Data Enrichment Exposure From PDL Customer
CriticalAn unsecured database exposed over 622 million unique personal and professional records, highlighting the risky practices in data handling.
- Records exposed
- 622,161,052 records
- Breach date
- Breach Oct 16, 2019
- Last update
- Updated Nov 22, 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 October 2019, security researchers discovered an unsecured Elasticsearch server containing a large dataset of personal information, believed to have originated from a data enrichment company's customer and compromised due to incorrect security practices. The server exposed over 1.2 billion records, including 622 million unique email addresses linked to job histories, social media profiles, and additional personal and professional details.
Impact Analysis
Understanding the scope and consequences of this breach.
- User Impact
- Users face heightened risks of phishing and social engineering attacks due to the exposed detailed personal and professional data.
- Business Impact
- The breach emphasizes the critical nature of implementing robust data security measures to prevent mishandling by third-party clients.
- Affected Sectors
- Technology
- Recruitment
- Marketing
- Geographic Impact
- Global
What You Should Do
Recommended actions to take in response to this breach.
If You Were Affected
- •Monitor accounts for suspicious activities.
- •Be cautious of phishing attempts using exposed data.
Preventive Measures
- •Organizations should enforce secure configurations of databases.
- •Regularly review and audit security measures in place.
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about this breach and what it means for you.