linkedin.com
About This Breach
LinkedIn, the popular professional networking site, suffered a data breach in 2012, in which hackers obtained user data including email addresses and hashed passwords. The breach reportedly impacted over 167 million user accounts. In 2016, it was discovered that the compromised data was being sold on the dark web. Following the discovery, LinkedIn forced a password reset for all impacted accounts and implemented new security measures to prevent future breaches.
Data Exposed
Breach Details
| Breach Type | Data Breach |
| Searchable | Yes |
| Verified | Yes |
| Sensitive Data | No |
| Reference | https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2012_LinkedIn_hack (opens in new tab) |
Frequently Asked Questions
When did the LinkedIn data breach happen?
LinkedIn was breached in May 2012. The breach was added to the XposedOrNot index on November 8, 2023.
How many records were exposed in the LinkedIn breach?
160,042,644 records were exposed, making it the #17 largest of the 763 breaches in our index.
What data was exposed in the LinkedIn breach?
The exposed data includes: Email addresses, Passwords.
What should I do if I was affected by the LinkedIn breach?
Change your password on the affected service (and anywhere you reused it), turn on two-factor authentication, and set up free breach alerts on XposedOrNot so you know the moment your email appears in a new breach.
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What Should You Do?
Change Your Passwords
Update your password immediately, using 12+ characters with numbers and symbols.
Enable Two-Factor Authentication
Add 2FA on all supported accounts using an authenticator app like Google Authenticator or Authy.
Monitor Your Accounts
Set up login alerts and review account activity regularly for suspicious access.
Use a Password Manager
Never reuse passwords: use a password manager to generate unique ones for each account.