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AN

Ancestry

Medium

In 2015, a breach at RootsWeb exposed nearly 300,000 records, discovered in 2017.

Records exposed
297,806 records
Breach date
Breach Nov 7, 2015
Last update
Updated Dec 24, 2017
Source

What data was exposed?

Fields reported as compromised in this breach record.

Email addressesPasswords

Why does this breach matter?

In-depth analysis of the breach and its implications.

In November 2015, Ancestry.com's service RootsWeb experienced a data breach, exposing 297,806 records containing email addresses and plaintext passwords. The breach was only discovered in late 2017 when the compromised file was identified.

Impact Analysis

Understanding the scope and consequences of this breach.

User Impact
Affected users faced an increased risk of account compromise through credential reuse.
Business Impact
Highlights the importance of securing legacy systems to maintain stakeholder trust.
Affected Sectors
  • Genealogy Services
  • Online Platforms
Geographic Impact
  • Global

What You Should Do

Recommended actions to take in response to this breach.

If You Were Affected

  • •Update passwords for related accounts.
  • •Enable two-factor authentication.
  • •Monitor for unusual account activity.

Preventive Measures

  • •Use unique passwords for each account.
  • •Regularly review and update security policies.
  • •Retired unused platforms/sites using secure procedures.

Frequently Asked Questions

Common questions about this breach and what it means for you.

Approximately 297,806 records, including email addresses and plaintext passwords.