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CS

China Software Developer Network

High

The CSDN data breach in 2011 exposed over 6M plaintext user credentials.

Records exposed
6,414,990 records
Breach date
Breach Dec 21, 2011
Last update
Updated Nov 27, 2025
Source

What data was exposed?

Fields reported as compromised in this breach record.

Email addressesPasswordsUsernames

Why does this breach matter?

In-depth analysis of the breach and its implications.

In December 2011, the China Software Developer Network (CSDN) experienced a significant security incident where a data breach led to the exposure of 6,414,990 user records. Information involved in this breach contained email addresses, usernames, and passwords stored in plaintext, highlighting a critical security lapse.

Impact Analysis

Understanding the scope and consequences of this breach.

User Impact
Sensitive user information, such as email credentials and passwords, risked unauthorized access.
Business Impact
The organization's failure to safeguard user data negatively impacted its reputation and gave rise to cybersecurity critiques.
Affected Sectors
  • Technology
Geographic Impact
  • Predominantly China
  • Global

What You Should Do

Recommended actions to take in response to this breach.

If You Were Affected

  • •Users should immediately update their passwords on the affected platform.
  • •Inspect other accounts for shared passwords and modify them to be unique.

Preventive Measures

  • •Reinforce security practices and use password managers.
  • •Advocate for secure password hashing standards like bcrypt.

Frequently Asked Questions

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

Email addresses, usernames, and plaintext passwords.