CS
China Software Developer Network
HighThe CSDN data breach in 2011 exposed over 6M plaintext user credentials.
6,414,990 recordsBreach Dec 21, 2011Updated Nov 27, 2025
Exposed data classes
Fields reported as compromised in this breach record.
Email addressesPasswordsUsernames
Detailed Analysis
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.