IT guy 'shot' for email data leak

A Sydney-based music website has apologised to users after it accidentally exposed over 700 user names and passwords to members of its mailing list.

The website, 3D World, which is owned by destra media, blamed the leak on a malfunctioning email script.

In an email to subscribers, the site apologised for the error and claimed that ‘the IT guy responsible has been taken out the back and shot, repeatedly’.

The email was later posted to Internet forums.

A destra spokesperson told iTnews that the company was not aware of any unauthorised access to occur as a result of the leak.

However, a forum poster, zulugod, claimed to have ‘checked at least three [addresses] and was able to login under other people's accounts’.

Everyone affected will be provided with new accounts and passwords as soon as possible, 3D World said.

“In the meantime, if you did receive other people’s email addresses, please immediately delete them – permanently,” the website administrators urged.

“Do unto others as you’d have them do unto you.”

A destra spokesperson today confirmed to iTnews in a prepared statement that the incident was isolated and did not affect any other destra business or site.

“It was the result of a malfunctioning email script for the launch of the new 3D [World] site only,” the spokesperson said.

“Appropriate procedures have been put in place to prevent a recurrence.”

The spokesperson also claimed the leak had ‘only affected a small percentage of our users’.

“We have reset their accounts and we apologise for any inconvenience caused,” the spokesperson added.