on March 3 to probe the cause and extent of the TVING breach. TVING reported the incident after an unidentified hacker accessed its database and exfiltrated user data. As of March 18, the estimated number of affected TVING users stands at 19.53 million. Lawmaker Lee urged the government to swiftly implement institutional improvements, including strengthening the accountability of affiliated companies, based on the investigation's findings.

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The government must swiftly rectify institutional shortcomings, including strengthening the responsibility of affiliated companies, based on the thorough investigation by the public-private joint investigation team.