Factual
HighIn 2017, publicly available business data from Factual was compiled and shared, leading to misconceptions about a system breach.
- Records exposed
- 2,461,696 records
- Breach date
- Breach Mar 22, 2017
- Last update
- Updated Dec 24, 2019
What data was exposed?
Fields reported as compromised in this breach record.
Why does this breach matter?
In-depth analysis of the breach and its implications.
In March 2017, a file was circulated containing a substantial amount of data reportedly sourced from the data aggregator Factual. The dataset comprised information such as business names, addresses, phone numbers, and approximately 2.5 million unique email addresses. Factual clarified that the data represented publicly available information accessible on their website and to customers, rather than being the result of an unauthorized system breach.
Impact Analysis
Understanding the scope and consequences of this breach.
- User Impact
- Users were concerned about the exposure of professional contact details.
- Business Impact
- The incident led to misconceptions regarding the nature of Factual's data access protocols.
- Affected Sectors
- Data Aggregator Services
- Geographic Impact
- Unspecified
What You Should Do
Recommended actions to take in response to this breach.
If You Were Affected
- •Check for your business details in public directories and platforms.
- •Ensure that sensitive information not meant for public access is adequately protected.
Preventive Measures
- •Monitor the distribution of publicly available business data.
- •Educate users about the implications of data aggregation.
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about this breach and what it means for you.