Plex is one of those services that hardcore nerds absolutely love. It’s also getting a much higher profile these days, thanks to a series of feature additions like built-in free streaming TV. That profile appears to have attracted the wrong kind of attention. According to an email sent to users, Plex was hacked, and whoever did it made off with “emails, usernames, and encrypted passwords.”
That’s fairly typical as data breaches go, and there’s no indication that more sensitive data has gone missing, as noted by The Verge. Plex promises that, as far as it can tell, credit card numbers and other payment data wasn’t affected. Users’ private media libraries were apparently not compromised as part of the attack.
That being said, with usernames and (possibly, but unlikely) passwords it’s certainly possible for someone to get into said libraries. So if Plex hasn’t flagged your account for a password reset already, you might just want to do it manually. Oh, and while you’re at it, use a password manager already: the semi-randomized generators and encrypted storage are a lot better than going with your mom’s maiden name and your pet’s birthday. Check out our guide to password managers if you need a little help.
Author: Michael Crider, Staff Writer, PCWorld
Michael is a 10-year veteran of technology journalism, covering everything from Apple to ZTE. On PCWorld he's the resident keyboard nut, always using a new one for a review and building a new mechanical board or expanding his desktop "battlestation" in his off hours. Michael's previous bylines include Android Police, Digital Trends, Wired, Lifehacker, and How-To Geek, and he's covered events like CES and Mobile World Congress live. Michael lives in Pennsylvania where he's always looking forward to his next kayaking trip.