Back to Radar
FO

Forbes

High

Forbes suffered a breach in 2014 by the Syrian Electronic Army, exposing over one million user accounts.

Records exposed
1,057,819 records
Breach date
Breach Feb 15, 2014
Last update
Updated Feb 15, 2014

What data was exposed?

Fields reported as compromised in this breach record.

Email addressesPasswordsUser website URLsUsernames

Why does this breach matter?

In-depth analysis of the breach and its implications.

The Forbes website experienced a compromise on February 15, 2014, resulting in the exposure of over one million user accounts. Conducted by the Syrian Electronic Army, the breach enabled unauthorized access to email addresses, passwords, user profile URLs, and usernames, as well as content manipulation to publish fraudulent articles.

Impact Analysis

Understanding the scope and consequences of this breach.

User Impact
Compromised user credentials could lead to unauthorized access to associated accounts and phishing risks.
Business Impact
Forbes faced reputational damage from both the data leak and fraudulent news publication.
Affected Sectors
  • Media
  • Publishing
Geographic Impact
  • Global

What You Should Do

Recommended actions to take in response to this breach.

If You Were Affected

  • Change passwords associated with the compromised account and any reused passwords.
  • Monitor accounts for unauthorized access or suspicious activity.
  • Be vigilant regarding emails and messages that may attempt phishing using exposed data.

Preventive Measures

  • Enable strong, unique passwords and multifactor authentication for your accounts.
  • Regularly review and update security settings of online profiles.
  • Stay informed about potential data breaches and conduct regular safety checks of your online presence.

Frequently Asked Questions

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

The breach exposed email addresses, passwords, user profile URLs, and usernames.