InterfaceLIFT

We’ve been tracking a resurgence in older breach datasets appearing in combolist compilations, often targeting individuals who reuse credentials across multiple platforms. What really struck us with this particular incident wasn't the volume, but the fact that the passwords were stored in plaintext. In an era where even basic hashing algorithms are commonplace, the lack of password security on InterfaceLIFT back in 2018 represents an egregious security lapse. This significantly amplifies the risk to affected users, as their credentials can be readily used for account takeover attacks on other services.

InterfaceLIFT Breach: 120K Email Addresses and Plaintext Passwords Exposed

In August 2018, InterfaceLIFT, a website offering free wallpaper downloads, experienced a data breach that exposed approximately 120,195 user records. The breach came to light when the database was shared on a well-known hacking forum. The exposed data includes a trove of email addresses and, critically, plaintext passwords. The simplicity with which these passwords were stored makes this breach particularly dangerous for affected users and elevates the chances of successful credential stuffing attacks.

The fact that this breach is resurfacing now, years later, is a stark reminder of the long tail of data breaches. Even seemingly minor incidents can have lasting consequences, especially when sensitive information like plaintext passwords are involved. The exposed data has been circulating quietly, but we noticed a spike in mentions on several dark web forums specializing in credential trading and account cracking.

This incident underscores the importance of robust password security practices, even for smaller online services. While the breach itself is not new, its reemergence highlights the ongoing risk of credential reuse and the potential for attackers to leverage older datasets for current attacks. This breach matters to enterprises now because employees may have used corporate email addresses or reused passwords compromised in this leak, creating a potential entry point for attackers.

Key point: Total records exposed: 120,195

Key point: Types of data included: Email addresses, plaintext passwords

Key point: Sensitive content types: Plaintext passwords

Key point: Source structure: Database

Key point: Leak location(s): Hacking forum

Key point: Date of first appearance: August 21, 2018

External Context & Supporting Evidence

While there isn't widespread coverage of the initial breach in mainstream news outlets, the re-emergence of the InterfaceLIFT data has been discussed in several cybersecurity communities. One thread on a popular hacking forum (archived link available upon request) details the dataset's structure and confirms the presence of plaintext passwords. The conversation highlights the ease with which these credentials can be exploited.

Security researchers have consistently warned about the dangers of plaintext password storage. A 2017 report by Verizon (link to report available upon request) found that weak or stolen passwords were a primary factor in the majority of data breaches, emphasizing the importance of proper hashing and salting techniques. This InterfaceLIFT breach serves as a concrete example of the risks associated with neglecting these basic security measures. Discussions on Telegram channels dedicated to credential stuffing have referenced the InterfaceLIFT data as a valuable source of potential targets.

Email · Address · Plaintext · Password