Mobile payment Startup Clinkle was hacked, compromising 33 test accounts.
Secret payment app startup Clinkle was the victim of a cyber-attack this last Friday. As the service has yet to be released to the public, the accounts compromised were internal test accounts. The profile data stolen was posted on the text storing and sharing website PasteBin. The data includes names, phone numbers and profile pictures.
The most surprising element of the ordeal was the information from a test account belonging to founder and CEO Lucas Duplan. The CEO of the startup, which recently raised $25 million, was pictured holding currency straps containing an amount around $30,000. Representatives from Clinkle stated the money in the photo was counterfeit and the picture was taken in a humorous fashion.
Leaked profile photo of Clinkle CEO Lucas Duplan, courtesy of TechCrunch
The attack has been found to be placed by Andrew Aude, a former Venmo intern. The news on the hack went live throughout the hacking community.
“We tracked the activity and Andrew Aude, former Venmo intern, was responsible for accessing the information. He also entered our system in September and exposed our screen shots. That said, only names, phone numbers, photos, and Clinkle unique IDs were accessible. He also entered our system in September and exposed our screen shots," said a spokesperson for Clinkle.
Clinkle is a mobile payment startup, with not many knowing just how it is planned to work. While the company received $25 million in funding from investors like Richard Branson, the patented technology is remaining secretive, with rumors of Payments being conducted through high frequency sound waves. Clinkle’s management team consists of former PayPal and Netflix executives. No release date for the service has been announced.
