Ancestry
What Happened
In November 2015, an Ancestry service known as RootsWeb suffered a data breach. The breach was not discovered until late 2017 when a file containing almost 300k email addresses and plain text passwords was identified.
Compromised Data
Recommended Actions
Change Your Password
If you haven't changed your password on this service since the breach, do so immediately.
Enable Two-Factor Authentication
If 2FA is supported, add an extra layer of security to your account.
Check Other Accounts
If you used the same password elsewhere, change those too.
Monitor for Suspicious Activity
Watch for unusual login attempts, spam and phishing emails.
Breach Overview
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Affected Accounts:
297.8 thousand
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Breach Occurred:
November 2015
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Added to HIBP:
24 Dec 2017
Recommended Actions
Change Your Password
If you haven't changed your Ancestry password since 2015, do so immediately.
Enable Two-Factor Authentication
Add an extra layer of security to your account.
Check Other Accounts
If you used the same password elsewhere, change those too.
Monitor for Suspicious Activity
Watch for unusual login attempts or messages from your account.
