Updated Links to torrents containing 128GB of data apparently pulled from Amazon-owned streaming service Twitch have been posted on 4chan.
Without a trace of irony, the anonymous poster described Twitch as a "disgusting toxic cesspool" and linked to the data, allegedly containing the source code for the Twitch site, other bits of published and unpublished software, and data on payments. made to Twitch Creators.
Twitter user @ Sinoc229 posted a long thread detailing the content of the files. Elliot padfield from "incubator" creator Padfield Ventures, who has also examined the files, said Register: "I think the leak is legitimate ... the codebase appears to be real."
Padfield was less sure about the winnings, which he estimated would cause a lot of drama. However, a source leak could cost Twitch a lot more in terms of competitive advantage.
Comedian and writer Richard Herring, which has been a creator on Twitch thanks in part to the pandemic-induced closure of live venues, is listed on the earnings list. He noted that his figure "seems high" before reflecting on what parts could be mined before an actual payment is made. The better part of the two-year earnings is also likely to be reflected in many of the totals shared on social media.
A breakdown of the data shared with Register by Troy Hunt, Microsoft Regional Director and Developer Security MVP, showed that the payments that apparently leaked were from August 2019 to this month. Hunt pointed out that the torrent was compressed data and therefore very considerable. He also warned that "it will take time to examine and verify."
For now, it does not appear that user passwords, addresses or banking information have been spilled, although the published data includes several zip files that supposedly detail "payments all income", with others titled "devtools", "chat" and, interestingly , "kevinbacon".
Herring didn't think the leak, while potentially annoying, would prevent him from using Twitch, and told him Register: "For me, it's a convenient place to try out wacky ideas (and locked in to give people additional content) and the money goes to creating more content through our podcast business."
Neither Twitch nor parent company Amazon responded to our multiple requests for comment and neither had made any public statements on any platform on the matter at the time of publication.
It's fair to say that her social media hole, at least, was quick to comment earlier this week.
Facebook down.
Mandatory meme here.
Like button below 👇- Twitch (@Twitch) October 4, 2021
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Updated to add at 15:32 UTC
Twitch has made a statement: "We can confirm that a violation has occurred. Our teams are working urgently to understand the scope of this. We will update the community as soon as additional information is available. Thank you for your patience."
