DataBreaches.Net

Menu
  • About
  • Breach Notification Laws
  • Privacy Policy
  • Transparency Report
Menu

Millions of LinkedIn passwords posted online; company’s response criticized

Posted on June 9, 2012 by Dissent

The online professional networking website LinkedIn has confirmed that “some” of its users’ passwords were stolen when it was hacked today, but the person responsible says it’s almost 6.5 million.

In a blog post earlier this morning, the LinkedIn team posted: “We can confirm that some of the passwords that were compromised correspond to LinkedIn accounts. We are continuing to investigate this situation and here is what we are pursuing as far as next steps for the compromised accounts.”

A message on its Twitter account early today said, “Our team is currently looking into reports of stolen passwords. Stay tuned for more.”

The alert was initially raised by Norwegian IT publication Dagens.it which reported that a Russian hacker website posted some 6.5 million encrypted passwords on its forum thought to have come from LinkedIn.

The hackers apparently wanted get help cracking the encrypted passwords.

Read more on The Daily Telegraph.

Jim Finkle and Jennifer Saba of Reuters report:

 LinkedIn Corp’s silence on the extent of a security breach that exposed millions of user passwords has damaged its reputation among some business professionals, and may slow the growing company’s rise if the breach turns out to be more serious than disclosed.

Several days after news of the theft of the passwords emerged, the site with more than 160 million members still says it has yet to determine the full extent of the breach.

Some cyber security experts say LinkedIn did not have adequate protections in place, and warn that the company could uncover further data-losses over coming days as it tries to figure out what happened.

Read more on Reuters.  One of the criticisms noted by others is that the firm reportedly had neither a chief information officer nor chief information security officer.

This breach has certainly gotten a lot of media coverage. There are already over 1250 news stories about it.

 

Category: Breach IncidentsBusiness SectorHackOf NoteU.S.

Post navigation

← Last.fm and eHarmony passwords stolen (updated)
DocuSign user information found through Google search (updated) →

Now more than ever

"Stand with Ukraine:" above raised hands. The illustration is in blue and yellow, the colors of Ukraine's flag.

Search

Browse by Categories

Recent Posts

  • When ransomware listings create confusion as to who the victim was
  • Rajkot civic body’s GIS website hit by cyber attack, over 400 GB data feared stolen
  • Taiwan’s BitoPro hit by NT$345 million cryptocurrency hack
  • Texas gastroenterology and surgical practice victim of ransomware attack
  • Romanian Citizen Pleads Guilty to ‘Swatting’ Numerous Members of Congress, Churches, and Former U.S. President
  • North Dakota Enacts Financial Data Security and Data Breach Notification Requirements
  • Pro-Ukraine hacker group Black Owl poses ‘major threat’ to Russia, Kaspersky says
  • Vanta bug exposed customers’ data to other customers
  • Lyrix Ransomware Targets Windows Users with Advanced Evasion Techniques
  • Central Maine Healthcare tackles suspected cybersecurity issue; hospitals remain open

No, You Can’t Buy a Post or an Interview

This site does not accept sponsored posts or link-back arrangements. Inquiries about either are ignored.

And despite what some trolls may try to claim: DataBreaches has never accepted even one dime to interview or report on anyone. Nor will DataBreaches ever pay anyone for data or to interview them.

Want to Get Our RSS Feed?

Grab it here:

https://databreaches.net/feed/

RSS Recent Posts on PogoWasRight.org

  • Florida ban on kids using social media likely unconstitutional, judge rules
  • State Data Minimization Laws Spark Compliance Uncertainty
  • Supreme Court Agrees to Clarify Emergency Situations Where Police Don’t Need Warrant
  • Stewart Baker vs. Orin Kerr on “The Digital Fourth Amendment”
  • Fears Grow Over ICE’s Reach Into Schools
  • Resource: HoganLovells Asia-Pacific Data, Privacy and Cybersecurity Guide 2025
  • She Got an Abortion. So A Texas Cop Used 83,000 Cameras to Track Her Down.

Have a News Tip?

Email: Tips[at]DataBreaches.net

Signal: +1 516-776-7756

Contact Me

Email: info[at]databreaches.net

Mastodon: Infosec.Exchange/@PogoWasRight

Signal: +1 516-776-7756

DMCA Concern: dmca[at]databreaches.net
© 2009 – 2025 DataBreaches.net and DataBreaches LLC. All rights reserved.