
What Happened
In May 2016, LinkedIn had 164 million email addresses and passwords exposed. Originally hacked in 2012, the data remained out of sight until being offered for sale on a dark market site 4 years later. The passwords in the breach were stored as SHA1 hashes without salt, the vast majority of which were quickly cracked in the days following the release of the data.
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:
164.6 million
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Breach Occurred:
May 2012
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Added to HIBP:
21 May 2016
Recommended Actions
Change Your Password
If you haven't changed your LinkedIn password since 2012, 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.