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BIPOC, Breaking News, LGBTQIA, Local, National

BREAKING: DNS and host provider Epik Software hacked by Anonymous

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An update to this story is available: Anonymous hack of Epik reveals a devastating amount of information

Editor’s Note: This story has been updated to reflect the amount of data hacked is 180GB.

[Sammamish, Wash.] – (MTN) Sammamish, Washington based Epik Sofware, the controversial DNS and host provider for websites and apps such as Parler, Gab, and 8Chan was breached by the hacker group Anonymous. The organization announced they were able to access and download ten years of data, with most of it unencrypted. In a message posted by the group, they provided details to access founder Rob Monster’s e-mails, as proof of their claims.

Epik Software provides hosting and DNS to thousands of websites, most involved in the dark corners of the web that spread hate, discuss and plan domestic terrorism, platform QAnon conspiracies, and spread disinformation. A DNS is similar to the physical address of a home or business. Websites use an IP address, which could be thought of as latitude and longitude for a physical location. Most people won’t navigate to an address using that data and instead will look for “100 Main Street.” A DNS provider enables a URL (or multiple URLs) to point to an IP to a common URL.

The potential information on the people or business behind sites such as Parler, Gab, The Storm Front, prolifewhistleblower, 8Chan, BitChute, and Patriot.win, to list a few. Additionally, Anonymous is claiming they have passwords, internal communications, and other data going back ten years. For some sites and apps such as Parler, most information is already known. The bigger reveal could expose thousands of people involved in websites that peddle suicide advice, medical misinformation, and support QAnon.

One-hundred-and-eighty gigabytes of compressed data were released and currently, several sources are working to verify the data and make it usable for researchers and journalists.

The company based out of Sammamish, Washington, and run by Rob Monster, operates under the banner of protecting First Amendment rights. However, the company has a history of not cooperating with criminal investigations when websites have crossed lines into potential criminal behavior.

The company recently made headlines for providing DNS services to the Texas website prolifewhistleblower, after GoDaddy booted the site. The website was created so people could report anyone helping a Texas resident gain access to an abortion, and earn a $10,000 bounty. Less than a week after Epik became the DNS, their legal team also dropped the website. GoDaddy has offices in Kirkland, Washington.

Breaking News, National

From Russia with love, Parler finds a new host via Latin America

Parler, the alternative social media platform that was shut down after every vendor supporting them abandoned the service, is back up and running. Yesterday, the website was live again, displaying a welcome message.

“Now seems like the right time to remind you all — both lovers and haters — why we started this platform. We believe privacy is paramount and free speech essential, especially on social media. Our aim has always been to provide a nonpartisan public square where individuals can enjoy and exercise their rights to both.“

“We will resolve any challenge before us and plan to welcome all of you back soon. We will not let civil discourse perish!”

In an exclusive phone call with Fox News, Parler CEO John Matze told the network, “I’m confident that by the end of the month, we’ll be back up.”

An Internet security expert told us, “Parler is using DDoS-Guard. Essentially, this is the Russian equivalent to CloudFlare that provides DDoS protection to a number of sites. The IP address is registered to DDoS-Guard with a Belize address, an administrative contact in Ecuador, and a Russian email address.“

Last week, Parler secured domain hosting with Sammammish based, Epik Software. With Parler addressing the needs for domain registration and hosting, they are likely now building servers, installing software, and transferring their software and database onto the new infrastructure. Said our contact in Internet security, “How long until they’re up depending on how long it takes them to get all that done.”