Hackers Stole Accounts and Installed Malware in GoDaddy Breach

Website builder GoDaddy announced last month that for the past three years, it had been under attack from a

“sophisticated and organized group targeting hosting services”.

Sources say that a multi-year security breach had allowed unknown assailants to install malware and harvest source code from the website builder and hosting provider, as well as gain access to customers’ accounts in order to target them.

GoDaddy filed an SEC report in December 2022 after customer complaints that their website domains were redirecting to random addresses. However, in the report, it listed that the attacks had been ongoing since March 2020, during which they

“discovered a threat actor compromised the hosting login credentials of approximately 28,000 hosting customers to their hosting accounts as well as the login credentials of a small number of our personnel”

Another breach in November 2021 cemented the idea that these breaches were linked, and that an ongoing attack was underway against GoDaddy.

The November 2021 breach was particularly bad, leading to 1.2 million managed WordPress users getting their passwords compromised.

Since these attacks, GoDaddy has vowed to work with cybersecurity experts in order to root out these hackers and make sure users can entrust their data to GoDaddy’s hands. It’s more important than ever to ensure that you have secured your website.

Written By

Samuel Jagger

Hi, I’m Sam:

Samuel Jagger is a Senior Writer at Website Builder Expert, specializing in AI integration and web design theory. He has created editorial content for the publication since 2022 and has covered topics ranging from website design, ecommerce, digital marketing, and more. He’s written articles for apps like UXPin on web design in the modern age, as well as answered over 100 user comments on the site. Sam has also created his own websites, such as this Strikingly demo you can view here. He also writes and stars in the official WBE TikToks, sharing helpful website tips and commenting on the latest in website design news.

Previously, Samuel worked as a Freelance Blog Writer for The MIZU Hub and as a Digital Content Creator for Europa Music Management, working with musical artists like Purple Disco Machine, David Penn, and Monolink. Samuel has a Master of Arts in Creative Writing and a Bachelor of Arts in Film Practices from Newcastle University, where he graduated with honors and distinction.

Samuel is passionate about writing, visual media, and the creative arts. He is always looking for new avenues to funnel his creativity and align his skills with projects that interest him. You can find him and keep up to date with what he’s up to on his LinkedIn.

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