The Walt Disney Company is abandoning Slack as its internal communication platform following a massive data breach in July that exposed over 1TB of confidential files and messages. The breach, carried out by a hacker known as ‘NullBulge,’ affected nearly 10,000 Slack channels, leaking sensitive data related to Disney’s upcoming projects, financial information, and IT infrastructure.
According to reports from CNBC, Disney has already started migrating its internal communications to what it describes as “streamlined enterprise-wide collaboration tools.” The company informed employees through an internal email, stating that the transition will be completed by the end of the fiscal quarter. While it remains unclear which platform Disney will switch to, the breach has prompted the company to prioritize security enhancements in its digital communications.
The July breach, which reportedly compromised 1.1TB of sensitive data, highlighted the vulnerabilities of using third-party communication platforms. The hacker, ‘NullBulge,’ claimed to have accessed messages and files from thousands of channels, containing details about future projects and proprietary business information. This incident followed a similar breach in June, when Disney’s Confluence server was hacked, leaking 2.5GB of Club Penguin data and corporate records on the 4chan message board.
While the exact platform Disney plans to use remains under wraps, there is speculation that the company might shift to a more secure system, possibly Microsoft Teams or a custom-built internal solution. Given the growing number of corporate breaches via platforms like Slack, companies are reevaluating the security risks posed by third-party software. In the past, other high-profile companies, such as Uber and Activision, have also suffered breaches through Slack, raising questions about the platform’s security features.
Communication tools like Slack are attractive targets for cybercriminals due to the vast amounts of confidential data they host. Hackers can use stolen credentials to infiltrate company servers, gaining access to sensitive files and taunting victims. In 2022, the hacking group Lapsus$ compromised Uber’s Slack server, using stolen credentials to post messages and ridicule employees for their weak security practices. More recently, in August 2023, hackers breached Activision’s Slack, stealing data related to employee records and upcoming video game releases.
The threat of cyberattacks remains a pressing concern for corporations across industries. The Disney breach serves as a cautionary tale for businesses relying on third-party communication platforms without sufficiently robust security measures. As the digital landscape evolves, companies will need to invest in better safeguarding their sensitive information, especially as hackers continue to target high-value data.
Data breaches not only expose companies to financial losses but also shake public confidence and diminish trust in a company’s ability to protect its assets. As Disney moves forward with new collaboration tools, the company will likely implement stricter security protocols to prevent further incidents. However, the broader question remains: how can large corporations ensure the safety of their internal communications in an age of increasing cyber threats?
The reality is that the modern digital environment requires companies to rethink how they handle sensitive data. Whether using cloud-based platforms or building proprietary systems, corporate leaders must take proactive steps to minimize vulnerabilities and protect their operations from future attacks. The stakes are high, especially for organizations with the size and influence of Disney, where even a single breach can have significant, far-reaching consequences.
