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Hackers Claim Target Source Code Theft, Doubts Linger
21 Aug
Summary
- Hacker 'Xpl0itrs' claims to have stolen 8.6GB of Target's source code.
- Researchers suspect the alleged data is recycled from a January breach.
- 'Xpl0itrs' has a history of questionable claims and unfulfilled threats.
A hacker using the alias Xpl0itrs has claimed to have stolen 8.6GB of Target's source code and is demanding payment to prevent its release on the dark web. This claim follows a confirmed 860GB data breach of Target's systems in January 2026. Security researchers have expressed significant skepticism regarding Xpl0itrs's latest assertion.
Evidence suggests that the data Xpl0itrs claims to possess may be recycled material from the earlier, validated breach. The hacker's track record further supports this skepticism. In June 2026, Xpl0itrs teased potential data leaks from entities like Spotify and OpenAI, none of which materialized. Prior claims involving BMW data were also partially debunked, with some information found to be publicly accessible.
The lack of data samples provided by Xpl0itrs, combined with their history of unfulfilled threats and questionable past leak assertions, leads many experts to believe this new claim is unsubstantiated. The cybersecurity community remains vigilant but wary of this unverified breach attempt.
